9.2 percent of Pa. voters lack licenses

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 6 (UPI) -- More than 9 percent of Pennsylvania voters appear to lack a valid a driver's license, the most common form of ID required to vote in the state, officials say.

A state survey found 758,939 registered voters do not appear in the Division of Motor Vehicles database, CBS News reported Thursday. That includes 167,566 classified as "inactive voters" because they have not voted in five years.

Secretary of the Commonwealth Carol Aichele, whose department did the survey, said 9.2 percent of those on the voter rolls do not have licenses. The voter ID law -- enacted by the Republican-controlled Legislature and signed into law by Republican Gov. Tom Corbett -- allows several forms of identification, including student cards from accredited universities in Pennsylvania and cards issued by nursing homes.

In a speech June 23 at a Republican State Committee meeting, state House Majority Leader Mike Turzai suggested the law would benefit the GOP politically.

"We are focused on making sure that we meet our obligations that we've talked about for years," Turzai said, listing several GOP legislative accomplishments.

"Pro-Second Amendment? The Castle Doctrine, it's done," he said. "First pro-life legislation -- abortion facility regulations -- in 22 years, done. Voter ID, which is gonna allow Governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania, done."

Aichele said the state is sending notices to all registered voters who do not have driver's licenses, advising them to get ID.