S.C. sues to save Voter ID

COLUMBIA -- The U.S. Justice Department was wrong to block South Carolina from requiring voters to show government-issued photo identification to vote, the state's top prosecutor argued in a lawsuit filed Tuesday.

Enforcement of the new law "will not disenfranchise any potential South Carolina voter," Attorney General Alan Wilson argued in the suit against U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.

"The changes have neither the purpose nor will they have the effect of denying or abridging the right to vote on account of race, color, or membership in a language minority."

The Justice Department in December rejected South Carolina's law requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls, saying tens of thousands of the state's minorities might not be able to cast ballots under the new law because they don't have the right photo ID. It was the first such law to be refused by the federal agency in nearly 20 years.

Justice said the law, enacted last year, failed to meet the requirements of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which outlaws discriminatory practices that prevent blacks from voting.

In the lawsuit, Wilson asked that a panel of three federal judges consider the case and declare that the rejected portions of the law are not discriminatory. Citing data from the National Conference of State Legislatures, Wilson said at least 31 states require voters to show some sort of ID at the polls, and 15 states have enacted photo ID requirements.

Since 1988, South Carolina law has required voters to show either a voter registration card or some sort of government-issued ID to be allowed to vote on a regular ballot.

A Justice spokeswoman did not comment on the lawsuit. The American Civil Liberties Union said it disagrees with the lawsuit and plans to oppose it in court.