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In the wake of the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene, the South Carolina Democratic Party has filed a lawsuit asking the Court to order the South Carolina State Election Commission to extend the voter registration deadline for the upcoming November 2024 election.
The lawsuit requests that the voter registration deadlines all be extended to October 14, 2024, for all forms of voter registration, in response to the damage and chaos caused by the storm – mirroring an extension request granted by the South Carolina courts in response to Hurricane Florence in 2018.
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane, leaving a path of devastation across South Carolina. Heavy flooding, power outages, and damaged infrastructure have affected thousands of residents, particularly in Upstate counties like Greenville, Spartanburg, and Laurens. Many residents remain without power and internet, and numerous government offices—including those responsible for voter registration—are closed due to the storm’s impact.
“Our goal is simple: to ensure that every citizen in South Carolina has the opportunity to register and exercise their right to vote, regardless of their politics, in the face of challenges caused by Hurricane Helene,” said South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain. ”Protecting the right to vote is a fundamental part of our democracy. We are asking for this extension so that no South Carolinian is left behind during these difficult times and so that everyone has the chance to make their voices heard in the upcoming election.”
Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency before the hurricane, and federal disaster relief has been mobilized to assist affected communities. The Supreme Court of South Carolina has declared the entire week of 9/30 – 10/4 a “filing holiday” so as to toll filing deadlines in state courts.
The SCDP seeks to extend the current voter registration deadlines—October 4 for in-person registration, October 6 for online, and October 7 for mail registration—to October 14 to ensure all South Carolinians have an opportunity to register despite the ongoing recovery efforts.
The South Carolina Democratic Party hopes that this extension will ensure that no eligible voter is disenfranchised during this critical time and that every citizen can exercise their fundamental right to vote, even in the face of a natural disaster.
A virtual hearing is scheduled for 9:30 am on 10/4/24 with the Richland County Court. SCDP is represented by Charleston-based attorney Richard Hricik.