On the eve of Independence Day, Pennsylvania announced that 758,939 registered voters do not have a PennDOT ID, including 186,830 voters in Philadelphia.
The state plans to spend $5 million in Help America Vote (HAVA) funds “on educating voters with regard to voting procedures relating to the recently enacted House Bill 934, which imposes a new requirement for voters to present photo identification at the polls, beginning with the November 2012 General Election.”
In the run-up to the April 24 primary election, the Bravo Group proposed PSAs to educate voters about the new photo ID requirement. The videos show a stunning disconnect with the voters who blocked by the voter ID law.
The Bravo Group has since been awarded a $250,000 contract to develop the “Community Outreach and Public Relations portion of the 2012 General Election Voter Education Media Campaign.” The contract was awarded under an “expedited RFP” in arguable violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The President & CEO of the Bravo Group is Chris Bravacos, a lobbyist, former executive director of the Pennsylvania Republican Party and Mitt Romney fundraiser.
While his plan is unlikely to “reach specific populations that could be less likely to have acceptable photo identification,” Bravacos likely “shows an understanding of the project objectives.”
