Voters need to be aware of new rules for providing photo ID at the polls in ALL upcoming Elections. Under new rules that took effect on January 1, 2013, all voters will be asked to provide one of the following types of Photo ID at their polling place:
- S.C. Driver’s License
- S.C. DMV Identification Card
- S.C. Voter Registration Card with a Photo
- Federal Military ID
- U.S. Passport
Voters who already have one of the IDs above are ready to vote. They need to be sure to bring their ID with them to their polling place.
Voters who forget to bring their ID with them to vote may vote a provisional ballot that will count only if they show their Photo ID to the county election commission prior to certification of the election.
Voters who don’t have a Photo ID can make their voting experience as fast and easy as possible by getting one before voting. Voters can get a free Photo ID from their county voter registration office by providing their name, date of birth, and last four digits of their social security number if currently registered to Vote. The SC DMV is also providing SC DMV ID Cards at no charge.
Voters who can’t get a Photo ID must bring their non-photo voter registration card (old card without photo) with them to the polls. They will be allowed to vote after signing an affidavit stating they have a reasonable impediment to obtaining photo ID. The reasonable impediment could be a religious objection to being photographed, a disability or illness, work schedule, lack of transportation, family responsibilities or any other obstacle the voter finds reasonable.
For more information about S.C.’s Photo ID requirements, visit www.scVOTES.org.
