S.C. bill would enable student IDs for voter ID
17 January, 2013
category: Education
A bill submitted to the South Carolina House of Representatives would let campus IDs with photo be used as voter ID cards, according to a report in the Charleston Democrat Examiner.
New legislation in the state requires state-issued photo IDs, passports or military IDs in order to participate in elections. The new law would enable more 18 to 24-year-old to vote. A recent study shows that 20% of that age group doesn’t have a state-issued ID card.
South Carolina’s Voter ID law, first passed in 2011, required a state-issued photo identification card, including driver license, in order to vote. The State Election Commission was offering photo-bearing voter registration cards too.
In December 2011, the U.S. Dept. of Justice rejected the new law stating it would unfairly affect minorities. South Carolina contested the ruling in federal court last year, and won after offering to include military IDs and passports as accepted IDs.