Following is a statement from Gerry Hudson, SEIU Executive Vice President, regarding Judge Robert E. Simpson Jr.'s decision today to uphold Pennsylvania's voter identification law. The decision comes days after a comprehensive, nonpartisan examination found that there is no evidence that photo ID is needed to prevent voter fraud.

A Pennsylvania judge's decision today to reject a civil rights challenge to the state's voter identification law is a devastating blow to those working to ensure all citizens have an equal voice in our democracy. So-called voter identification laws have one objective in mind: To suppress the votes of communities of color, young people, and low-income people who turned out overwhelmingly in 2008. Pennsylvania's voter identification law and others like it are reminiscent of the darkest chapters of our nation's history and an affront to our American values. We need to unlock voter potential and encourage all eligible U.S. citizens to vote as a matter of civic duty, not actively deter them because of whom they might vote for.

"In the face of right-wing efforts to block voters from the poll, we will ramp up our work to educate voters about their rights and ensure that everyone eligible who wants to vote can. We will not stand by while partisan lawmakers try to turn back the clock on 50 years of progress in the name of politics."

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