SHJ: Voter ID Unlikely by November Election
Sunday, July 15, 2012 at 8:51PM Chances are slim that South Carolina’s new voter ID law will be in place before the Nov. 6 general election. But rushing to implement the law before its full impact can be gauged would be a mistake.
The law, which requires voters to present government-issued photo IDs at the polls, was passed last year, but the federal government blocked it in December, saying it could keep tens of thousands of the state’s minorities from casting ballots. South Carolina is one of the Southern states subject to rules in the 1965 Voting Rights Act that must have approval from the U.S. Justice Department before changing election laws.
Under those rules, South Carolina is required to prove that the proposed changes are not discriminatory. In late June, the Justice Department again turned down the law, saying that the state still had not proven that the law wouldn’t disproportionately block minorities from voting.
S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson has sued U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, saying the law is not discriminatory. But a three-judge panel considering that case recently rescheduled oral arguments in the case for Sept. 24, nearly two months later than originally planned.
That is unlikely to provide enough time for state officials to implement the law and make sure people understand the requirements. State prosecutors have said they would need a ruling by the three judges by Sept. 15 at the latest to put the new law in place and prepare voters before the election.
Reader Comments