Just two weeks shy of the presidential election, a series of state-sponsored billboards reading “Si Quieres Votar, Muéstrala” (If You Want to Vote, Show It) were erected in predominantly Latino neighborhoods. The wording of the signs is highly misleading given that implementation of the law requiring photo IDs at the polls was postponed until 2013.

Sign this petition to tell Pennsylvania state officials and Clear Channel to stop intimidating Latino voters.

Former city councilman Juan Ramos is furious, say local news sources. Ramos now works for the Delaware Valley Voter Registration Education Project, a nonprofit that focuses on increasing voter registration in Philadelphia’s Latino communities. “This is a very slick attempt by the state government to carry out voter suppression,” he said.

But the Pennsylvania Department of State has no plans to remove the deceptive billboards. Officials say the campaign is the result of a court order to educate all voters that poll workers will ask for photo identification, although it is not yet a legal requirement.

Coincidence? You Decide

The state was slow to remove voter ID requirements from its websites: The Bucks County, Luzerne County and Borough of West Chester official websites stated until Oct. 9 that photo IDs were necessary to vote. Pontealdia.com points out that Luzerne County coincidentally has one of the fastest growing Latino populations in the nation, increasing 85 percent from 14,500 in 2000 to 26,782 in 2010. Read more data about the Latino demographic.

This intimidating billboard tactic, also has been used in Ohio, as reported by Mother Jones. Watch this video below, which shows a billboard on voter fraud in a predominantly Black community in Cincinnati.

Pennsylvania historically leans Democratic, but the state has become more of a battleground for Republicans in the 2012 election. Currently, President Obama holds an 11-point lead over Governor Romney. Other swing states include Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin.

For more on voter ID laws and the election, read:

Are Voter ID Laws Racist?

The Voter-Fraud Myth: What Racist Voter ID Laws Are Really About

Are Obama & Romney Ignoring Latinos?

Why Obama & Romney Aren’t Connecting With Women

Racist Obama Facebook Pages & Your Office: What Do You Need to Know?

The post Purposely Inaccurate Billboards Terrorize Poor Blacks & Latinos appeared first on DiversityInc.

Many observers have said these laws are the 21st century version of Jim Crow. There is a likelihood the Supreme Court eventually will rule on the legality of these laws, which now exist in some form in 30 states and have become more prevalent in the last two years in states with Republican-dominated legislatures.

“Fortunately, the Justice Department, courts, and voters have blocked or blunted many of these laws. Many, but not all. And those who would curb the franchise are fiercely fighting in court, going so far as to insist that the Voting Rights Act is in fact unconstitutional,” writes voter-ID-law expert and Brennan Center President Michael Waldman in a comprehensive study done. Read more about the impact and racial targeting of voter ID laws.

Particularly restrictive voter ID laws, which require all registered voters to produce a government-issued form of photo identification like a driver’s license or other state-issued ID in order to cast a ballot, have been established in these 11 states.

Watch the video below for more information or see the original clip on NBCNews.com.

Read these articles for more of DiversityInc’s coverage on voter ID laws and the election:

Are Voter ID Laws Racist?

Romney’s ‘47%’: Racism or ‘Insensitive’ Rhetoric From ‘Out-of-Touch Man’?

Racist Obama Facebook Pages & Your Office: What Do You Need to Know?

The post ‘Racist’ Pennsylvania Voter ID Law Struck Down appeared first on DiversityInc.