Gov. Corbett abandons appeal of voter ID ruling

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Gov. Corbett dropped his battle Thursday to keep intact the two-year-old law requiring Pennsylvanians to show a state-approved photo ID before voting.

In a statement, Corbett said he would not ask the state Supreme Court to review a lower court ruling that declared the law unconstitutional. But the governor defended its intent and said his administration would work with the legislature to make the necessary changes for the law to pass judicial muster.

"A photo identification requirement is a sensible and reasonable measure for the commonwealth to reassure the public that everyone who votes is registered and eligible to cast a ballot," he said.

Corbett said he chose not to move forward because rulings thus far had made clear there was no satisfactory administrative fix to the voter ID law, and that the statute would have to be amended.