(AP) -- South Carolina's attorney general has responded to U.S. Justice Department questions on the state's new voter photographic identification law.
The response, made up mostly of material generated by the state Election Commission includes an estimate that nearly 239,000 of the state's 2.7 million active and inactive voters don't have state-issued driver's licenses or ID cards with photos.
The Justice Department has to approve South Carolina election law changes under the Voting Rights Act.
The Election Commission is asking for expedited approval so that it can implement the changes before the January 21 presidential primary.
Supporters say it will cut fraud. The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups say the law will create problems for poor, minority and elderly voters who lack documents needed to get state-issued identification.
Earlier today the ACLU said the materials are confusing and potentially misleading.
ACLU voting rights lawyer Katie O'Connor says the material leaves people with impression everyone needs a photo ID to vote.
But State Election Commission spokesman Chris Whitmire said Wednesday the education materials only emphasize the changes in the law.
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