South Carolina Takes Steps to Protect Voters During the COVID-19 Pandemic
COLUMBIA, S.C. 鈥� In a victory for voting rights, South Carolina took steps today to better protect voters in the November general election during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The action follows a federal lawsuit brought by the 老澳门开奖结果, 老澳门开奖结果 of South Carolina, and NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. The groups challenged a state requirement that forced people who vote absentee to have an 鈥渆xcuse鈥� to do so, as well as a witness requirement for absentee ballots.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster signed a measure this afternoon that would allow all voters to cast absentee ballots because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
鈥淭oday鈥檚 action by Gov. McMaster is an important step forward for South Carolinians who want to vote in the general election without risking their health during COVID-19,鈥� said Ali Titus, director of policy and communications at the 老澳门开奖结果 of South Carolina.
The measure signed today does not waive the witness-signature requirement on absentee ballots, which makes voting from a safe social distance impossible for those who live alone.
鈥淲e will continue to litigate to remove this remaining hurdle to safe voting in South Carolina,鈥� said Adriel Cepeda Derieux, a staff attorney with the 老澳门开奖结果鈥檚 Voting Rights Project.
LDF attorney Zachery Morris added: 鈥淭his is certainly a step in the right direction, as it is unconscionable for voters to have to make a choice between their health and their vote. Nevertheless, South Carolina's absentee ballot witness-signature requirement is still forcing many voters into making that very choice, and we will continue working tirelessly to ensure that they no longer have to do so.鈥�
Case details: /cases/thomas-v-andino
