U.S. Justice Department Blocks South Carolina’s New Law Requiring Government Photo-ID at the Polls

On December 23, the U.S. Justice Department’s Voting Rights Section refused to pre-clear South Carolina’s new law, requiring voters at the polls to show a government photo-ID that hasn’t expired. South Carolina is one of the states covered by section five of the federal Voting Rights Act. Therefore, the state cannot change its election laws without either approval from the Justice Department, or approval by a 3-judge U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.

The Justice Department is also considering whether to approve a similar new law in Texas.


Comments

U.S. Justice Department Blocks South Carolina’s New Law Requiring Government Photo-ID at the Polls — 7 Comments

  1. What genius judge can detect the language in 14th Amdt, Sec. 2 and 15th Amdt, Sec. 1 ??? — written by approved by mainly the same folks in June 1866 and Feb 1869 respectively.

    Look in the nearly dead Constitution where it says that the Congress can veto State laws on specific subjects.

    In ALL other cases it is up to the courts to find ACTUAL VIOLATIONS by States – i.e. State officials.

    The 1965 VRA is one more part of the politically correct INSANITY in the 1960s — lingering on and on and on.

  2. I don’t know about SC, but where I live I have to show a driver’s license or picture ID to cash a check, get a library card, rent a car, get on a plane, enter some government buildings, or rent a hotel room if using cash. So what is so wrong about requiring voters to prove who they are?

  3. #2, voters prove who they are by their signature in the polling place register, which can be compared to the signature in the voter registration records.

    Libraries, rental car places, and airports don’t happen to have a record of what every person’s signature looks like. Furthermore, it is possible to board a commercial airplane without picture ID. Persons who show up at an airport without picture ID, but who allow TSA officers to check their credit report on-line and who answer questions whose accuracy can be verified using the credit report, are permitted to board.

    People do lose their wallets and purses, and if the loss happened on election day, these laws would absolutely prohibit that individual from voting. And many people don’t have government photo ID.

  4. 3 –

    Excellent response. I would change only the last sentence, to read “And many POOR people don’t have government photo ID and that’s the reason you’ll generally find Republicans behind the push to require one for voter registration.”

  5. Leftwing Donkeys — EVERY body votes with NO IDs – including illegal foreign invaders, children, mentally ill, felons (traitors, murderers, terrorists, etc.), etc.

    Rightwing Elephants — NO body votes — except Elephant robots — having their robot IDs.

    Is every body ready for Civil WAR II in 2012-2013 ???

  6. Pingback: Updates on Ballot Access, electoral justice, third party candidates | OntheWilderSide

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