Carolina Politics Online

COLUMBIA — Anyone registering to vote in South Carolina would have to show a passport, birth certificate or naturalization documents under a bill being pushed by Republican lawmakers.

Supporters of the bill say it will protect elections by ensuring illegal immigrants or other noncitizens cant cast a ballot. Critics say its just a GOP move to hassle people who might vote for Democrats.

The measure would apply only to people registering after it becomes law, not voters already on the rolls.
“The only people stifled from voting are those who cant legally vote,” said Rep. Alan Clemmons, who leads a subcommittee that approved the measure earlier this year.

By law, only citizens can vote. Clemmons said requiring residents to verify what they put on their voter application form is not a burden.

“Its a simple matter to produce a birth certificate,” the Myrtle Beach Republican said, adding hell volunteer to help secure one for any South Carolinian without it.

But Democrats contend poor and rural residents are less likely to have a birth certificate, much less a passport, and that getting one takes time and money.

Aiken Standard

I have never understood the argument against this.  After the 2000 election people were screaming about voter fraud.  These kinds of very sensible guidelines as proposed by South Carolina and a handful of other states will cut down on that tremendously.  The idea that this oppresses the voting capability of poor people or minorities is laughable at best.  Additionally it’s insulting to those people because others that espouse that view are basically saying that lower income folks and ethic minorities are too incapable or too stupid to provide proof of citizenship.

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