HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania became home to one of the nation's toughest voter identification measures Wednesday, a prelude to a likely legal challenge just as judges at various levels move to analyze a number of other new state laws that make similar demands of voters.

Republican-controlled legislatures in Pennsylvania and around the country have actively pursued photo ID laws ahead of the 2012 presidential election in what supporters say is an attempt to prevent voter fraud.

Although Democrats and many county officials in Pennsylvania say there have been no instances of voter fraud that justifies such a law, Republican Gov. Tom Corbett signed the measure Wednesday evening, a few hours after it passed the state House of Representatives.

In the signing ceremony at his Capitol offices, Corbett described the new law as a preventive measure, but he could not offer examples of voter fraud to back up his contention that the crime has occurred in certain precincts in the past.

“I believe we need to ensure that our elections are fair,” Corbett said.

Most legislators representing Butler County back the new law, which was sponsored by state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-12th.

Representatives who voted for it are: Metcalfe; Dick Stevenson, R-10th; Brian Ellis, R-11th, and Scott Huchinson, R-64th; and state senators who supported it are: Don Robbins, R-50th, and Don White, R-41st.

State Rep. Jaret Gibbons, D-10th, and state Sen. Mary Jo White, R-21st, both voted no.

State Sen. Jane Orie, R-40th, did not vote.

Now, Pennsylvanians will need to show a photo ID that meets the law's guidelines every time they vote.

The April 24 primary will be treated as a test run, while the Department of State plans to send out postcards in September and air radio and TV ads, State Secretary Carol Aichele said.

It will take effect in the November election.

Democrats, who voted against the bill, call it a thinly veiled attempt to defeat President Barack Obama in the Nov. 6 election, when Pennsylvania, historically a swing state, is again expected to be a high-profile battleground. They summoned images of civil rights-era battles such as the 1965 “Bloody Sunday” march in Alabama to protest what they view as a throwback to the now-unconstitutional poll taxes and literacy tests designed to discriminate against poor and minority voters.

“We're about to turn back the pages of history to that era by imposing what is a poll tax, among other obstacles, for the most vulnerable people in our community that have the right today to vote, and tomorrow, who knows?” said Rep. Daniel Frankel, D-Allegheny.

The American Civil Liberties Union vowed a court challenge.

Corbett said he believes voter turnout will increase, and Republicans said they are confident the bill will withstand scrutiny.

“It's simple, straightforward, it's designed to ensure the integrity of everybody's vote,” said House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny. “It's ‘Here is an ID, a photo ID, and if you need to get a photo ID, we'll give you one for free.' ”

Corbett pledged that state agencies would add extra hours to transport people, particularly the elderly, to get identification cards from PennDOT's service centers.

Democrats contend that getting a photo ID from the state will not be free or easy, noting that applying for supporting paperwork such as birth certificates and passports costs money and getting them takes months.

Also, the six-day window after the election allowed by the measure for a voter to supply photo ID to elections officials is really shorter because state offices, such as state driver's license centers and county elections bureaus, are typically closed on weekends, Democrats said.

By The Associated PressDetails on a bill signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Tom Corbett to require voters to show photo identification.CURRENT LAWA person voting for the first time in a given precinct must show ID. The acceptable forms of ID are:— Pennsylvania driver’s license or PennDOT ID card— ID issued by any state agency or the U.S. government— U.S. passport or armed forces ID— Student ID— Employee ID— Non-photo ID issued by the state government or U.S. government— Firearms permit— Current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or government checkHOUSE BILL 934A person voting must show ID. The acceptable forms of ID must be current, show the individual’s name, photograph, expiration date and be issued by:— The U.S. government, state government or a municipal or county government in Pennsylvania— PennDOT— An accredited public or private institution of higher learning in Pennsylvania— A nursing home, assisted living home or personal care home in PennsylvaniaExceptions include:— Non-photo driver’s license or ID cards issued by PennDOT for voters who have a religious objection to being photographed— A PennDOT ID expired within the past year— U.S. armed forces IDs that show an indefinite expiration date— Absentee-ballot voters, who may provide their driver’s license number or, if they do not have a license, the last four digits of their Social Security numberPeople without proper ID may:— Cast a provisional ballot on election day and within six days submit a valid photo identification to county elections officials in person or by e-mail or fax————Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, Pennsylvania Senate, House Bill 934————Online:House Bill 934: http://bit.ly/wZos6UHouse Bill 934 roll call: http://bit.ly/zqDPsk