Be The Ones, in partnership of 10+ local organizations, will host the Tri-County Party to the Polls Community Celebration. This free, nonpartisan family-friendly event will take place on Saturday, May 11th from 2 pm to 5 pm at Commonhouse Aleworks (Park Circle, North Charleston).
Unlike a traditional forum or debate, this celebration provides an opportunity for constituents from the tri-county region to meet candidates in a casual, fun, and informal setting. This is the only program taking place before the June 11th Primary Election that has invited all Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester County Primary candidates to attend.
“Party to the Polls is intentionally designed to remove the systemic and structural barriers people face in order to participate in local elections, including access to their candidates, while simultaneously centering the celebratory nature of civic participation and voting,” said Cate Mayer, Founder and Director of Be The Ones, a nonpartisan organization working in South Carolina to expand power by identifying and removing obstacles to local civic and electoral participation.
Be The Ones track record of hosting Party to the Polls events in the Lowcountry coupled with research shows that when voting is turned into a community celebration and fun, accessible, and centers communities needs, not only does voter turnout increase, but also leads to greater and more sustainable civic participation year round.
In addition to constituents having access to candidates, the opportunity to share issues important to their families, and ask questions to help inform their vote, attendees will have the chance to meet local organizations and partners working on issues impacting their communities.
“Now more than ever, it’s important we create spaces for folks to come together and talk about the issues that are important to them," said Chase Glenn, Executive Director of Alliance for Full Acceptance (AFFA), an event partner. "This event is going to be a great opportunity to connect with your neighbors, as well as help build connections with community organizations that are on the front lines advocating for these very issues. This sort of dialogue and community-building is critical to creating a safer, healthier, and more just South Carolina."
There will be food and beverages for purchase, games, activities, and music provided by DJ Switchburg.
Be The Ones and partners affiliated with this event do not support or endorse any candidate or political party. You can find out more about the event here.
