Latino advocacy groups contend that the Voter ID law disproportionately affects Puerto Ricans and will prevent many from voting this November.

Two years ago, in an attempt to reduce the number of counterfeit birth certificates used by non-Puerto Ricans to enter the United States illegally, Puerto Rico invalidated the birth certificates of all Puerto Rico-born citizens born before July 2010. Those people born before that date are required to apply for new security-enhanced certificates. The rush of new applications overwhelmed Puerto Rico’s vital statistics offices, and many people are still waiting. Without birth certificates, these people cannot obtain PennDOT-issued ID, the most common form of ID which meets the new law’s requirements.