HEALTH: Beaufort Memorial offers free weekly COVID-19 testing. PAGE A9
OCTOBER 8–14, 2020 WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
ELECTION 2020
LOLITA HUCKABY
Let the voting begin
A
BEAUFORT bsentee voting stations opened in county election offices across the state Monday and from reports, there was a steady line of folks interested in doing their democratic duty. According to statistics from the state elections office, 29,748 applications for absentee ballots had been submitted as of Oct. 2. Compare this to the 134,272 registered voters in the county and you can see folks are planning ahead. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 4 pm., Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. In the past, absentee voting was limited to those older than 65 years of age or individuals who would be away from home on Election Day. But this year, because of the virus, restrictions were lifted and any registered voter can go to one of three locations in the county – the Voter Registration and Election office on John Galt Road near Lowe’s; in Bluffton at the county satellite office at 61B Ulmer Road; or on Hilton Head Island at the satellite office at 539 William Hilton Parkway. The last day for in-person absentee voting is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2. Don’t forget to bring your ID! Only 53 percent counted BEAUFORT – With all the strangeness of 2020, we probably shouldn’t be surprised that only 53 percent of Beaufort County residents have responded to the official U.S. Census. The deadline for filing census forms has been extended through the month to Oct. 31, and local government officials – those that don’t have to focus on election plans – are continuing to beat the drum to get folks to fill out those forms. It’s interesting to read online some of the reasons people are giving for not filing out those – largely concern about giving out personal information that could be used later “against them.” It’s a strange world and who knows. But the population counts ARE used for establishing voting districts, determining grant eligibility …and impact the future makeup of the electoral college, a matter of considerable interest come presidential election time. Don’t put out welcome mat for Yemassee, yet YEMASSEE – It’s apparently going to be a while before
SEE BEGIN PAGE A3
PAL AT YOUR PAD
Elections Systems Manager Vernon Kemp checks his data print out after simulating a “straight ticket” test to make sure all the systems are up and running correctly for the upcoming general election Nov. 3. According to Kemp, Beaufort County has 56 precincts with 138,141 registered voters on the books. The largest precinct, with 2,966 registered voters, is Bluffton 2C. Photo by Bob Sofaly.
Supreme Court: Witness signatures required on absentee ballots Updates from local forums and in-person voting By Mindy Lucas On again. Off again. That was the story of the much-deliberated witness signature on absentee mail-in ballots this summer. But in the latest decision handed down Monday night by the Supreme Court, witness signatures on absentee ballots are now required once again. The court’s decision reverses an earlier ruling by South Carolina’s 4th Circuit Court of Appeals that effectively said a signature was not
Elections. The law does not specify who a witness has to be. “Right, it can be anyone,” Smalls said. “So it does not have to be some type of qualified voter or person.” And don’t forget to sign your own ballot. Ballots require two signatures – yours and that of a witness. While missing signatures have not been that big of an issue so far, Smalls said, it’s still important to make sure your ballot is complete before mailing it back or it could be disqualified.
COUNTDOWN TO ELECTION DAY
26
Days to Nov. 3
needed. However, the Supreme Court also ruled that any ballot received in the last two days without a witness signature must be counted.
Wondering who can witness your ballot? Anyone can, said Marie Smalls, Beaufort County’s director for the Board of Voter Registration and
In-person voting If you’d rather vote in-person or prior to Election Day, you can also
SEE WITNESS PAGE A2
A normal day on the campaign trail?
Not quite, but it’ll do said candidates at a ‘Get Out the Vote’ event on Saturday
By Mindy Lucas The Beaufort County Democratic Party and U.S. Rep. James Clyburn held a “Get Out The Vote” kickoff rally and “Drive-By Fish Fry” on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Whale Branch Middle School in Seabrook. While Rep. Clyburn was not personally on hand for the event, the fish fry was one of four the congressman was sponsoring in his district over the weekend. Local candidates who were on hand for the event said the fish fry was a chance not only to remind residents of down ballot races but an opportunity to network with each other as well. “I think it’s a fantastic idea,” said Barb Nash, who is running for S.C. House District 124. And while local candidates have been using social media to reach vot-
A GOOD START
ers or meeting software like Zoom for forums or meetings, those “virtual events” just aren’t the same as talking to people face to face, Nash said. “It’s not the same, but this, this is a middle ground,” she said, pointing out that everyone at the event was keeping their distance and wearing a mask. Saturday’s event and others to follow are undoubtedly a sign that things are different – even on the campaign trail this year. Usually held in Columbia, the congressman’s “World Famous Fish Fry,” for example, can easily draw more than 1,000 people including a who’s who of Democratic party representatives and officials and, every four years, presidential hopefuls. But because of the coronavirus, Clyburn decided to do away with this year’s event in favor of smaller get-togethers held throughout his district. On Saturday, local candidates greeted cars and SUVs from the curb in front of the school, as drivers lined up for information on voting and of course, a basket of tasty fried fish. Volunteers were planning to fry
NEWSPAPER WEEK
Palmetto Animal League to host first virtual adoption event.
Eagles soar in seasonopening rout of Trojans.
A message from the executive director of the S.C. Press Association.
PAGE A6
PAGE B1
PAGE B5
Volunteer Lenora Jenkins prepares a basket at the “Get out the Vote” and “Driveby Fish Fry” Saturday, Oct. 3, in Seabrook. Photo by Mindy Lucas. and give away more than 90 pounds of fish for about 200 people and it was “going fast,” said Beaufort County Democratic Party Chair Mayra Ri-
vera-Vazquez. Asked if there was a secret ingredi-
INSIDE Lowcountry Life A2 News A2–6 Business A7 Health A8–9 Sports B1–2 Outdoors B2
Education Voices Directory Classifieds Games Legals
B3 B4–5 B5 B7 B7 B8–9
SEE TRAIL PAGE A3