Increasing our Federal Dept

I thought you would be interested in this clip from Glenn Beck’s show.

Statehouse Report: Protecting the Integrity of our Elections

In South Carolina, you have to present a photo identification to purchase Sudafed.

You have to present a photo identification to board an airplane. You have to have one to cash a check. If you are of a certain age, you have to have one to buy alcohol or cigarettes. You have to have one to purchase a firearm.

You don’t have to have one to vote right now in South Carolina. Voting is a constitutionally protected right – as is purchasing a firearm – and can not be abridged. I would argue that voting is not a right. It is a responsibility of all of our citizens, and it is a responsibility that too many of us do not take seriously.

The House of Representatives approved legislation this week that will require voters to present a valid government-issued photo identification when they go to vote. Despite the vocal opposition from Democrats, this bill has nothing to do with voter suppression or abridging someone’s right to vote. This legislation protects the “one person, one vote” right for those of us who are not trying to game the system. As one Republican lawmaker said, we are ensuring “one person and ONLY one vote.”

Currently, almost anybody could vote as somebody else, as long as they have that person’s voter registration card. This is a major hole in our election laws, and one that the U.S. Supreme Court said could be closed in Crawford v. Marion County.

Were there documented instances of voter fraud last year? Not in South Carolina, but do we have to wait until we have proof of widespread fraud before we close a loophole that we know already exists? Today, anybody could grab your voter identification card, which does not have your photo on it, and cast a ballot as you, and then do it again, and again, and again provided they have other people’s identification cards.

The legislation, which will now go to the Senate, allows any voter to present a South Carolina driver’s license, a state-issued identification card, a U.S. Passport, or a U.S. Military ID.

There are fees that you must pay to get these cards. So, what about people who can’t afford the fee to get a government-issued identification card? We abolished the $5 fee that might prevent anyone from getting these cards and therefore prevent someone from voting because they can’t afford it.

We approved this despite political stunts and scare tactics from Democrats. We are not disenfranchising 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.”

The House Republicans expect stiff resistance from some members of the Senate. I urge you to contact your Senator and tell them you want to be sure we have fair elections in South Carolina. It is essential that we close this loophole so out-of-state organizations such as ACORN don’t come here to unduly influence our elections through fraud.

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 864 595 1137.