SC Democrats Sue to Eliminate State’s Requirement that Voters Disclose Social Security Number

The South Carolina Democratic Party, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee this week filed a lawsuit to eliminate South Carolina’s requirement that potential voters disclose their nine-digit Social Security number. The group says the requirement is unconstitutional and “a burden that suppresses registration and voter participation.”

Here’s what else the party said:

“The unnecessary statute impacts individuals who want to vote but do not want to risk their privacy or identity theft. It also undermines organizations that work to register voters.

Both the federal and state government advise against providing SSNs unless completely necessary. South Carolina is one of just five states with an SSN registration requirement. Nearly one million South Carolinians are eligible to vote but have not registered.”

“Voters should not have to fear that registering to vote will expose them to identity theft,” DCCC Chairwoman Cheri Bustos said. “That’s why we’re taking on South Carolina’s unconstitutional requirement that voters provide their full Social Security number when they register to vote, a blatant attempt to discourage people from registering to vote and making their voices heard. As 2020 approaches we’re taking on voter suppression laws across the country because we should all be working to increase access to the ballot, not restrict it.”

“Voters shouldn’t have to choose between protecting their privacy and participating in our democracy,” DSCC Chair Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto said. “We’re challenging this risky and unnecessary requirement because we stand firm in our commitment to making it easier, not harder, for Americans to vote.”

You can read the complaint here.

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