Voters OK ban on gay unions

COLUMBIA - South Carolina voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment Tuesday that would ban gay marriage.

Returns showed that nearly four out of five voters supported the ban.

The state already has a law against same-sex marriages, but supporters said a constitutional amendment would prevent activist judges from opening the door to gay unions.

Many voters in South Carolina, one of eight states with similar bans on their ballots, said they came out to vote primarily because of the marriage issue.

Jeff Sligh, 44, who chose mostly Democrats on the ballot, said he also voted for the marriage ban.

"I always follow the Bible, and the Bible says a man is with a woman, not a man is with a man," said Mr. Sligh, of Simpsonville.

Jared Johnson, 25, of Greenville, said he thought the ban would pass, he was compelled to vote to make a statement.

"I think it's going to be like civil rights," said Mr. Johnson, who said he was gay.

"In time, people will understand that's right."

Ronald Deshaies, 63, said he voted for the ban because of his religious beliefs, but said all the ballot questions should be handled by the Legislature, not passed along to the voters.

"I was thinking while I voted, 'Isn't that their job? Isn't that why we elect those people?'" said Mr. Deshaies, of Greenville. "I think it's a cop-out" to pass the questions along to voters, he said.

Voters also overwhelmingly approved an amendment to restrict the eminent domain authority of state government.

The amendment, designed to prevent the seizure of land for commercial development, would prevent the state from seizing land for anything except public use or if a piece of property was blighted or dangerous to the community.

A South Carolina ballot hasn't had this many questions since 1988, when there were 11, state Election Commission spokesman Chris Whitmire said.

In South Carolina, all constitutional ballot amendments must be ratified by the Legislature, which convenes in January.