Pennsylvania Voter ID Ruling May Hurt Puerto Ricans Most (¿coincidence?)

Source: US News and World Report

The problem for Puerto Rican voters in Pennsylvania hinges on a 2010 law passed by the Puerto Rican government, which decided all birth certificates issued before that year were invalid. A number of Puerto Ricans, including many living in Pennsylvania, do not own a valid birth certificate as a result. And many are now scrambling to get one before the election.

"If you're a Puerto Rican voter and you already have a photo ID, then you're okay," says Marian Schneider of the Advancement Project, which challenged the voter ID law in court. "But if you are trying to get a birth certificate just to get a photo ID but you don't have a photo ID to get it, then you're in a typical Catch-22 situation."


Among the voters stuck in that paradox is Ivonne Gutierrez Bucher.

Bucher, who is the state director of the AARP, has been unable to get a new Puerto Rican birth certificate because she took her husband's name, and all of her other photo IDs use her maiden name. She has been unable to obtain the birth certificate despite traveling to Puerto Rico.


Read more: http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2012/08/16/pennsylvania-voter-id-ruling-may-hurt-puerto-ricans-most

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Old Puerto Rico birth certificates to be scrapped due to identity theft scams, leaving many in limbo

March 12, 2010

A new law in Puerto Rico aimed at combating identity theft is already sparking fears of an anti-Latino backlash against many U.S. residents born on the island.

Starting July 1, all birth certificates previously issued by the government of Puerto Rico will become invalid. After that, anyone needing proof that they were born on the island will have to apply for a new birth certificate.

But several states aren't even bothering to wait. California, Ohio and Nevada have announced in recent weeks that they have stopped accepting birth certificates from Puerto Rico as proof of identity for driver's licenses or other ID.

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-03-12/news/27058797_1_identity-theft-certificates-luis-fortuno








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