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Monday, September 24, 2012

Judges Scrutinize South Carolina’s Voter ID Law

Lawyers for and against South Carolina’s 2011 voter ID law will sum up legal arguments they’ve been presenting to federal judges in Washington D.C. on Monday.

Republican Governor Nikki Haley signed the state’s law last year, but it hasn’t gone into effect because the U.S. Justice Department refused to allow the state to require voters to present government-issued photo IDs at the polls, saying it would be a burden for the estimated 178,000 registered voters– many of them African-American or Hispanic– who do not have photo IDs.

“If you want to start a fight in South Carolina, start talking about voter id,” The State politics reporter Adam Beam told Here & Now’s Robin Young.

Guest:

Other stories from Monday's show

We welcome comments from all of our listeners. Post below. Please stay on topic and be civil. Comments may be moderated by us, but you are solely responsible for the content of your comments.

  • MargInAZ

    I’m a registered Independent voter, tending toward the liberal but feel our country has come to the point where everyone should have an ID, not only to vote but because an ID is needed for 90% of transactions in today’s world, not only for adults, but for underage students as well (most schools seem to require them).

    That being said, this is something which should be undertaken in a thoughtful way.

    A birth certificate is just a piece of paper.  For folks who don’t have one, the agency issuing the ID (usually a state’s DMV) can take fingerprints and get an affidavit. Fingerprints will determine if that individual has a criminal record.

    For folks who cannot get to a state’s DMV, that agency should have an ID-mobile which goes to the people in urban, suburban, or rural areas.

    Fees for this service should be nominal or free for those who cannot afford it (provide a tax return perhaps?).

    This process should take enough time (3-5 years?) to allow everyone time enough to get this important document.

    Margaret Eysmans
    Scottsdale, AZ

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