State lawmakers are back in the Statehouse for a few days.  On a 69-47 vote Tuesday the House also passed a conference report on the voter ID bill, also known as the Election Law Reform Act.  The legislation would require a person to have photo identification in order to cast a vote.

Republicans say it’s a way of reducing voter fraud. Democrats say there has been no voter fraud, and it’s just a way of discouraging some voters from voting.

Bamberg County Democrat Bakari Sellers and others said the requirement would cost the state more than a million dollars.  Supporters of the legislation say it would not be that costly. They also point out that the bill will allow 10 days of early voting. Voters who wish to cast their ballot early could do so for whatever reason. The original House version only contained three days. The Senate version contained 15 days. Currently South Carolina only has absentee voting, which is only allowed for certain reasons. Georgia and North Carolina allow early voting for 30 and 40 days, respectively.

Greenville Republican Harry Cato talked about the early voting option.

AUDIO: Cato on voter ID bill (:22)

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On Thursday, the Executive Committee of the South Carolina Democratic Party will hear Vic Rawl’s protest of the U.S. Senate primary race, which Rawl lost to political unknown Alvin Greene. Greene captured 59 percent of the vote without mounting a serious campaign. Rawl contends there were problems with the voting machines. State Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler says both sides will be heard at Thursday’s hearing. Fowler says if the election is overturned, the two candidates will have what amounts to a redo of the primary vote.

Rawl says he has been told by a number of primary voters that when they pressed the voting machine touch screen to vote for him, Greene’s name appeared instead.  Fowler says if the Executive Committee rules that a new vote is warranted, the move would be unprecedented.

AUDIO: Carol Fowler on Rawl protest and Greene’s candidacy

McMaster has high hopes for Haley and Republican party

Attorney General Henry McMaster says he’ll not only endorse Nikki Haley for governor, he’ll campaign with her as well–all in the interest of party unity and promoting a positive image of the state.

He spoke with SCRN’s Ashley Byrd today.

AUDIO: McMaster on why he’ll campaign for Haley (3:10)

McMaster says he still wants to serve SC after his term is up as attorney general, but he has not decided whether he will work in the public or private sector.