One of the nations highest courts has ruled South Carolina can require photo identification for voters starting next year.

The United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued a ruling in favor of the state in the voter ID case.

"Today's ruling by the three judge panel is a major victory for South Carolina and its election process. It affirms our voter ID law is valid and constitutional under the Voting Rights Act. The fact remains, voter ID laws do not discriminate or disenfranchise; they ensure integrity at the ballot box,” said South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. "This ruling also affirms South Carolina's voter ID law should have been pre-cleared by the U.S. Justice Department We will work diligently to implement this law for all future elections."

South Carolina's voter ID will take effect starting with elections in 2013.