Voter Registration Still Lagging Locally and Nationally

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

In 1920, eight days after it was ratified, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution went into effect -- giving women the right to vote. In 2022 general elections, a higher percentage of woman who were eligible (54 percent) voted than men who were eligible to vote (51.8 percent).

Sadly, that means close to half of all American citizens who were eligible to vote did not go to the polls in 2022. And this does not include the 33.1 percent of voting-age citizens who are not registered to vote. 

Some of this is a reflection of our system. The United States has among the lowest voter turnouts in the West (we rank 26th). 

Two things might help improve citizen participation in choosing our leadership. 

First, make the right to vote part of citizenship. No registration, simply a verified birth certificate or verified paperwork that a person has become a naturalized citizen. Until that is be put into place, have a citizenship verification system which vets voters when getting a drivers license? Many DMVs already have the paperwork to register to vote, so why duplicate?

Second, until the measures above are in place and successful, put more effort in encouraging voter registration. Online voting registration is available, but many seem unaware. The Anderson County Board of Registrations and Elections is continually reminding citizens of the ease of online registration, and perhaps a public awareness campaign could be funded to help their efforts.

High schools could offer reminders to their graduating seniors that voting is one of the responsibilities of citizenship as well as providing information on how and were to register.

Voter registration booths at public events, and more are being considered locally, are also a good start. This is not a partisan issue, but one both parties should take seriously.

Voting matters. Choices we make at the polls matter. Elections are not simply about who we send to Washington or elect as president. Our local and state governments — governor, mayor, city council members, or your state senators and representatives, school board members, solicitors, coroners — all can have a profound impact on the community. The decisions these elected officials make can quickly influence our daily lives, making choosing wisely important.

On June 11, the South Carolina Primary will allow Anderson County Residents to choose a new U.S. Congress member, the members of the Anderson County Legislative Delegation, County Council members, a coroner, new solicitor and other local offices, some of which sport a single candidate. While voting registration is closed for this primary, there is still plenty of time to register before the November general elections.

Help is always available if you have questions. Anderson Office of Voter Registration and Elections have been recognized as on of the best in the state, and the staff there is top-notch. You can visit their website here, or call them at 864-260-4035. You can also drop by their office at 301 North Main Street for information or assistance. 

You can also register online here. SCVotes.org also offers every voter information on the precinct they are to vote and what candidates, or other items which are on their ballot (and a sample ballot is provided).

In Anderson County 123,032 of roughly 195,000 eligible citizens are registered to vote, which means nearly one-third of those citizens who could vote are not even registered.

Whether you wear a hat with an elephant or one with a donkey, this year is a good time to encourage friends and family to vote. As one who votes in every election, I've earned the right to evaluate, encourage, criticize and opine about the people who are running our community, schools, state and country.

And while I appreciate the challenge put forth to help us all return to civil discourse in this country - and I understand the Constitution's guaranteed right to free speech - if you are not going to even register to vote, I'm inclined to think you should just shut up.

For those registered to vote, visit the Observer’s Primary 24 Preview.