South Carolina's New Photo ID Law

As of January 1, 2013, you will be asked to show one of the following Photo IDs at your polling place:

• S.C. Driver's License
• ID Card issued by S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles
• S.C. Voter Registration Card with Photo
• Federal Military ID
• U.S. Passport

Already have one of these? Great! You're good to go. If not, please keep reading.

How do I get a photo ID?

If you do not currently have one of the Photo IDs above, you can make your voting experience as fast and easy as possible by getting one free of charge:

• Registered voters can get a voter registration card with a photo from their county voter registration and elections office by simply providing their date of birth and the last four digits of their Social Security Number. Click here to learn how to register to vote.
• Get a DMV ID card at a local DMV office. Check with DMV or scdmvonline.com for required documents.

If you still can't get a photo ID for some reason (but you are registered to vote in your current county), you can still vote! What do you need to know?

If you do not have a photo ID on Election Day:

If you have a reasonable impediment to obtaining Photo ID, you may vote a provisional ballot after showing your non-photo voter registration card. A reasonable impediment is any valid reason, beyond your control, which created an obstacle to obtaining Photo ID. Some examples include:

• Religious objection to being photographed
• Disability or illness
• Work schedule
• Lack of transportation
• Lack of birth certificate
• Family responsibilities
• Election within short time frame of implementation of Photo ID law (January 1, 2013)
• Any other obstacle you find reasonable

To vote under the reasonable impediment exception:

1. Present your current, non-photo registration card at the polling place
2. Sign an affidavit stating why you could not obtain a Photo ID
3. Cast a provisional ballot that will be counted unless the county election commission has reason to believe your affidavit is false.

How do I know my vote will count?

Thank you, reader. I'm glad you asked! First of all, the only person who determines the reasonableness of the impediment is the voter. Neither our poll workers or our Election Commission will determine the reasonableness of the voter's impediment. As long as the impediment is true, the vote will be counted.

But what if neither of these apply to me?

If you do NOT have Photo ID and do NOT have a reasonable impediment to obtaining one, or you simply forgot to bring it with you to the polls, you may still vote a provisional ballot. However, for your vote to be counted, you must provide one of the Photo IDs to the county election commission prior to certification of the election (usually Thursday or Friday after the election).

The rules for registering to vote did not change! Click here to learn how to register to vote.

Dorchester County has previously held Photo ID seminars in Summerville. We will be providing the same seminar in St. George after the May 7 Special Election. Stay tuned for more information.

Still want more information? Contact our office at http://www.dorchestervotes.org or give us a call at (843) 832-0071.