Re: Voter ID

This is in response to the letter by Mr. Hills published in the May 9 edition of the paper. I am unable to respond to the Voter Photo ID portions of the letter, given that the LWV is an intervenor-defendant in S.C. vs Holder, currently in the discovery phase. (For information about this case, you may access Brennan Center for Justice of New York University School of Law on the Internet.)

However, I would like to respond to portions of the letter. Mr. Hills states that the publication “Stop Voter Suppression in 2012” is “supported and distributed by the League of Women Voters.” This publication is clearly identified as being that of the United Steel Workers. The League is not involved in its distribution. I want to know the source of the writer’s statement.

Mr. Hills writes that “Recently there were Republicans at local schools in a nonpartisan (?) effort to help register 18-year-olds of all races.” The question mark after “nonpartisan” is gratuitous. Apparently it is difficult for the writer to believe that an activity can be both political and nonpartisan in an increasingly partisan world.

The League of Women Voters of Georgetown County did indeed assist eligible students in local high schools to register to vote, part of a statewide initiative of the LWV. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority also registered a significant number of high school students. The League’s goal in this endeavor is simply to encourage young people to participate in our nation’s democratic processes. Registering to vote is an important first step in assuming the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

On the subject of voting, the LWV has raised and continues to raise questions about the integrity of voting machines used in S.C. counties. We advocate for HB 4945, on-line voter registration. We are interested in all aspects of the voting process. We believe that the right of every qualified citizen to vote and have that vote counted accurately should be protected.

Must we really be addressed as “ladies"? (Locally, males are one third of our membership.) As Mr. Hills observes, “it is 2012 by the way.”

Thank you for this opportunity to respond to Mr. Hills’ letter.

Agnes Edwards, President

League of Women Voters of Georgetown County

Georgetown

Political signs

With primary and general elections looming, our elected officials, and those hoping for the public trust, are showing – once again – just how untrustworthy and criminal they really are.

I’m talking about the issue of campaign signs. Illegal signs. Signs on publicly owned property that have absolutely no business being there. We used to call them yard signs, but unfortunately, very few wind up on people’s lawns anymore.

Our candidates for public office need to know the following basic laws. The area between the roadside and private property, generally known as the right-of-way, is not your private playground. See Section 57-25-10 of S.C. law. This law prohibits signs in the right-of-way, unless you are a government entity, or, catch this civil libertarians – an established church! Yes, church signs have a special exception in SC Law. So much for the so-called separation of church and state.

Our ethics laws also make use of public property illegal. See Section 8-13-1346(A). A person may not use … public … property to influence the outcome of an election. This law is found in the same code section our Supreme Court recently used to invalidate hundreds of candidates running in the upcoming primary. I suggest that ethics complaints be filed against all violators of this law, especially those that are currently the most powerful officeholders.

I strongly recommend that anyone running for public office comply with the rules you expect us to follow. Please locate your signs exclusively on PRIVATE property. It is the law (remember that annoying little detail?). This means you have to find supporters (you do have some, don’t you?) that will allow signs to be located in their yard or business location. Get their permission first, or be subject to trespass or illegal use of others’ property. Without their prior permission, your sign should be legally removed by the owner.

As a final suggestion to our candidates, why not just legalize the current defacto illegal use of public property that politicians currently enjoy, as was done in North Carolina last year? Isn’t that the American way? Our elected officials always seem to be exempting themselves from the very laws they forcefully pass on others. It makes perfect sense that they should boldly exempt themselves from the sign laws they already break with impunity. Anything less just wouldn’t be fittin’ and right. Ain’t lawyerin’ and politickin’ grand?

Marty Tennant

Georgetown

Elections and seniority

Election time has come again and we will make a decision as to who will represent us. I am a former UAW union representative and I will speak to the issue of Seniority.

We have been voting for and electing Senator Yancey McGill for many years and he has been representing us fairly, as he should, and because of the manner in which he has represented us, we continue to vote and support Senator Yancey McGill and now he has acquired the seniority that he has now. Because of Senator Yancey McGill seniority he now sit on some very important committees. Senator Yancey McGill can now do more for the people that he represents because of the fact that we stayed with him, We voted and supported him, that is why his Seniority is also our Seniority, and we should not get rid of our Seniority.

We would be very unwise to stop voting and supporting Senator Yancey McGill, He has and continues to represent us very well. Let us not make the mistake of not voting and supporting our Senator Yancey McGill.

Representative Carl Anderson and Senator Yancey McGill work together as a team and we all know that a good team make good sense, And as long as they continue to give us good representation, We should continue to keep our seniority.

Senator McGill and Representative Anderson, in addition to all that they do for us, they are both God-fearing men with good character. We are bless to have them represent us. To God be the glory. Amen.

Samuel Marsh

Andrews

What is the future

in humanity?

I never thought I would live to see the day that our president would agree to same sex marriages. But I have. But I wonder how long this was in the making? And why they want this law to be put into action under this adminstration?

What else is going on that we are not being told? For we know that same sex marriage cannot produce any offspring, so where will the next generation come from?

I believe that there is a hidden agenda here. This will only bring more sin into the world. And when this happens the world will suffer for it. Same sex marriages will cause us a lot of grief.

The Bible tells us that when the the children of Israel enter into the promised land they were given certain instructions to follow, bui they did not and they suffer greatly. But this is different, for now they is given permission to marry. How will this end? Maybe this is the end of time for the godly as well as the ungodly.

For when we dellberately disobey God’s law we are asking for trouble. For know the highest office in the land has given permission for America to ERA. But ask yourself who will pay the penalty?

Mary Julia S. Sargent

Georgetown