Final answer:
The 2011 voter ID law in South Carolina was intended to stop voter fraud. However, it has been criticized for potentially disenfranchising minorities and the poor, as opponents argue that voter fraud is not a widespread issue that necessitates such laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 2011 voter ID law in South Carolina sought to stop voter fraud. This law was part of a broader trend where several states moved forward with voter identification laws following the Supreme Court's decision in June 2013 to repeal several aspects of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
Officials in states such as Texas, Mississippi, and South Carolina claimed that new ID laws were necessary to reduce voter fraud. However, opponents of these laws argue that they disproportionately affect minorities and the poor, and point to the low incidence of actual voter fraud, suggesting that these laws could potentially prevent eligible voters from exercising their right to vote.
Voter ID laws have been a contentious issue with debates on whether they are a form of voter suppression or a means to protect the integrity of elections from fraud.