The Help America Vote Act created a federal program to ensure that the chaos of the 2000 presidential election isn't repeated.
It provides funds to the states to use to protect voting rights and help comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Pennsylvania recently passed a voter ID law, citing the need to protect against voting fraud. However, there hasn't been any such widespread fraud in the state, with only four cases of voting fraud documented since 2004.
Recently, Rep. Mike Turzai, Pennsylvania House majority leader, revealed the real reason the voter ID law was passed.
Speaking to a Republican gathering, he bragged the voter ID law will ensure Gov. Mitt Romney a victory in Pennsylvania.
In early July, the Pennsylvania Department of State reported that 758,939 (9.2 percent) of Pennsylvania registered voters lacked the needed voter ID and might be unable to vote in the fall presidential election.
Pennsylvania Republican Gov. Tom Corbett's administration has signed a $249,660 contract with the Bravo Group, a company run by Chris Bravacs, the former Pennsylvania GOP executive director and a current Romney campaign fundraiser, to conduct a media campaign to promote the Pennsylvania voter ID law, which is now under fire for suppressing voting rights.
Ironically, the $249,660 needed to pay for the contract is being provided from funding from the Help America Vote Act.
Providing this funding to promote a voter ID law that suppresses voting rights is contrary to the purpose of the Help America Vote Act and is not only vexing but is wrong.
Melvin Fees, Cresson
