Early Voting Now in Effect for June Primaries

COLUMBIA, SC (May 13, 2022) – Governor McMaster today signed into law legislation passed by the General Assembly that establishes early voting in South Carolina.
To help prepare for the upcoming June 14 Primaries, the State Election Commission wants voters to know all their options to vote:
​
Polling Place on Election DayEarly Voting
In-person absentee voting has now been replaced with a two-week early voting period. Any voter can visit an early-voting location in their county and vote like they would at their polling place on Election Day.
  •     Early-voting for June Primaries:
    •     Tuesday, May 31 – Friday, June 10.  Closed Saturday and Sunday, June 4 - 5.
    •     8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
    •     All County Voter Registration and Elections Offices.
      •     Any additional locations will be determined by the counties no later than May 24 and posted to scVOTES.gov.
  •     Early-voting for June Runoffs:
    •     Wednesday, June 22 – Friday, June 24.
    •     Same hours and locations as Primaries.
  •     Bring your Photo ID (or voter registration card if you do not have a Photo ID).
Absentee (By-Mail Only)
Absentee voting allows qualified voters to cast a ballot by mail prior to Election Day. In-Person Absentee Voting is no longer authorized by law. 
Qualified voters include:
  • Voters with disabilities.
  • Voters sixty-five years of age or older.
  • Members of the Armed Forces and Merchant Marines of the United States, their spouses, and dependents residing with them.
  • Voters admitted to hospitals as emergency patients on the day of an election or within a four-day period before the election.
  • Voters who, for one of the following reasons, are unable to vote in person on any day of the early-voting period or on Election Day.
    • Employment obligations.
    • Attending sick or physically disabled persons. 
    • Confined to a jail or pretrial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial.
    • Absent from their county for any reason. 
To vote absentee:
  • Request an absentee application by phone, mail, or in person at your county voter registration office.
  • Complete, sign and return the application to your county voter registration office by mail or in person.
    • County offices will soon begin issuing new applications based on the new requirements.
    • The old application will continue to be accepted through May 31.
    • After May 31, only new applications meeting current requirements will be accepted.
    • The deadline to return a new application is June 3.
  • You will receive your absentee ballot in the mail.
  • Vote and return your ballot to your county voter registration office by mail or in person no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.
    • Be sure to sign the voter’s oath and have the return envelope witnessed.  There are no changes to the witness requirement in effect for the June Primaries.  Witness requirement changes in the law go into effect in July.
    • Photo ID will be required to return your ballot in person.
    • Ballots returned by mail should be mailed no later than one week prior to election day to help ensure timely delivery.

Liberty and Justice for All
​by Marion Farina

I was reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of a Chamber of Commerce luncheon recently, and when I said the ending phrase, liberty and justice for all, I asked myself how can that actually become a reality for all?

I think one piece of the puzzle is for citizens to bravely educate ourselves to the facts of our nation’s true history, while not allowing ourselves to sink into feeling guilt or blame.

I think all of us need to study and acknowledge our history, including all that is great about our country, as well as the mistakes we have made as a nation. Our achilles heel is trying to blur the focus on what part racism played in the founding of our country, and denying that racism still exists in our systems and our minds.  The denial of it is the underlying current that divides us and makes our country vulnerable to outside influences.  Coming to terms with the truth is the only way that we will heal and move forward. 

I keep reading about how many parents fear that teaching the history of racism in our schools is harmful to their children. Municipalities throughout the country are going so far as to ban many classic books on the subject, saying they fear their children will feel bad about themselves, or that others will blame them. I believe that most children look to their parents for how to view the world.  If they sense that the adults around them are not feeling bad about themselves when discussing our true history, then our children most likely will not feel bad about themselves either.

When we discover our child did something hurtful to another child do we pretend that they didn’t do it? Or do we attempt to improve their social skills so they don’t repeat the bullying behavior?  If we can help them change their behavior without making them feel bad about themselves, they have a better chance of having healthy social connections when they grow up.    

So too when seeking the wellbeing of our democracy.  We need to face reality, being careful not to feel guilty or blame each other or those who came before us for the mistakes that were made. Rather, let the truth be an impetus for productive systemic change.  I believe without guilt or blame attached to our search for the truth, that it is possible for us to heal and keep reaching for a more perfect union of liberty and justice for all.

McCormick JAG students win awards.

The statewide JAG (Jobs for American Grads) conference was held in South Carolina in April. The theme for all competitions was "Future Ready." Six McCormick JAG  Students were the overall State Champions for the most points earned. Points are given for each 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners. The students pictured below competed and won individual statewide awards. 

The Competitive Events Program is a motivational, instructional, tool providing guidance and inspiration for students while setting high goals for achievement.  The NCA Competitive Events encourage members to improve their personal, leadership, and employability skills.

The JAG National Career Development Conference will be held in Dallas, TX,  May 5-7 (https://jag.org/ncdc/).  Eight students will be leaving next Wednesday and will return on Sunday, May 4-8. Attending the conference are: Jaida Freeman, Dayne Lewis, Julien Davis, Jonathan Perrin, Destiny Williams, Carlito Wideman, Samiya Anderson and Ilyriyah Tate.

How the Democrats' Stimulus money
​was spent in McCormick County.

• Thanks to broadband being installed in our county, only 200 homes were without internet access when President Biden took office. Thanks to the American Rescue plan, those homes should have internet access.
• Thanks to the American Rescue plan, financial assistance with health care costs are in place.