Sep 6, 2013 2 min read

Mum’s the word when it comes to local election board members discussing the status of the Pennsylvania Voter ID law with prospective voters at the upcoming election.

Larry Spahr, Washington County elections director, told a group of trainees gathered Friday morning to learn about operating the new electronic poll book that he had just received notification from the Pennsylvania Department of State that it intends to provide a flier to counties to disseminate to election boards.

“You are not to verbalize an opinion on the law’s constitutionality to any voters,” Spahr told the election board members.

Commonwealth Court Judge Bernard L. McGinley is not expected to decide the challenge to the state’s voter ID law before the Nov. 5 election. Although members of election boards can ask a voter to show identification, they are prohibited from telling voters they will need to show ID at future elections.

“The flier is still being worked on,” said Matthew Keeler, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of State.

Poll workers can still ask voters to produce identification, although voters are not required to show ID.

Those voting for the first time at a precinct are required to produce either an identification card or utility bill that shows the voter’s home address. Absentee voters are also required to include either the last four digits of a Social Security number or the final four digits of their driver’s license number when requesting an absentee ballot.

The Washington County elections office has been accepting applications for absentee ballots in advance of the Oct. 29 deadline. An absentee voter who applies early won’t be receiving a ballot until they are finalized.

Monday, Oct. 7, is the last day to register in order to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 5 election.