Protecting the Integrity of Our Elections

This week, the South Carolina House of Representatives once again approved a common-sense voting provision intended to prevent fraud and defend our voting system from abuse.

The legislation requires voters to simply present a valid 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. This week, the South Carolina House of Representatives once again approved a common-sense voting provision intended to prevent fraud and defend our voting system from abuse.

The legislation requires voters to simply present a valid 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.

The first response I get when I discuss this bill with my constituents is: “That’s not already the law?” I wondered the same thing before this year. Hopefully the Senate will vote for it and our Governor will sign it.

Having a photo ID is essential to do dozens of menial everyday tasks in our society. A photo ID is required to board a plane, cash a check, and even buy cough medicine. You need one to buy tobacco or alcohol.

You even need one to attend Democrat Congressman John Spratt’s town hall meetings.

Presenting a photo ID is common-sense legislation that will prevent fraud and ensure fair elections.

Democrats used every tactic possible to stall this legislation. (They tried to stall it for a second time after failing to stall it in the House last year, and in the Senate earlier this year.) They asked for proof of fraud, though I do not understand why we need to find people exploiting a legal loophole before we act to close it.

The Democrats obviously forget about the election in Sumter County in 2004 where 111 more voters cast ballots than signed in on poll books and 1,055 more ballots were cast than were accounted for – all reported by the Associated Press at the time. They also easily forget the nearly dozen voter fraud cases across the country as a result of the 2008 election.

The photo ID legislation has been ruled as Constitutional by multiple courts (including the Supreme Court of the United States). Other states have preceded South Carolina in successfully passing and enforcing voter ID requirements – including states bound by the same federal “pre-clearance” rules that the Federal Government holds over the heads of Southern states.

The bill now returns to the Senate for final approval.

The right to vote is the very essence of our American republic. This bill addresses a major loophole 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 enshrined in our U.S. Constitution that make our country unique.

It is not the Republicans’ intention to disenfranchise anybody. As Republicans, we want every legally eligible person to vote. It is what makes our democracy strong, but the key word here is “legally.”

I am committed to ensuring that everybody can vote. This law will ensure our elections remain free, fair, and the model for the rest of the world.

As always, thank you for the privilege of serving you in Columbia. If I can ever be of assistance to you, or if you have ideas on issues you want me to share with the rest of the General Assembly, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 963-0337 or in Columbia at 803 734-3045.