South Carolina Statehouse Blog

House reaffirms need for voters to positively prove identity

(Columbia, SC) - Today, the South Carolina House of Representatives gave approval to a common sense voting provision intended to prevent fraud and defend our voting system from abuse. Under this provision, voters will simply present a photo ID when they cast their ballot in our state’s elections. Currently, poll workers have almost no means of positively determining that a voter is actually who they claim to be casting a ballot.

“A photo ID is required to do just about anything in our society today, except to vote in South Carolina,” said House Speaker Bobby Harrell. “Boarding a plane, cashing a check and even buying cough medicine requires a person to provide a photo ID. This common sense legislation will prevent fraud and ensure fair elections.”

Ruled as Constitutional by multiple courts (including The Supreme Court of the United States), other states have preceded South Carolina in successfully passing Voter ID requirements into law. The bill (H. 3418) now returns to the Senate for final approval.

Speaker Harrell continued, “The right to vote is at the heart of our democratic principles. This bill addresses a major hole in our state’s election laws, one that the U.S. Supreme Court said could be closed. When we secure voting rights from fraud and abuse, we are protecting the ideals of our democracy.”