It is Primary Election Day – What Will You Do?
It has been an unprecedented Year. We’re living through a pandemic. Folks are standing up and demanding changes to address the systemic inequalities throughout our society. We’re seeing continued efforts at the federal level to roll back core environmental protections and place the public’s health – and the health of black and brown communities in particular – at risk. In South Carolina, we’ve seen intense debate over the future of Santee Cooper and clean energy and what these decisions mean for both energy rates and the energy burden on South Carolinians.
How each of these issues play out will have significant and long-lasting impacts on our daily lives, on our health, and on our quality of life.
To say that we are living in a unique moment in our nation’s and our democracy’s history is an understatement.
So…what will you do today?
Right now, polling places are open all across South Carolina – it is Primary Election Day.
If you have not yet voted, ask yourself if you want to have your vote and your voice counted at this moment? Because voting today isn’t just about picking a nominee for federal, state, or local offices in whatever primary you choose…today is all about the future.
Voting today is about nominating or, in some districts, electing candidates who can bring about the change you want to see in the world.
We know that elections have consequences – we’ve seen this story play out over and over. Without committed conservation voters, like you, showing up at the polls and voting for clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and a legacy of protected lands for future generations to enjoy, I worry about the consequences that this election cycle could bring.
So, will you join me in voting in this primary election?
If so, there are few things to remember
- If you have received an absentee ballot by mail, you must return it in person by 7pm to your County Election Commission for it to count. Read more about this at scvotes.org, including how to vote in person even if you have a mail in ballot.
- If you want to vote in person, some polling sites have been changed and/or consolidated. Check your polling location at scvotes.org to make sure you’re going to the right place.
- If you’re voting in person, be sure to take your photo ID or voter registration card and consider wearing a mask and bringing your own pen for signing the poll list to reduce risk for you and others. You can read more about COVID-19 precautions for voting at scvotes.org
If you are among the record numbers of voters who have voted absentee and your vote has already been counted, thank you! But, at the same time, please don’t stop now. Check on your friends, family, and neighbors to make sure they have voted and let them know how to do so safely if they haven’t.
Finally, if you need some suggestions for who will fight to protect the air, land, and water that we all love, check out a list of CVSC’s endorsements here as well as some background on these candidates.
Remember, polls are open from 7am-7pm. Find your polling location at www.scvotes.org