Charleston, South Carolina Here in the Lowcountry, September 16 is National Voter Registration Day, and election officials are getting ready for what they anticipate to be a high voter turnout.
Voting season begins when summer comes to an end and October arrives. According to officials, today is a day to honor democracy and inspire citizens to register and be ready to cast their ballots.
Local resident Alice Kennelly stated, “You really do have to vote if you want to have anything to do with how things function.”
To urge voters to get ready and register in time for the next elections, the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections (BVRE) held a number of events.
Voting in these elections has far more immediate effects. And we kind of encounter more on a daily basis,” BVRE’s community engagement manager, Haley Oryell, stated.
In preparation for the next elections, officials are making every eligible voter registered, knowledgeable, and prepared to cast a ballot. collaborating with establishments such as City Lights Eastside Coffee Shop to increase voter registration.
There will be benefits for customers who register to vote in-store.
It is imperative that everyone cast their ballot. Gregg Carr, owner of the City Lights Eastside Coffee shop, stated, “We are offering 50% off every cup of coffee to anyone who comes in to register.”
At the College of Charleston’s National Voter Registration Day Celebration, teachers and students were able to get all the information they needed and register to vote for free.
Cate Mayer, the director of Be The Ones and founder of the local organization, clarified that celebrating students’ voices was a major factor in their partnership with CofC today.
“We want students to know and have a place where they can speak up, not just on campus, but give them the tools, resources, and opportunities to speak up loudly throughout Charleston, South Carolina, and this nation,” Mayer stated.
All around the Lowcountry, municipal elections are scheduled for November 4.
This means that important municipal leaders, including as mayors and members of city and town councils, will be chosen by voters.
Oryell clarified that these choices made by our local representatives have a significant impact on our daily life.
In these local elections, fewer people cast ballots. The margins of victory for the elected official are frequently extremely narrow. Thus, it’s more of a reason to understand that your vote matters,” Oryell said.
Important dates to keep in mind during the elections on November 4th include:
The in-person registration deadline is October 3. Online registration closes on October 5. Applications sent by mail must be postmarked by October 6 in order to be considered.
As the registration deadline draws near, there are a lot of activities taking place throughout the month. You can visit SCVotes.org to register to vote or to see your registration status.
