Key Driver Licensing Centers Open the Day Before Election Day
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| PennDOT License Center District Map |
PennDOT has set aside funds to keep the following license centers open on Monday, a day they are normally closed, to assist voters in Pennsylvania with voter ID issues in the last hours before election day. Pennsylvania and PennDOT have been scrambling to make sure that anyone who wants an ID to vote can get proper documentation and help to make sure that no vote is left uncounted. This holding open of these license centers is one more step to try and prevent any missed votes.
Harrisburg – Forty-eight PennDOT Driver Licensing Centers, normally closed on Mondays, will be open on Monday, Nov. 5, the day before Election Day, to better serve customers with last-minute Voter ID needs.
In recent months, PennDOT has worked closely with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the union representing its Driver Licensing Center employees, to reach this agreement.
"I applaud the efforts of AFSCME to work with us on this important effort," said PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch. "Our employees have been working tirelessly to be certain that any Pennsylvanian who needs an ID for voting purposes has it, and efforts like this show our commitment to getting the job done."
Since the passage of the law in March, PennDOT has been working aggressively to make the voting ID process as customer-friendly as possible. Two major milestones include working with the Pennsylvania Department of Health to facilitate a process for customers who do not have a birth certificate with a raised seal, and extending hours at five Driver License Centers in Philadelphia County.
The addresses of the affected centers can be found online at www.dmv.state.pa.us or by calling PennDOT 1-800-932-4600.
The following PennDOT Driver License Centers will be open on Monday, Nov. 5:
- Adams County: Gettysburg
- Allegheny County: Pittsburgh, Allison Park, Bridgeville, New Kensington and Penn Hills.
- Beaver County: East Rochester
- Berks County: Reading
- Blair County: Altoona
- Bucks County: Bensalem, Dublin
- Butler County: Butler
- Cambria County: Johnstown
- Center County: Rockview
- Chester County: Malvern
- Crawford County: Meadville
- Cumberland County: Carlisle
- Dauphin County: Harrisburg
- Delaware County: Granite Run
- Elk County: St. Marys
- Erie County: Erie
- Fayette County: Uniontown
- Franklin County: Chambersburg
- Jefferson County: Punxsutawney
- Lackawanna County: Dunmore
- Lancaster County: Lancaster
- Lawrence County: New Castle
- Lebanon County: Lebanon
- Lehigh County: Lehigh Valley
- Luzerne County: Hazleton
- Luzerne County: Wilkes-Barre
- Lycoming County: Williamsport
- McKean County: Bradford
- Monroe County: Snydersville
- Montgomery County: Huntingdon Valley License Center and Norristown License Center
- Northampton County: Easton
- Philadelphia County: Arch Street, Columbus Boulevard, Island Avenue, Lawndale & West Oak Lane
- Schuylkill County: Schuylkill Haven
- Snyder County: Selinsgrove
- Somerset County: Somerset
- Washington County: Washington
- Westmoreland County: Greensburg
- York County: York
This is only a handful of the total license centers in PA, but they are some of the busiest and most accessible centers in PA. Almost every major area of the state is covered by holding these centers open on the Monday prior to voting, and may help a few get their ID in time. The state has also made steps to streamline the voter ID application, and will not require a hard copy of the birth certificate for those born in Pennsylvania, as long as the computer can verify certain information.
I know how hard it can be for some to get the proper paperwork to verify residence and preove to the sate who you are. I have seen first hand some residents who through no fault of their own, have been accused of ID fraud, or are victims of identity theft, and they have extra hurdles to cross before they can get a ID, even if it is just to vote in November. There are also misconceptions about ability to get a voter ID with a suspended license (Hint: you can!) and difficulties getting to a PennDOT license center, even if all paperwork is ready. I just hope the lawmakers can create some type of review process to allow some of these people the ability to have their vote counted, but sadly I believe this is enough of a deterrent to turn away a large number of those who may see additional barriers to voting now. Only time will tell...
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