Former U.S. Representative Joe Cunningham, a Democratic candidate for governor, on Friday announced his plan to protect and expand voting rights in South Carolina.
Cunningham's plan includes:
- Automatic voter registration when residents turn 18
- Same-day voter registration
- Ending straight-ticket voting
- 30 days of no-excuse early voting
- Enacting an independent redistricting committee to end gerrymandering
- Expanding the types of ID that would be acceptable for voting to include utility bills and college IDs
- Investing in sufficient voting machines and poll workers to prevent long lines
- Making Election Day a state holiday
- Eliminate requirement that mail-in ballots be certified by witnesses
- Making drop boxes available in every county for absentee ballots
“Right now South Carolina has some of the most restrictive and archaic voting laws in the country, and when I'm governor that's going to change,” Cunningham said. “In our state, you can vote with your concealed weapons permit but not your college ID. You have to sign an affidavit swearing that you are unable to vote on election day before you can vote early. And South Carolina is one of only six states that still allows straight-ticket voting which is nothing more than state-sponsored partisanship. It's time for our state to lead on voting rights and this plan will help us do just that.”
While a member of Congress, Cunningham was a sponsor of HR1, the For the People Act, a comprehensive voting rights bill that has passed the House in each of the last two sessions of Congress.
Cunningham announced his run for Governor in April and is currently on a 46-county tour of the state.
The full voting rights plan is available at www.JoeForSouthCarolina.com/
