By fitsnews – December 26, 2011
If you think the state of South Carolina is suffering from a rash of recent electoral fraud, then congratulations … you might be a “Republican.”
And if you don’t know what “litigiousness” means, then congratulations … you’re probably a product of South Carolina’s public “education” system.
Anyway, South Carolina’s “Republican-controlled” General Assembly passed a new voter ID law earlier this year – ostensibly to protect the integrity of the state’s electoral process from this recent rash of fraud. The new law would require anyone wishing to vote to present a valid, state-issued photo identification at the polls.
As we predicted, this new law has been blocked by the U.S. Justice Department – which retains the right to “pre-clear” such changes before they take effect given South Carolina’s less-than-stellar record of enfranchising minorities.
“According to the state’s statistics, there are 81,938 minority citizens who are already registered to vote and who lack DMV-issued identification,” the U.S. Justice Department noted in announcing its refusal to authorize the legislation.
Also lacking “DMV-issued certification?” Lots of white people.
In fact, an estimated157,395 fall into the same category, according to S.C. Election Commission statistics.
Hmmmm …
Don’t get us wrong … this new law is a waste of time and money no matter what color you are. It’s another “reform in name only,” a totally unnecessary response to a manufactured problem.
So far, this law has produced nothing but a lot of legal hassle and a poorly-attended taxpayer-funded carpool (all so that S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley could wipe the egg off of her face after making a brain-dead promise to drive disenfranchised voters to the S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles).
Of course Haley’s “Freedom Ride” – which drew only 25 participants – didn’t include a stop at the S.C. Department of Vital Statistics, which is where South Carolina birth certificates are stored. Why is that relevant? Well, in order to get a valid photo ID in this state, you need to present the SCDMV with a copy of your birth certificate.
The only problem with that requirement? To get a copy of your birth certificate you have to have … wait for it … provide a valid photo ID.
“All applicants must provide a photocopy or show a valid government, school or employer issued photo identification,” the state’s vital records page notes. “Applications without proper identification will be rejected and not processed.”
Nice …
In passing this new legislation, state lawmakers appropriated $1 million to pay for new government IDs (as well as $100,000 annually to pay for any recurring expenses associated with providing them) – however they didn’t cough up the estimated $12 per birth certificate.
Oh well …
“The President and his bullish administration are fighting us every step of the way,” Haley wrote on her Facebook page. “It is outrageous, and we plan to look at every possible option to get this clearly political decision overturned so we can protect the integrity of our electoral process and our 10th amendment rights.”
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