History

The Voting Rights Act of 1965, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote as guaranteed under the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The Voting Rights Act is considered one of the most far-reaching pieces of civil rights legislation in U.S. history.

Source: The History Channel

The Commission's Role

Per  SECTION 1-31-40 of the Commission's statute, the Commission will "provide the minority community with assistance and information on Voting Rights Act submissions in the State, as well as other related areas of concern to the minority community;"

Register to Vote

Voter registration in South Carolina is handled by the South Carolina Election Commission. Visit the South Carolina Election Commission website to register online.

New Voting Machines

The paper-based ExpressVote Universal Voting System uses touch-screen technology that produces a paper record for tabulation. As a marker, the ExpressVote handles the entire marking process, eliminating marginal marks and the need for interpretation of the voter’s mark. To view a video that explains how to use the machine.

Source: Election Systems and Software