Transcript of remarks by state Attorney General Alan Wilson on South Carolina’s new voter ID law (January 2012): 

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. CREDIT: Governor.SC.gov

“Thank you, Governor. My comments will be very brief.

“First, I want to say that our office has reviewed the Department of Justice’s letter regarding voter ID and the preclearance that was rejected. And what we have intended to do is we intend to file a suit against the DOJ in the D.C. district court within the next week or two. I don’t have the dates specific yet.

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“But our intent of the office is to look at this list of legislation through the litigation process and to ensure that no voter is suppressed in their right to vote and that the integrity in the electoral process is protected.

“That is of paramount importance that we protect the electoral process, ensure that voter irregularities and potential voter fraud is curtailed, curbed, or prevented. It’s very difficult to prevent or prohibit a negative or prove a negative rather, but we intend to file suit in the D.C. district court.

“I might add that the U.S. Supreme Court has already upheld this law, and the Department of Justice has prevented the citizens of South Carolina from availing themselves with the protections of a law that the United States Supreme Court has already upheld for the citizens of Indiana.

“I might also add that other southern states in this region, such as Georgia, already have similar laws, and our law’s actually better and affords more protection.

“So these laws are already in place. And I have heard, looked, and seen no evidence of voter suppression. If I believed that this would suppress a person’s right to vote, I would not be behind it.

“But at this time, the news from our office is we intend to file suit within the next two weeks with the D.C. district court.

“Thank you.”

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