The voter identification law takes affect this year.

Voters in the state will now be required to show one of five types of photo ID to cast a ballot: a South Carolina driver's license, other form of photo ID issued by the state Deptartment of Motor Vehicles, Passport, Military ID bearing a photo issued by the federal government, or South Carolina voter registration card with a photo.

A three-judge federal panel ruled the law does not discriminate against minorities, as the Justice Department and other opponents had argued.

State Representative Alan Clemmons (R-Horry County) authored the bill . He says the law will help rid the state of voter fraud.