FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: May 12, 2014
CONTACT: Victoria Middleton, ACLU of South Carolina, (843) 720 1424; vmiddleton@aclusouthcarolina.org
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of South Carolina today notified the Richland County Election Commission of errors in its mailing to voters concerning guidance about acceptable identification at polling places.
Included in the mailing was a printed notification stating that voters must present one of the following types of identification: a S.C. driver’s license; DMV ID card; SC voter registration card with photo; a federal military ID; or a U.S. passport. The notice did not inform voters that they may still vote if they do not present one of the five accepted forms of ID.
Voters who do not have any of the listed forms of identification or who have identification but fail to produce it at the polls may vote by provisional ballot.
The ACLU of South Carolina asked the Richland County Election Commission to cease using the inaccurate form and to produce new forms for future mailings to voters.
The following can be attributed to Susan Dunn, Legal Director of the ACLU of South Carolina:
“This erroneous notification could discourage registered voters who lack photo ID or who misplace or forget their ID on Election Day. The Commission should be encouraging all registered voters to participate in elections. We recommend that the Commission immediately notify voters via the media in order to correct this misinformation ahead of upcoming elections.”
