The South Carolina Senate voted to non-concur on what senate leaders called a “flawed” Voter ID bill passed by the House of Representatives. Because of the flaws in the House language and new matter inserted in the supposedly clean bill, the vote to non-concur was overwhelming.
Without agreement from the house, the bill, which would require photo ID for voters in the state, is in limbo. The houses will have to reach some accommodation for the bill to move forward.
Florence Republican Hugh Leatherman was among those voting for non-concurrence. In a statement released by his office, Leatherman said that, he “ voted to nonconcur in the House amendments to the Voter ID Bill because I believe that by going to a conference committee we can get a Voter ID Bill that can pass the Senate and have a better chance of becoming law. I favor Voter ID for elections in South Carolina. I am committed to getting a Bill that ensures that our elections are secure and that votes cast are cast by those who they claim to be.
“However, the House Bill is flawed and would not give the people who have asked for this Bill what was promised to them. Concurring in the House Bill would be a political victory for politicians and a loss to voters at home who expected Voter ID. The Bill passed by the House was not a pure Voter ID Bill. Some examples are: unsure language on the HAVA law, no severability language, excluded police and government ID’s, deleted residency evidence for use in challenged ballots, and other language concerns.
In addition, some of the provisions of the Senate Bill deleted by the House should be restored. For example, I support reasonable early voting to avoid long lines on one day and to create more convenience to voters. The House voted for early voting as part of a Voter ID Bill last year.
Full Article: S.C. Senate blocks House version of Voter ID bill | SCNOW.