Florence City Councilman Ed Robinson says the law is a push to keep African Americans and the poor from voting.
"This fight now has turned into a rich man, poor man fight and it includes white folks that are middle class and below and I'm hoping that I can appeal to them as well because this is an injustice. This is not what America is all about. This is a move to push us back into slavery on a upper scale," said Robinson.
He's calling on all elected officials in Florence County to stand with him in his efforts to fight the new law.
It was signed into to law this week by Governor Nikki Haley.
The law requires you to show a state or military issued photo ID in order to vote in South Carolina.
Robinson stressed, "Leadership, leadership, leadership. Those of us who are supposed to be leaders, elected officials, ministers you can no longer just stay back and let this stuff happen, because I know you know probably know better than I do but to sit back to do and say nothing is not the right thing to do."
Supporters say the law will prevent election fraud, while opponents argue it will suppress the vote of poor, disabled and elderly voters who lack a driver's license.
Those voters can get state-issued ID cards for free. But opponents say getting the cards will be costly and involve tracking down birth certificates. The Progressive Network says it is collecting testimony about the difficulties.
Robinson says there was no need to change the voting system, because nothing was wrong with it.
"If it ain't broke, why you want to fix it? The whole purpose, the sole purpose is to disenfranchise minority and low income votes and that's it in a nut shell," he said.
The U.S. Justice Department will review the new law because of South Carolina's past voter rights violation history.
Robinson is holding a rally at the Florence City Complex on North Irby Street, Saturday, May 28th at 11:00 a.m. to formally voice his opposition against the new voting law.
Do you agree with Councilman Robinson or do you think an ID should be required when voting?
