By Barbara J. Sloan.
Horry County Democrats can do something about today’s political climate. And now is the time to do it. Here are 15 ways to make a huge difference.
- Voter registration has been extended to Wednesday October 17 due to Hurricane Florence. Are you registered? Do you have a plan to go to the polls to vote on or before November 6? Can you help your family and friends do the same?
- First make sure you are registered and that your address is current. Then make a plan to get to the polls on election day or to vote in-person or mail-in absentee if you cannot be present on election day.
- Drive a friend to get registered and invite that friend to go with you when you vote.
- Witness a mail-in absentee ballot. South Carolina, where a witness signature is required, throws out absentee ballots that are not witnessed. Young and elderly voters may need your help.
- Many former felons do not know that they can vote. Tell them, and then help them get registered. They must show evidence that his/her sentence is completed, including parole/probation and restitution. If they were registered before conviction, they must show papers at the Voter Registration and Elections Office at 1515 4th Avenue in Conway in order to register again. But if they were never registered, they can register as any other person would, in person or online.
- People who have a driver’s license and access to a computer can register to vote online. They can also check their polling place and much more at scvotes.org. If you use a public computer, be sure to close the browser after you finish to protect your personal information.
- Become a Democratic poll watcher to help ensure fair treatment of all voters. There will be one more poll watcher training session at HCDP, 311C Beaty Street, Conway, on October 18 at 6 p.m. No registration is required. We need more people to do this important work.
- Help Democrats with phone-banking to likely voters, encouraging them to vote. You can also choose to knock on doors with another Democrat. Check with the HCDP Voter Committee for more information by calling HCDP at (843)488 4237.
- Distribute candidate literature to your family, friends and others. Put candidate yard signs in your yard. All of this is free for the asking at the HCDP office. As someone said, “It does no good if it sits on the shelf.”
- Write a letter to the editor in support of your favorite candidate. Write for the HCDP website. We always welcome new writers to our team. (If you’re interested, contact Bob Gatty, HCDP Director of Communications – bob@horrydemocrats.org.)
- Post candidate and voting information on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or other social media.
- Before election day, join our volunteers who are willing to drive those without cars to their polling places on election day. If you are an attorney, volunteer to answer legal questions on election day. You don’t even have to leave your office. Just give us your phone number and your permission by calling the HCDP office.
- Participate in events leading up to election day, such as rallies, informational meetings and fundraisers. Candidates are more likely to win if we support them financially.
- Donate snacks, sandwiches and beverages to the HCDP office for the use of those who will spend long hours there assisting poll watchers and voters on election day.
- Call HCDP to ask for other ways in which you can help. We have many committees that need people to help us reach our full potential and elect our candidates on every election day.
Democrats tend to win elections when we turn out to vote. But midterm elections are notorious for low voter turnout. We can make a difference by just showing up and voting. Every vote counts.
Remember this. You have the power. Use it.
For more information, call the Horry County Democratic Party at (843)488 4237 or visit https://horrydemocrats.xyz and search keyword “voter.”
Barbara J. Sloan is a member of the HCDP Voter Protection and Poll Watching Committee.
