Note National Voter Registration Act and National-State Conflict: The Case of South Carolina

Why is South Carolina resisting compliance with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993? In a case study with implications for other states challenging the implementation of the motor voter law, the author frames his analysis on the basic of a conflict between nation-centered and state-centred views of American federalism. He argues that: (1) the lingering influence of a traditional political culture (for South Carolina), (2) states’ rights tendencies associated with the devolution of more authority to the states in domestic policy, (3) Republican party hegemony for strengthening the role of states in the federal system, and (4) the general objection of subnational officials to unfunded federal mandates converge to propel South Carolina and several other states (9 ot 10 led by Republican governors) to seek judicial relief under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution from what they see as the national government exploiting its authority at the expense of states.