No consensus on bill to alter voting process

COLUMBIA — South Carolina voters may have to bring picture IDs with them to the polls on future election days and the state could have new early voting opportunities, but first legislative negotiators need to reach an agreement, and time is running out.

House and Senate negotiators met Wednesday but were unable to reach an agreement on a bill to alter voting procedures. Today is the last scheduled day of the session, but Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Isle of Palms, said the negotiators could finalize an agreement on the bill when the Legislature comes back in mid-June to deal with vetoes by Gov. Mark Sanford.

If the bill passes and is signed by Sanford, the earliest it is expected to be effective is 2012. In addition to the bill's passage, changes in South Carolina's voting access must be approved by the U.S. Department of Justice under the Voting Rights Act.

The issue divides Republicans and Democrats.

Generally, Republicans say voters presenting picture ID will help prevent voter fraud and give the public more confidence in the voting process. Democrats argue that the GOP wants to discourage voters, particularly those who don't have photo IDs, typically the poor.

About 178,000 registered voters have no state photo ID card, according to estimates. But legislative negotiators raised the possibility of allowing other forms of identification, which would lower the number of people effected.

House Speaker Pro Tem Harry Cato, R-Travelers Rest, said the state should be cautious about the forms of ID that would qualify.

'If I can't fly with it, I don't want to vote with it,' Cato said.

Cato has taken a hardline stance on the bill. He said he and other House Republicans don't want any early voting, although his fellow House Republican Rep. Alan Clemmons of Myrtle Beach said he would agree to about a week of early voting in order to pass a requirement for photo IDs.

'Maybe I am too much of a traditionalist,' Cato said. 'I believe in Election Day.'

Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Hartsville, said he wants only early voting and does not agree with requiring people to have picture IDs.

'Lets not fool ourselves, I won't support anything without early voting,' Malloy said. 'The only thing I am interested in this whole bill is early voting.'

Campsen, who led the negotiations, reminded the panel that the Senate's support is contingent on both components of the bill.

Campsen said after the meeting that legislators on all sides of the issue have a strong desire to see changes in the voting procedures, so he believes the bill is not dead for the year.

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The Senate version of the bill allows early voting beginning 15 days before an election and ending three days before the election, including at least one Saturday. The House version permits early voting from Thursday to Saturday before an election.

The legislative negotiators also discussed altering absentee voting procedures. Some negotiators said they wanted to do away with in-person absentee voting if the state offers early voting, while others believed that both in-person absentee and early voting should be offered.

The panel is expected to meet today to try again and reach consensus on plan to bring back the full House and Senate for final approval.

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Reach Yvonne Wenger at 803-926-7855 or ywenger@postandcourier.com.