Spring 2012 - League of Women Voters of South Carolina

Every legislative session in South Carolina brings its challenges.In 2012 the League continues our laser focus on increasing citizen access to our democratic processes.

League advocacy 2012

Voter Access• The LWVSC opposes the Voter Photo

ID Act.Forthepast3yearstheLeaguehasbeeninvolvedineffortstodefeattheVoterPhotoIDAct,whichpassedthelegislaturelastyear.SouthCarolina’sPhotoIDlawwasstruckdownbytheU.S.DepartmentofJusticeandisthesubjectofalawsuitfiledbythestate’sattorneygeneral,South Carolina v. Holder.TheLeaguehasrequestedpermissionfroma3-judgefederalpaneltotakepartinalegalchallengeonthesideofthefederalgovernment.

• LWVSC opposes H.4549,abillthatwouldseverelyrestrictthirdpartyregistrationofvoters,anactivitythatisastapleofLeaguevoteraccessefforts.ThisbillwassentbacktocommitteebytheHousebillsponsoraftermassiveeffortsbytheLeagueandotherlike-mindedgroupstobringpublicpressureagainstthebill.Indefenseofvoterrights,Leagueleadersacrossthestatehavepublishedopinioncolumnsandletterstotheeditor,andappearedonlocalandnationalradioandTV(includingPBS)andlocalnewsprograms.

• LWVSC opposes S.304thatwouldrequireproofofcitizenshipforvoterregistration.ThedocumentationrequiredpresentsproblemssimilartothoseofthephotoIDbill,andisthereforeopposedbytheLeague.

InrecognitionofoureffortsinpreservingvoteraccessinSouthCarolinatheS.C.LegislativeBlackCaucuspresentedtheLeaguewithitsBuilding Bridges for Politicians to Cross AwardattheirannualBusinessRoundtableLuncheoninMarch.TheACLU,aLWVpartnerinvoterprotectionefforts,alsoreceivedanaward.

Education • LWVSC opposes H.4894/S.1325,

Tax Deductions for Private Schooling, Home Schooling, and Contributions to Scholarship Funds for Both.H.4894passedtheHouseonMarch29,andtheLeaguewilljointheefforttodefeatthisbillintheSenate.Thisbillwouldgivea$4,000.00taxdeductiontoparentswhohomeschoolorsendtheirchildrentoprivateschoolandupto$15,000deductionforcontributionstoscholarshipfundstoassistpoor

childrenwithprivateschooltuition.Thetotalimpactofthebillwouldbetoreducetaxrevenueby$37millioninthefirstyearofimplementationalone.Infact,a$4,000deductionwouldonlyresultinabout$280.00ofadditionalincometotheaverageparent,certainlynotenoughtopaytuitionatanyaccreditedprivateschool.Thereisalsonoguaranteethattherewouldbeprivateschoolslotsavailable

Volume 61, Issue 4 Spring 2012

SC oterPost Office Box 8453 • Columbia, SC 29202 • Phone & Fax: (803) 251-2726 Website: www.lwvsc.org

Website: www.lwvsc.org Join the League today!

League Leaders day continued on page 4 –

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS

www.lwv.org

★ ★ ★Website: www.lwvsc.org Join the League today!

★ 2 ★ Website: www.lwvsc.org Join the League today!

LEAGUE ADVOCACY: continued on page 3 –

Highlights:• League Advocacy 2012 ..................... 1• Co-President’s Perspectives .............. 2• S.C. League Notables ........................ 4• Healthcare News ............................... 4• Leagues Around the State ................ 5• LWV & Natural Resources .............. 7• A World Class Education System ... 8• Election Verification in SC ............ 10• Integrity of the Vote ....................... 10• Encourage the Vote ........................ 11• Important League Dates ................. 11• Lobby Day Invitation ..................... 12

AllOverAgAin

By JoAnne Day, LWVSC Vice President, Issues and Action

Deja Vu


AmongtheLeagueofWomenVoters’coreprinciplesarebeliefsthatvotingisafundamentalright,andthatourdemocraticgovernmentdependsoncitizens’informedandactiveparticipationingovernment.Ensuringaccessforallcitizenstoournation’sdemocraticprocesseshasbeenthefocusoftheLeague’sconcertedeffortsinceitsformation92yearsago.Indeed,suffragistleadersformedtheLeaguein1920directlyoutofstruggletosecurevotingrightsforallwomen.

Inherlegislativeadvocacyupdateinthisissue,JoAnneDayreportsontheLeague’stirelessworkinSouthCarolinatoprotectandexpandvoteraccess.TheLeaguebelievessimplythatgovernmentshouldbemakingparticipationinourdemocracybyeligiblecitizenseasier,notharder.Atthesametime,theLeagueisfirmlycommittedtoprotectingtheintegrityofthestate’selectoralsystem.Wedo,ofcourse,supportprogressiveelectionlawreform.InthisissueyoucanreadaboutLeagueleadershipinimplementingpost-electionvoteauditsandrecountingpaperballots,oursupportforameasureallowingvoterstoregisterontheInternet,oppositiontorestrictionsonregisteringeligiblecitizenstovote,andinvolvementinastatewidecampaigntoregisteryoungvoters.

SouthCarolina’sphotoIDlawandbillstorestrictvoterregistrationareexamplesofawaveofrestrictivevotingmeasuresthatpassedacrossthenationin2011.Together,theselawscouldmakeitharderforupto5millionpeopletovote,accordingtotheBrennanCenterforJustice’sreport

Voting Law Changes in 2011(http://www.brennancenter.org/content/resource/voting_law_changes_in_2012/).

ForseveralyearstheLeaguefoughtagainstrestrictivephotoidentificationrequirementsforSouthCarolinavoters.Duringalongpublicdebateonthelegislationwearguedthatthereisnodocumentedevidenceofvoterimpersonationfraud,thatthestatealreadyhasstrict,effectivevoterIDproceduresinplace,andthatSouthCarolina’svoterphotoIDlawcouldpotentiallydenytherighttovotetothousandsofregisteredvoterswhodonothaveand,inmanyinstances,cannotobtainthelimitedformsofgovernment-issuedidentificationthelawrequires.

Afterthemeasure’sratificationinMay2011,theLeagueopposedimplementationinletterstotheU.S.DepartmentofJustice(DOJ)whichmustpre-clearchangestoSouthCarolina’selectionlaws.TheDOJblockedthelawinDecember,echoingargumentsadvancedbytheLWVSCandourvotingrightspartners.SouthCarolinaissuingthefederalgovernmentintheU.S.DistrictCourtinWashington,DC,tooverturntheDOJ’srejectionofthelaw.

InMarch,theLWVSCurgedthefederalcourttorejectthestate’srestrictivevoterIDlaw,arguingthelawerectsunnecessarybarrierstovotingandcoulddisenfranchisethousandsofminorityvoters.OurmotionasksthecourttoallowLWVSCtointerveneinSouth Carolina v. Holder,thestate’schallengetoDOJ’sdecision.Westatethatthelawis“directlyatoddswiththeLeague'sprimarymissionoffacilitatingcivicparticipation.”ThepanelalreadygrantedpermissionfortheAmericanCivilLibertiesUniontointerveneinthelawsuit.

AschedulingconferenceinthecaseissetforApril13inWashington.TheLeagueisrepresentedbyagoldstandardvotingrightslegalteam:theBrennanCenterforJustice,theLawyers’CommitteeforCivilRightsUnderLaw,

andprobonobythelawfirmsSullivan&CromwellLLPandDerfner,Altman&WilbornLLC.

Readourmotiontointerveneandsupportingmemorandumathttp://www.brennancenter.org/content/resource/league_of_women_voters_of_south_carolina_urge_court_to_reject_restrictive_v/.

Asrestrictivevotinglawscontinuetopassnationwide,wearepleasedtoseetheJusticeDepartmentandstatecourtsstandupforvoters.InMarch,theJusticeDepartmentrejectedasimilarlawinTexasandajudgeruledthatWisconsin’svoterIDlawviolatedthestateConstitution.TheDOJalsoopposedFlorida’slawrestrictingvoterregistrationandearlyvoting.

ForthenonpartisanLeague,everyvoteisprecious,nomatterwhocastsitandforwhichcandidates.Thatfactisdifficultforsomepeopletoaccept.WhiletherighttovoteisguaranteedinboththeUnitedStatesandSouthCarolinaConstitutions,votingisalsoahotpoliticalissue.It’scommonknowledgethatwhovotesandwhetherthosevotesarecountedfairlyhavetremendousconsequences.

TheLeaguehasstoodunflinchinglybyourcoreprinciplesinthefaceofheatcomingfromcriticswhoclaimwearefavoringonepartyoveranother.Wecannotsayittoooften:TheLeaguewillopposeanyelectionprocedurethatcouldpotentiallyimpedetheabilityofanyvotertoexerciseherorhisrighttovote.Further,theLeagueacrossthestateiscommittedtoregisteringalleligiblecitizenstovote,informingthemaboutcandidatesandtheissues,andencouragingturnout.Our92yearoldmissiontoprotectvoterrightsappliestoallcitizens,whethertheybeRepublicanorDemocrat,blackorwhite,youngorold,richorpoor.

Barbara ZiaCo-President, LWVSC



Co-President’s Perspectives:Supporting Voting Rights Is Not Partisan

Because the photo identification requirement chills and in some cases prevents voting, it is directly at odds with the League’s primary mission of facilitating civic participation. – AsstatedinLWVSC’scourtfilingaskingtojoininalegalchallengetoSouthCarolina’photoIDlawforvoters





★ 3 ★Website: www.lwvsc.org Join the League today!

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forchildren.TheLeagueconsistentlyopposeanypublicfundingforprivateorhomeschooling.Thisisabackdoormethodofshiftingpublicfundstoprivateandhomeschools.

• LWVSC opposes “tax reform” proposals that would further reduce funding for public schools and local governments: o H.4993,ManufacturingProperty

andBusinessPersonalPropertyTaxReductions,wouldreducethetaxrateonmanufacturingpropertyfrom10.5%to6%over4years,reducingschooldistrictrevenueby$140milliondollarswhenfullyimplemented.

o H.4998,CommercialPropertyTaxReduction,wouldreducetaxrateoncommercialpropertyfrom6%to5%in8years.Itwouldreducefundingtoschooldistrictsby$508millionwhenfullyimplemented.

• LWVSC opposes H.4610thatwouldrequireschooldistrictstooperatetheirownbusservice,thusprivatizingtheschoolbussystem.WhiletheLeaguedoesnotyethaveapositiononprivatizationperse,wehaveconcernsovertherealpotentialimpactofpassageofthisbillonschoolsystemsalreadyreelingfrom3straightyearsofbudgetcuts.A3-yearstudybytheStateDepartmentofEducationshowedthatitwouldcostmoremoneytoprivatizethanitdoestorunthestatesystem.Thetwodistrictsthatcurrentlypartiallyprivatizetheirbuses,CharlestonandBeaufort,sayitismoreexpensivetodoso.Smallerandruraldistrictsfearprivatizationwouldbeimpossible.Totheextentthatthischangehasnotbeenthoroughlyresearched,thatnopilotworkhasbeendone,andthattheoutcomecouldfurtherexacerbatethegapbetweenrichandpoorschooldistrictstheLeagueopposesthisbill.

• LWVSC opposes S.604.ThisbillwouldrepealtheBoardofEducationandtheEducationOversightCommittee’sadoptionoftheCommonCoreStandards.CommonCoreStandardsareeducationalstandardsforEnglishandmathematics,developedbytheNationalGovernorsAssociationandtheCouncilofChiefStateSchoolOfficers,incollaborationwithkeyprofessionalassociationssuchastheNationalCouncilofTeachersofMathematicsandtheNationalCouncilofTeachersofEnglishtoprovideacommonplatformofcoreknowledgeenablingcomparisonacrossstatesandamongcountries.44statesincludingSouthCarolinahaveadoptedthesestandards.Theyarerigorous,insomecasesmorerigorousthanSC’spreviousstandards.AstheLeaguesupportsahighqualitypubliceducationforallchildren,weopposethisbill.Passingwouldlowerourstandards.

• LWVSC supports H.4317.Onapositivenote,legislationtostrengthenearlychildhoodhomevisitinghasbeenintroducedbyRepresentativeJamesSmithandothers.

• TheLeagueisalsopursuingpartnershipstoaddressearlychildhoodeducationandinterventionmeasures.

Criminal/Juvenile JusticeLWVSC supports H.3757ameasure

tostrengtheneffortstocurbhumantraffickinginSouthCarolina.TheLeagueofferedtestimonyatthesubcommitteehearingintheHouse.AttorneyGeneralAlanWilsonandSouthCarolinalawenforcementagenciessupportthisbill.WilsonhasnotedthatbothGeorgiaandNorthCarolinahaveenactedtoughhumantraffickinglaws,causingincreasedactivitytoflowthroughSouthCarolina.

Natural Resources • LWVSC opposes H.4654/S1126.The

LeaguehasjoinedconservationpartnersinopposingH.4654anditscompanionbillS.1126,whichwouldendthePollutionAct’sprivaterightofactionandleavecitizenswithoutrecoursetothecourtsunderthatact.ThisbillhaspassedtheHouse,andhasbeen

referredtotheSenateMedicalAffairsCommittee.LWVopposesthisbill.

• LWVSC supports S.461,theAlcoholicBeverageRecyclingAct(S.461).IthaspassedintheSenate,andhasbeenreferredtotheHouse.

HealthcareReproductive Rights

TheLeagueisopposingbillsthatwouldhavenegativeimpactsonwomen’shealthandreproductiverights,workingwithothergroupsthatarealsointerestedintheseissues.• LWVSC opposes H.3408.The“freedom

ofconscience”bill,wouldallowmedicalpersonneltorefusetoprovideservicesandeveninformationonhealthcareoptionsonthebasisofpersonalbeliefs,andwouldprovidelegalimmunitytothoseemployees.

• LWVSC opposes S.102.ThisbillwouldprohibitqualifyinghealthplansunderthefederalPatientProtectionActfromofferingabortioncoverage.

• LWVSC opposes S.1149,the“bornalive”bill,thatmandatescareforinfantsmeetingthestatute’sstandardsforliferegardlessofgestationalage,andintervenesinthedecision-makingoffamiliesandtheirphysicians.TheSouthCarolinaMedicalAssociationalsoopposesthisbillaspotentiallydangeroustobothmedicalcareprovidersandtopatients.

Ethics and TransparencyLWVSC supports H.3235that

wouldrequireresponsestoFreedomofInformationActrequeststobeprovidedpromptlyandatacostconsistentwiththemarketvalueofdocumentproductioncosts.

In summary,ouradvocacyeffortsaremanyandvaried,andthevolunteerlobbyingworkattheStatehouseisonlyoneofthoseefforts.CitizeneducationonissueshasalwaysbeenahallmarkofLeaguework.Strengthisalsoinnumbersandfosteringpartnershipswithlike-mindedcoalitionpartnersisoneofthekeystosuccessininfluencinglegislation.

LEAGUE ADVOCACY 2012:continued from page 1 –


Healthcare NewsBy Marty Hucks, LWVSC Director, Healthcare





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AstheattentionofournationfocusesontheSupremeCourt’shandlingoftheconstitutionalityoftheAffordableCareAct,theaccessibility,safetyandqualityofhealthcarecontinuestobeofupmostimportancetoallofus.HereinSouthCarolina,theStrokePreventionAct(S588)hasbeenenacted,aftertheGeneralAssemblyunitedtooverrideGovernorHaley’sJune14,2011veto,andaddressestheseareasofconcernbyprovidingthefollowing:- theDepartmentofHealthand

EnvironmentalControl(DHEC)isrequiredtoidentifyhospitalsasprimarystrokecentersandstrokeenabledcentersthroughtelemedicine;

- aStrokeSystemofCareAdvisoryCouncilisappointedbytheDHECdirector;

- theCouncil,inconsultationwithDHEC’sDivisionofHeartDiseaseandStrokePreventionandtheDivisionofEmergencyMedicalServices,isresponsiblefordevelopingand

implementingastatewidesystemofstrokecare;

- andamethodfordevelopingprotocolsforcoordinationandtransportationwiththeDivisionofEmergencyMedicalServicesisestablished.

StrokeisthethirdleadingcauseofdeathinSouthCarolina,killing2,460herein2007,andthedisabilitythatoftenoccursinthosethatdosurviveisdevastatingtotheindividualandhisfamily.Despitemediacampaignssuchas“TimeLostisBrainLost,”manypeoplefailtoreceivetimelytreatment,eitherbecausetheywaittoolongtoseekhelporbecauseofinefficienciesinthesystem.Eighty-sevenpercentofstrokesaretheresultofaclotthatblocksbloodflowtobraincells.Inthissituation,thereisanareaoftissuethatdies,butthereisalsoapenumbraofdamagedtissuesurroundingthisthatcanbesavedincertainpersonsbytheadministrationofamedicationcalledtissue plasminogen activatorifitisgivenwithinthreehoursoftheonsetofthe

stroke.Determiningwhoisacandidatefort-PAiscomplex,andmanyhospitalsdonothavetheresourcestocarryouttheprocess.

WhileSouthCarolinahaselevenPrimaryStrokeCenterscertifiedbyJointCommission,theStrokePreventionActwillincreasetheuseoftelemedicineinStrokeEnabledCenterstofacilitatetheearlytreatmentofstrokeandwillhelpassurethatastrokevictimgetstoanappropriatefacilityasquicklyaspossible.Asimilarstate-wide,coordinatedapproachhasbeenusedsuccessfullyforvictimsoftraumaformanyyears.

Despitethesignificanceofthelegislation,earlyrecognitionofastrokewilllikelydependontheindividual’sorfamily’sknowledgeofsymptoms.TheacronymFASTisusefulinidentifyingthemostcommonofthose:Fstandsforunilateralfacialdrooping;Astandsforinabilitytoraiseonearm;Sstandsforslurredorconfusedspeech;Tstandsfortime-ifanyofthesymptomsarepresent,call911.

South carolina League Notables• LWVSC washonoredbytheSouth

CarolinaLegislativeBlackCaucuswithitsprestigiousBridges for Politicians to Cross AwardatLBC’sannualCorporateRoundtableBusinessLuncheoninColumbiaonMarch23.TheawardrecognizestheLeague’sadvocacytoprotectvotingrights.JoAnneDayandLynnTeagueacceptedforLWVSC.

• Marty Hucks,LWV/FlorenceAreamemberandFrancisMarionUniversityDepartmentofNursingprofessor,wasappointedLWVSCHealthcareDirectorbytheLWVSCBoard.

• TheLWVSCBoardacceptedtheresignationofCarole CatoasAdvocacy

Director.WearegratefultoCaroleforheroutstandingserviceasaLeagueleader,advocatingforourpositions,teachingusaboutcitizenadvocacy,andeducatingcitizensaboutvoting.CaroleremainsanactiveLeaguerandisoffonnewadventures,includingaradiotalkshowinColumbia.

• Mary Ann Burtt,memberatlargefromColletonCountyandformerLWVSCpresident,hasbeenappointedaLWVUSShurFellowfortheMembershipandLeadershipDevelopmentproject.

• Shayna Howell,LWV/CharlestonAreaBoardmember,hascompletedanexciting2-yeartermasLWVUSShurFellowas

partoftheLWVUSNationalMembershipRecruitmentInitiative.

• Peggy Appler,LWV/CharlestonAreamemberandformerLWVSCvicepresident,isnominatedtoserveontheLWVUSBoard.ElectionwilltakeplaceatLWVUSConventioninWashington,DC,inJune.

• Mary Ann Deku,LWV/SpartanburgCountypresident,wasnamedasoneofthe107.3JAMZ2012UpstateBlackHistoryMakersduringFebruary.AslocalLeaguepresidentfor3years,$18,000ingrantswereawardedtotheLeagueduetohereffortsandthoseofenergeticLeaguechairsHelenBennettandLindaBilanchone.






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LWV/Charleston Area partneredwiththeBerkeleyCountySchoolDistricttosponsorvoterregistrationdrivesatsixBerkeleyCountyhighschoolsin2012.Participatinghighschoolsincluded:Berkeley,Stratford,GooseCreek,CaneBay,HanahanandTimberland.LeaguemembersandfriendsoftheLeaguevolunteeringincluded:JanePulling,MaryLouandDocArdrey,CherylMalone,AuvoKemppinen,DianeUrig,BookerandPeggyManigault,EdnaGreen,MaryHarden,MargaretRush,CarolynSimmons,MaryHardin,WandaandBobHaight,andBenRichardson.647studentswereregistered.TheBerkeleyCountyBoardofEducationrecognizedtheLeagueattheirmeetingonMarch11.LeaguepresidentJulieHusseyacceptedthisrecognition.ThisisthethirdyearofLWVpartnershipwithBerkeleyCountySchools.Morethan2,000studentshavebeenregisteredinthatperiodoftime.

LWV/Clemson Areawantedtofocusmoreonactionthisyear,soscheduledanextrameetingeachmonthjusttotalkaboutlegislativeandotherissuesthatofferopportunitiesforaction.Theystartedinthefallwithaweeklymeeting,butthatwastoooften,sonowhaveacasuallunchmeetingonthethirdTuesday.Itcreatesanopportunitytoparticipateforsomeofmemberswhodon’tliketogooutatnightfortheLeague’sregularTuesdayeveningmeeting,andithasgeneratedalotofconversations,lettersandphonecallstopublicofficials,andletterstotheeditoraboutabroadrangeofissues,especiallytaxes,educationfunding,women’sissues,redistricting,andprotectingvotingrights.TheProgramandActionTeamalwaysbringsatleastacoupleofissueswithtalkingpointsandbillnumbers,butotherpeopleshowuparmedwithnewspaperarticlesorissueinformationfromotherorganizationsandtheypoolinformationandpromisetotakeaction.

LWV/Columbia Areahasbeenregisteringyoungpeopleatschoolsofvariouslevelsthroughoutthearea.RichlandCountySchoolDistrictOneconducteditsownvoterregistrationprogramearlyintheyearandLeaguememberswereabletoworkwiththemontheirfinalschool,A.C.FloraHighSchool.Over40studentswereregisteredatthatevent.

TheyalsoteamedwithstudentsfromUSCtoconductadriveinfrontofthestudentunion.Anoutdoorconcerthelpedattractstudentstotheareaandover100studentswereregistered.

LWV/Florence AreausuallyobservestheannualWomen’sEqualityDay(August26)withamodestreceptionformembersandprospectivemembers.Thegatheringalsokicksoffanewyearwithannouncementofmeetings,topicsandspeakersscheduledthroughoutthefollowingmonths.

Forthecurrentyear,thatfocuswasexpandedtoincludehonoringthefirst-

ever-Florence-LWV-member-to-be-electedto-state-presidency,LWVSCCo-PresidentPeggyBrown,andtohonorthreeoftheFlorenceLeague’soriginalfoundingmembers,formerLeaguepresidentDoloresMiller,ProbateJudge(Ret)PatsyStoneandS.C.’sOrderofthePalmettorecipientBarbaraSylvester.

AchampagnereceptionwasheldatFlorenceMuseumonAugust25atwhichCo-PresidentsFrancesElmoreandHannahReigpresentedthehonoreeswithawards.Brownwasgiven“The Evolution of Authority”showingafootprintofanapebesideaprintofaman’sbarefoot,followedbyaman’sshoeprintandfinally,theprintofawoman’sdaintyhighheeledslipper–theevolutionofauthority.Miller,StoneandSylvesterreceivedawardsworthyoftheLeague’straditionalno-nonsenseapproachtopubliclife–refrigeratormagnets,bearingadrawingofaprimlyattiredladyofthe19thcentury,onehandclutchingafanwhiletheother

Around South Carolina . . .

WITH The League

LWV/Columbia member, Carol Medich, registering students at A.C. Flora High School in Columbia.

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wieldsayo-yo,andthewords,“Oh, yeah, this is so much better than the right to vote.”Evena42-yearoldlocalLeagueneedsalaughnowandthen.

LWV/Greenville County hadabusyMarch.Onthe6ththeycelebratedWomen’sHistoryMonthwithapresentationbyPhyllisMartin,DirectorofCommunityInvestmentforUnitedWayofGreenvilleCounty,whosharedthoughtsonthesubject“Isthereroomforthefeminineinfeminism?”Alivelydiscussionfollowed.AtarallyinClevelandParkforTrayvonMartin(17-year-oldkilledinFL),theyregistered25newvoters.And12morevoterswereregisteredatTruineMercyCenterforthehomeless.

LWV/Hilton Head Island/Bluffton AreamembersdeliveredthenewsinpersontoseniorLeaguersresidingattheCypressandSeabrookretirementcommunitiesaspartoftheHave League - Will Travel Caravanproject.OnJanuary19,BarbaraSwifthostedalovelyluncheonattheCypressforresidentsNancyCherryandAnnRobinsonwithGinnyGhirardelli,KarenWesselandJulieWittigalsoattending.AttheSeabrookonFebruary23,theyenjoyedcoffeeandcookieswithmemberPeggyDownward,formerHHILeaguePresidentDorothyAndersonand5otherguests.Amini-programanddiscussion

onthelatestLeaguenewswerepresentedbyKarenWessel,FranHolt,JanetLaw,SallyMcGarry,JoanKinne-Shulman,AnnCoffin,GinnyGhirardelliandJulieWittig.TheHave League - Will Travel CaravanisanopportunitytoconnectwithmemberswhosupporttheLeaguebutareunabletoattendmeetings.Itwasahitwitheveryoneinvolved.TheLeagueplanstotakethecaravanontheroadagainandinvolvemoremembers.

LWV/Horry County MAL Unithastakenonthechallengingprojectof“EmpoweringtheVotersofTomorrow.”Theyambitiouslydecided

tocontacteachoftheninehighschoolsinHorryCounty.Asthetrainingmanualwarned,manyrepeatphonecallsarenecessarytoreceivea“yes”andthentosetupadatethatworksfortheschoolandforLeaguevolunteers.TheymailedlettersinDecemberandbegancallinginJanuary.Onlyoneschoolturnedthemdown.AsoftheendofMarch,theyhaveregisteredalmosttwohundredeligiblehighschoolseniorstovoteinfourhighschools:Loris,GreenSeaFloyds,NorthMyrtleBeachandMyrtleBeach.OnApril4th,theywillbeatConwayHighSchool.AreporterfromTheSunNewswillbetheretocovertheevent.TheyaresettingupdatesforthreemoreschoolswithagoaloffinishingthisprojectbytheendofApril.

LWV/Spartanburg CountyhasputitsLWVEducationFundYouthVoterRegistrationgrantmoniestogooduseandiscompletingPhase1oftheproject.Havingregisteredover700seniorsfrom6areahighschoolsalreadyin2012,thelocalLeagueexpectstosurpassthe800+studentsregisteredin2011.TheLeague’sPowerPointhasbeenpresentedtoblocksandsmallerclassesandhaselicitedencorerequestsandpre-schedulingforthenextschoolyear.With2morehighschools,2localcolleges,andSpringFlinginthenext2months,LWV/SpartanburgCountywillreachnewheights.

LEAGUE NEWS:continued from page 5 –

On Women's Equality Day LWV/Florence Area honored local women of distinction. From left, Barbara Sylvester, Dolores Miller, Patsy Stone and Peggy Brown.

LWV/Horry County husband/wife members, Gary Browning and Pat Shama, register students in North Myrtle Beach High School lunchroom. continued on page 7 –






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LWV/Sumter County's February13thmeetingtopicwastheFirstAmendment.ThespeakerwasDr.JacobE.Butler,Jr.,AssociateProfessorofPoliticalScienceandChairmanoftheDivisionofSocialScienceatMorrisCollege.HediscussedtwoprovisionsoftheFirstAmendment:“…therightof

thepeoplepeaceablytoassemble…”;and“Congressshallmakenolawrespectinganestablishmentofreligion,orprohibitingthefreeexercisethereof…”Dr.ButlerremindedtheaudiencethatinourPledgeofAllegiancewepromise“libertyandjusticeforall.”Thequestionis,“Whosefreedom?Whoseliberty?Whosejustice?”Onthefirstissue,theconceptof“Freedom”and“Justice”frequentlyclash.Theissueistherightofthe‘people’toassembleanddemonstrate

andthedutyofthe‘government’toprotecttherightsofothercitizensandinsurethatallcitizenshaveaccesstofreeanduninterrupteduseofpublicland.Thecourtsstruggledwiththisdilemmafrom1870tothe1960s.Ontheissueofrestrictiononreligiousfreedom,theU.S.SupremeCourthasrecentlyruledthatthegovernmenthasnoroleindeterminingachurch’semploymentpolicies.TherewasagooddebateamongthosepresentandDr.Butler.

LEAGUE NEWS:continued from page 6 –

LWV/Spartanburg County members help citizens register to vote.

DoyousupposeSusanB.AnthonyorElizabethCadyStantonthoughtmuchabouttheenvironmentwhentheyfoughtforwomen’srights?

AccordingtothefourthUnitedStatesCensusin1820,thetotalpopulationwas9,638,453.Between1820and1860,theU.S.begantoseedramaticeconomic,socialandenvironmentalchanges.Therewasademandfortimberproduction,shipswerebeingbuiltandrailroadslaid.In1859,theworld’soilindustrybeganinTitusville,Pennsylvania.

Intheearly19thCentury,women’srightswerebeingdebated.Environmentalsustainabilitywasnotinquestion.Themega-diverseUnitedStateswasrichinnaturalresources.Populationgrowthwasnotaconcern.

Todaywithglobalizationandover7billionpeopleintheworld,(313,232,995intheU.S.;approximately4,645,975inSouthCarolina),theuseandsustainmentofnaturalresourcesisamajorconcern.Theactofmerginghumanrightswithenvironmentaldecisionswillbenecessarytoensureahealthyplaceforallpeopletoliveandtoreinforceathrivingdemocracy.

Oneofmyfavoritepeople,BellaAbzug,becameconcernedwithglobalwomen'sissuesandtheenvironment.Bellabelievedthatdirectparticipationisabsolutelynecessaryforanysocialchange.Shealsobelievedtheenvironmenttobeakeyissuesaying“webelievethatthecontinuanceoftheearthandthemaintenanceofitshealthisfundamentaltolifeitself.”

FortheLeagueofWomenVoters,thisisa“natural”placetobegin.Weunderstandthatcleanandsafewater,cleanairandhealthyfoodarethefundamentalbasicsoflife.Pollutionandmisuseofresourcesarelikeparasitesthatdonotalwaysdestroylife,buthindersthequalityoflife.

AstheS.C.Legislaturewillcontinuetobelobbiedwithenvironmentalprovisions,theLWVSCwillcontinuetolobbyforcommonsenserecycling,protectionofcleandrinkingwaterandcleanairandprotectionofourwaterways.Wewillcontinuetoworkhardforwomen’srights,fortheequalityofallpeopleandtheprotectionofournaturalresources.

The League of Women voters and Natural ResourcesBy Jan Hammett, LWVSC Director, Natural Resources

UPDATEYOUREMAILADDRESSBOOK:WehavediscoveredthatsomemembersarenotreceivingemailfromLWVSouthCarolina@gmail.com.PLEASEADDTHISADDRESSTOYOUREMAILADDRESSBOOKSOYOUWON’TMISSANYIMPORTANTEMAILSFROMLWVSC.Thanks.






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AccordingtoaninternationalstudyconductedbyPISAin2009,theUnitedStatesis2ndhighestamong34countriesinspendingperpupil.Whencomparedwithstudentsinthosecountries,U.S.studentsrank14thinreading,17thinscienceand25thinmath.

PISAistheProgrammeforInternationalStudentAssessment(PISA),partoftheOrganisationforEconomicCo-operationandDevelopment(OECD).The34-mmberOECDis“aforumwheregovernmentsworktogethertoaddresstheeconomic,socialandenvironmentalchallengesofglobalization.”

Everythreeyearssince2000,PISAhasevaluatededucationsystemsinover70participatingcountries/economiesbytestingtheskillsandknowledgeof15-year-oldstudents.PISAassessesthestudent’sabilitytoapplyknowledgeandskillsinkeysubjectareas;toanalyze,tocommunicateeffectively,andtosolveproblemsineverydaylife.(http://pisa.oecd.org)

SomefurtherstatisticsfromthePISAstudy,rankingthe34OECDmembercountries:• Studentperformanceisrankedon

a6pointscale.Level2indicatesbasiclevelofproficiencyneededtoparticipateproductivelyinlife.ThepercentageofU.S.studentswhoscoredbelowlevel2is18%inreadingproficiency,23.4%inmathand18.1%inscience.

• Inreading,1.5%ofU.S.studentsscoredatthehighestlevel,Level6.Thisishigherthanaveragebutbelow7othercountries.10%ofU.S.studentsachievedlevel5.Thisscorealsoisaboveaveragebutbelow5othercountries.

• Inmath,2%ofstudentsreachedlevel6.TheOECDaverageis3%.In

comparison,inShanghai-China,27%ofstudentsareatlevel6.

• Inscience,1%ofU.S.studentsscoredatlevel6,theOECDaverage.

• AlthoughthescoresofU.S.studentsareimproving,othercountriesaresurpassingtheU.S.intherateofimprovementintheireducationsystemsandtheabilitytoreachallchildren.Onaverage80%ofyoungadultsachieveahighschooldiplomainOECDcountries.Only8countrieshavegraduationrateslowerthantheU.S.(p.15)

In2010ArneDuncan,SecretaryoftheU.S.DepartmentofEducation,commissionedPISAtoexaminetheeducationpracticesofcountrieshighlyrankedinthe2009surveyandmakerecommendationsabouthowtheU.S.candevelopahighqualityeducationthatwillputitintothetoptierinternationally.Theresultingreportis,“Lessons from PISA for the United States: Strong Performers and Successful Reformers in Education”, (OECD Publishing, 2011).Thehigh-performingeducationsystemsthatareexaminedindetailareCanada(Ontario),China(HongKongandShanghai),Finland,JapanandSingapore.BrazilandGermanyareexamplesofrapidlyimprovingsystems.Verybriefly,herearesomerecommendationsfromthereport.

Commitment to education and conviction that all students can achieve at high levels:“Placingahighvalueoneducationmaybeanunderlyingconditionforbuildingaworld-classeducationsystem…”(p.231)TheU.S.shouldfosterwidespreadacceptanceoftheconceptthatallstudentsarecapable

ofachievinghighstandards.Setthesameacademicgoalsforallstudentsanddevoteattentionandresourcesatanearlyagetostudentswhofallbehind.“Ithastakenmostcountriestimetogetfromabeliefthatonlyafewstudentscanachievetothepointwheremosteducatorsembracethepropositionthatallcandoso….Butnoeducationsystemincludedinthisstudyhasmanagedtoachievesustainedhighperformancewithoutdevelopingasystemthatispremised,indetail,onthepropositionthatitispossibleforallstudentstoachieveathighlevelsandnecessarythattheydoso.”(p.233)

Core Standards:Thereportendorsesthevalueofcorecurriculumstandardsthatestablishrigorous,focusedandcoherentcontentatallgradelevels.Thesestandardsclarifythesociety’snotionsofwhatstudentsneedtoknowandareabletodo.Corecurriculumstandardscanreducevariationinwhatisofferedandexpectedinclassroomsacrossthecountry,facilitatecoordinationofpoliciesandreduceinequitiesamongsocialandeconomicgroups.(p.233)

Student Incentives:“OneofthemoststrikingfeaturesoftheAmericaneducationsystem,incontrastwiththeeducationsystemsofthemostsuccessfulcountries,isitsfailuretoprovidestrongincentivestotheaveragestudenttoworkhardinschool.”(p.243)U.S.highschoolstudentsmaybeledtobelievethatwhethertheytakeeasycoursesandgetD’sinthemortaketoughcoursesandgetA’s,theycangetintothelocalcommunitycollegeandgetonwiththeirlives.

Inhigh-rankingcountries,theexpectationsareclearanduniversally

How the u.S. can develop a World-class education System:Recommendations from PISABy Peggy Huchet

This report is part of the research by the committee participating in the LWVSC study, Evaluating and Retaining Effective Teachers in our Public Schools. Study Committee members: Sally Huguley and Janelle Rivers, LWV/Co-lumbia Area; Pat Borenstein, LWV/Greenville County; Pamela Hollinger, LWV/ Hilton Head-Bluffton Area; Paula Egelson, LWV/Charleston Area; and Jon Butzon and Peggy Huchet (co-chairs), LWV/Charleston Area.

continued on page 9 –






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accepted.Manyhigh-rankingcountrieshavehigh-stakesexaminationsystemsthatprovidestrongincentivesforstudentstotaketoughcoursesandstudyhard.Studentsknowtheymustdemonstrateproficiencytoqualifyforgoodjobsorhighereducationalopportunities.

Distribution of resources: AlthoughtheU.S.hasthesecondhighestperpupilfunding,thereislittlecorrelationbetweentheoverallamountspentoneducationandstudentperformance.TheU.S.isoneofonly3countriesinwhichschoolsinsociallydisadvantagedneighborhoodshavelessfavorablestudent-teacherratiosthanschoolsinadvantagedneighborhoods.“’Socio-economicdisadvantagetranslatesmoredirectlyintopooreducationalperformanceintheUnitedStatesthanisthecaseinmanyothercountries.”(p.34)

IftheU.S.istomovetothetopranksinperformanceorkeepfromslidingfurtherdownthescale,ithastospenditseducationfundsmoreefficientlywithattentiontoprovidingallstudentswithaccesstoresourcestheyneedtomeethighstandards.“ItishardtoseehowtheUnitedStatescansucceedinmatchingtheperformanceoftheworld’shighest-performingcountriesunlessitlevelstheplayingfieldforitsstudentsinthewaythatalmostallofitscompetitorshavealreadydone.”(p.249)

Use of Test Data:WhereassomepeopleclaimthatperformancedataintheU.S.areoftenusedforaccountabilitypurposes,othercountriestendtousetestdatatorevealbestpractices,identifysharedproblemsandencourageteachersandschoolstodevelopmoresupportiveandproductivelearningenvironments.OECDcountriesaremovingto“multi-

layered,coherentassessmentsystems,…that:supportimprovementoflearningatalllevelsofthesystem;areincreasinglyperformancebased;addvalueforteachingandlearningbyprovidinginformationthatcanbeactedonbystudents,teachers,andadministrators;andarepartofacomprehensiveandwell-alignedlearningsystem…..”(p.51-52)

Teacher Quality:“[U]nwaveringsupportforexcellenceinteachingandschoolleadershipisperhapsthekeyelementofthepoliciesandpracticesthatdrivehigh-performingeducationsystems….”(p.229)High-performingcountriesarecommittedtoprofessionalizedteaching.Theyrecruitteachersfromthetop10%ofgraduates,assessthequalityandrelevanceofteacher-educationprogramsandprovideheavysupporttonewteachers.Theyassigntheirtop-performingteachersasmasterteachersandcoaches,offerincentivesandsupportandstrengthenthemwithtraining.

Tocompetesuccessfully,theU.S.needstoattractapoolofhighlyqualifiedcandidates.Thisrequireselevatingtheprofessionalstatusofteachersandcompensatingthemaccordingly.Animportantstepistoraisethebarforentryintoschoolsofeducationandtobemoreselectiveinadmittingcandidatesfortraining.Thattrainingneedstobehighqualityandshouldincludemuchmoreclinicaleducation.(p.239)

Teacher Accountability:Everyhigh-performingcountryhasaneffectiveaccountabilitysystemforteachers.Itmaybeasysteminwhichstudentperformanceresultsareusedbyadministratorstorewardorpunishteachers.However,afarstrongermotivationforsuccessderivesfromateacher’sfeelingofprofessionalresponsibilitytoparents,studentsand

fellowteachersinsystemsthatfostercollegiality,innovationandtrust.

Aschoolsystemcanpromoteacultureofindividualandcollectiveresponsibilitybygivingschooladministratorssomediscretioninguidingtheirschoolcoupledwithaccountabilityforschoolperformance.Goodteachingmethodsareinstitutionalizedinanenvironmentwhereteacherspayattentiontoinstructionalpractice,learnfromoneanotherandsharebestpractices.

“TheseareveryimportantissuesintheUnitedStatesrightnow.Throughthepreviousseveraladministrations,bothmajorpoliticalpartieshavestronglyfavoredadministrativeformsofaccountabilityoverprofessionalorfamilialformsofaccountability...ButiftheUnitedStatesaspirestoworld-classeducationperformance,itwillneedtostaffitsschoolswithworld-classclassroomteachersand,whenthathappens,iftheexperienceofthebest-performingcountriesisanyguide,itwillneedtoshiftthebalanceinaccountabilityatsomestagemoretowardsprofessionalaccountabilitysystems…[T]eacherswillexpecttobetreatedthewayotherprofessionalsaretreated.TheObamaAdministrationhasmadeastartbyencouragingstatesanddistrictstomoveinthisdirectionbyusingevaluationandsupportsystemstoprovideteacherswiththeinformationandfeedbacktheyneedtotakegreaterresponsibilityfortheprogressoftheirstudents,andtocreateaprofessionalcultureinschoolsfocusedoncollaborationandpeerlearning.”(p.245)

Inordertomakethisquantumleapforward,theU.S.hastobeabletodosomethingitcannotdonow:identifywhothegreatteachersareandarenotandmakepolicy,strategy,andsupportdecisionsaccordingly.

PISA:continued from page 8 –

Presidential Debates in 2012LWVUSPresidentElisabethMcNamarainearlyFebruaryinformedstateLeaguepresidentsthatLWVwouldnotbepursuinga

requesttosupportaneffortentitled“Roadto21PresidentialDebatesin2012”:http://www.opendebates.org/theroad.html.LWVUSdecidednottosupportthisproposalstatingthereasonsbelow.

Elisabethstatedinherletter,“We had two major concerns about this proposal. One stems from the anonymity of the donor who has pledged to provide the initial funding for this effort. We found this lack of transparency both inherently worrisome and a source of potential risk or embarrassment for the League. Secondly, there is no assurance, or commitment to assure, that the debates would be conducted in ways that the League would feel appropriate or in full compliance with federal and state laws. We felt that these were limitations that presented unacceptable levels of risk to the League and to our public reputation for high quality debates.”






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PerhapstheLeaguecantakesomecreditforimprovedqualityinSouthCarolina’selections.TheanalysisofthevotedatafromtheNovember2010generalelectionshowedalargenumberoferrorsinprocedureaswellasvotesthathadgoneuncounted.SubsequenttotheLeague’saudit,theStateElectionCommissionbeganrequiringsimilarauditsandhaspostedtheelectiondataonitswebsite.

Itwouldappearthatthisoversightandtherequirementforcollectionoftheauditdatahasimprovedtheprocess.TheJanuary2012GOPPresidentialPreferencePrimarywasamuchsmaller(andthusmuchlesscomplicated)event

thantheNovember2010generalelection,andthuswewouldexpecttoseefewerproblemswiththeprimary.Nonetheless,itisgoodtoseethatinfacttherewererelativelyfewproblems.DuncanBuell,acomputerscienceprofessoratUSC,andSkylarSmith,aUSCundergraduateworkingwithDr.Buell,downloadedandanalyzedtheprimarydata,andtheirreportisontheLeaguewebsite.Althoughtherecontinuetobesomeproblems,thenumberofproblemsisverymuchsmaller.Moreimportantly,thedatafortheprimaryisessentiallyallpresent.In2010,manycountiesdidnotcollecttheHAVA-requireddatauntiltheSECaskedforit,

andinsomecountieslargepartsofthedataweremissing.IntheGOPprimary,nearlyallthedatahasbeencollected,sothatanauditisinfactpossible.

LWVSCsupportsS1025,co-sponsoredbySen.ChipCampsenandSen.JohnScott,whichwouldrequirecountyelectioncommissionstoroutinelyconductpost-electionaudits.ThebillpassedunanimouslyintheSenateandiscurrentlyintheHouseCommitteeonJudiciary.

Dr.BuellwasinvitedtopresentasummaryofhisworkonforensicauditsinSantaFe,NewMexico,onMarch30attheannualconferenceoftheElectionVerificationNetwork.

election verification in South carolina By Duncan Buell, PhD, LWVSC Off-Board Director

ensuring The Future Integrity of the vote By Eleanor Hare, PhD, & Duncan Buell, PhD, Co-Chairs, LWVSC Alternative Voting Technology Task Force

Auditing Voting MachinesTheuseofpost-electionvoteaudits

oftheelectronicdatafilesbytheSouthCarolinaStateElectionsCommission(SEC)hasvastlyincreasedconfidencethatthecertifiedvoteiscorrect.Thesepost-electionauditswouldhavedetectedtheerrorsfoundinthe2010GeneralElectionbeforethetotalswerecertified.TheLWVSCsupportsS.1025,whichrequirespost-electionaudits;thelegislationhasbeenpassedbytheSCSenate(38-0)andisnow(April1,2012)intheHouseJudiciaryCommittee.

Auditing and Recounting Paper Ballots

OnceprogressismadeinensuringtheintegrityofvotescastoniVotronicmachines,itbecomesnecessarytoexaminetheaccuracyofcountingandrecountingpaperballots.Currently,onlyasmallpercentageofvotesarecastonpaperballots,butitislikelythatanyfuturetechnologywillbealmostentirelypaperballots.

TheSEChasinstructedcountiestoperformrecountsofpaperballotsbyscanningtheballotsasecondtime.When

thesamescannerisusedtorecountthesamepaperballots,itisexpectedthatthesecondscanwillgivethesameresultsasthefirstscan.TheAuditTaskForceoftheLWVUSireportsthat“awell-conducted,transparenthandcountofpaperballotsalmostalwaysuncoversafewadditionalvoteswherethevoterintentisclear,butthevoteswerenotdetectedbyamachinecount.Thisistobeexpected.”

Technicalproblemshavebeenidentifiedwithscanners.InDecember2011,theElectionAssistanceCommission(EAC),notingmajorflawsintheDS200opticalscanner,iiissuedanoticeofnoncompliance.TestsoftheES&SModel650scanneriiiusedinsomecountiesinSC,ignoredmarksthatapersonwouldinterpretasavote.Aslongascomputersareusedtocountvotes,notonlywilltechnicalglitchespresentproblems,softwarebugs,oramaliciouselection-riggingcode,canbeinsertedintothevoterecordingandtabulatingprocess.Post-electionmanualrandomauditsarenecessarytodetecttheseproblems.

TheElectionAuditsTaskForceoftheLWVUSrecommendsthatbothauditsandrecountsbeperformed.

Post-election audits differ from recounts. Post-election audits routinely check voting system performance in contests, regardless of how close margins of victory appear to be. Recounts repeat ballot counting in special circumstances, such as when preliminary results show a close margin of victory.iv

SouthCarolinadoesnotauditpaperballots,andtheprocedurefor“recounting”thepaperballotsisnotanacceptablerecount.Becauseofthewaycomputerswork,the“recount”ishighlyunlikelytobedifferentfromtheoriginalcount.SouthCarolinaneedstoinitiateproceduresforauditingscannedballotsineveryelectionandtoimproveproceduresforrecountingpaperballots.

i http://lwv.org/content/report-election-audits-task-forceii http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9223613/U.S._Finds_Flaws_in_ES_S_DS200_Voting_Machineiii Jones, Douglas & Simons, Barbara (2012). Broken Ballots, Stanford, CA: CSLI Publications, Figure 4.8.iv http://lwv.org/content/report-election-audits-task-force






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April22nd Sunday,Earth Day

May 1st Tuesday,Law Day 1st Tuesday,Annual Conseservation Lobby Day–9AM-5PM,

ConservationActivities,SCArtMuseum&Statehouse;5:30-9PM,OysterRoast,TheSeibelsHouse.LWVSCisaco-sponsor.

12th Saturday,LastDaytoRegistertoVoteinJune12th

Primary

June 4th Thursday,119th Session of the South Carolina General

Assembly adjourns,Statehouse,Columbia8th-12th LWVUS Convention,CapitolHiltonHotel,Washington,DC12th Tuesday,7AM-7PM,State Primary Election26th Tuesday,7AM-7PM,State Primary Runoff Election (ifneeded)

* All members of the League of Women Voters of South Carolina are welcome to attend LWVSC board meetings.

ImportantLeague dates:

ArecentPEWreport(“Inaccurate,Costly,andInefficient,”February2012)exposessystemicinefficienciesanderrorsintheprocessbywhichweelectthosewhogovernus.Itconfirmsshockingfacts–51millionormoreeligibleU.S.citizens,over24percentoftheeligiblepopulation,arenotregisteredtovote.ThePEWstudychargesthatthevoterregistrationprocessisriddledwithclericalandhumanerrors.Whatitdoesnotrevealisanyevidenceofvoterfraud.Votersdie,theymoveacrossprecinctandstatelines,theyserveinourarmedforcesoverseas,theylosetheirhomesduetoforeclosures,andtheirvoterregistrationmaynotalwaysbeaccurate,butthereisnocredibleevidencethattheyarestealingothercitizens’votes.

ThePEWstudyshowsthatclericalerrors(committedbyvolunteerswhoregistervotersbutalsoelectioncommissionofficialsandevenDMVvoterregistrationoffices)areofurgentconcern.Itrecommendsanoverhaulofthesystemtoimproverecords,streamlineprocessesandsavemoney.Onerecommendation,establishingnewwaysvoterscanregisteronline,wouldmaketheprocesseasierandlesssusceptibletoerrorformanyinourstate.

Formany,butnotall.Manyvotersinourstatewouldnotbe

helpedbyenhancedtechnology.According

tothelastCensus,ofthosewhovotedinourstateinNovember2010,0%ofAfrican-AmericanvotersinSouthCarolinaregisteredviatheInternetoronline,comparedwith31,149ornearly2%ofwhitevoters.MinorityvotersinSouthCarolinaregisteredthroughcommunityvoterregistrationdrivesattwicetherateofwhitevoters.Voterregistrationdriveshelpcitizenswhofacethebiggestbarrierstovoting:theelderly,thedisabled,thosewhomovefrequently,lower-incomevotersandminoritycommunities,allofwhommaylackaccesstoacountyvoterregistrationofficeinSouthCarolina.Manyofthesevotersarealsolesslikelytobeabletoregisteron-line.

Insteadofanalyzingandremedyingtherealproblemsplaguingourelectionssystem,ourstatelegislatorsarecompoundingthemwithvotersuppressionmeasures.GiventheimportanceofcommunityvoterregistrationdrivesinSouthCarolina,ourlegislatorsshouldnotbedebatingH.4549,whichwouldimposefinesandburdensomebureaucraticrequirementsonvolunteerswhohelppeopleregister.ThisbillwouldstoporganizationsliketheLeagueofWomenVoters,theNAACP,andfaithgroupsfromassistingpeopletoregister.

In2008,SouthCarolinawasanabysmal

42ndinthenationinvoterturnout.Insteadofencouragingparticipationinourdemocracy,ourlegislatorsarewastingtimeerectingbarriersandwastingscarceresourcesonnon-existentproblems.Toaccommodateourmobilepopulationandworkingpeople,weneedelection-dayregistration,weeksofearlyvoting,enhancedtrainingofpollworkers,andproperauditsofourelectronicvotingmachinesthatassurevotersthattheirballotsarecountedproperly.

WhenitpassedtheNationalVoterRegistrationAct,Congressdeemeditanationalprioritytomakeitconvenientforvoterstoregister.Thelegislationrecentlypassedandcurrentlybeingdebatedinourstaterepresentsaconcertedefforttounderminethatresolve.

Note:InNovember2010,2,304,324SouthCaroliniansvoted.Ofthose,1,646,359werewhiteand615,623wereblack.Ofthe1,646,359whitevoters,60,712registeredusingvoterregistrationdrives(3.7%).Ofthe615,623blackvoters,43,249registeredthroughvoterregistrationdrives(7.0%).Eventhoughnearly70%ofregisteredvotersinSouthCarolinaarewhite,fewerwhitevotersregisteredthroughvoterregistrationdrivesthanAfrican-Americanvoters.

Legislature Should encourage, Not discourage, voting Op-ed article from Victoria Middleton, Executive Director, ACLU of South Carolina, and Barbara Zia, Co-President, LWVSC, published in The State and other South Carolina newspapers

http://www.facebook.com/pages/League-of-Women-Voters-of-South-Carolina/251544131543145

Nonprofit Org.u.S. Postage

P-a-I-DColumbia SCPermit #1365

LWV SC VoterPost Office Box 8453Columbia, SC 29202

The SC VoterSpring 2012

Volume 61 Issue 4established in 1951, the League of Women Voters of south Carolina is a nonpartisan, political organization that encourages citizens to play an informed and active role in government. at the local, state, and national levels, the League works to influence public policy through education and advocacy. any citizen of voting age, male or female, may become a League member. all members receive the National Voter, the sC Voter, and a newsletter from their local League.Co-Presidents: Barbara Zia Peggy Browneditor: Laurel suggsPublished by: the League of Women Voters of SC PO Box 8453 Columbia, sC 29202 Phone & Fax: (803) 251-2726 Website: www.lwvsc.org






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Spring 2012 - League of Women Voters of South Carolina