South Carolina Archives | American Democracy Minute

South Carolina Supreme Court Decides ‘All elections shall be free and open’ Doesn’t Mean Partisan Gerrymandering is Unconstitutional

September 21, 2025September 21, 2025

In June, we told you about a South Carolina state supreme court case challenging the state constitutionality of partisan gerrymandering. The court ruled September 17th that manipulating voting districts for partisan power does NOT violate the state’s constitution.

Redistricting Week: 60 Years After The Voting Rights Act, Racial Gerrymandering Persists, Driven by State Legislatures Trying to Retain Power

August 5, 2025August 5, 2025

You may think racial gerrymandering happened long ago and just in southern states with legacies of suppressing of African Americans. Think again. Anti-voter legislatures around the country still employ racial gerrymandering to retain political power.

Is Partisan Gerrymandering Unconstitutional Under South Carolina’s Constitution? A Pro-Voter Challenge Takes the Legislature to Task.

June 26, 2025June 26, 2025

The U.S. Supreme Court said in 2019 that partisan gerrymandering was fundamentally a political issue, and left it to legislatures and state courts to decide. In South Carolina, a state supreme court case heard June 24th challenges the state constitutionality of partisan gerrymandering.

For MLK Day: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “March on Ballot Boxes” Speech in South Carolina, May 9, 1966

January 19, 2025January 19, 2025

On May 9, 1966, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke in Kingstree, SC about the importance of voting on the eve of a state primary. Here are his words: “Let us on that glad day in June march on ballot boxes, for this is the way we’re going to straighten up the South and the nation."

Early Voting Begins in 18 States This Week, But Voter Registration Ends in 6 States. You Can’t Vote If You’re Not Registered.

October 20, 2024October 20, 2024

Early voting is well under way in 22 states, and will be joined by another 11 states Oct. 21st and 22nd. But if you’re not registered in Pennsylvania, Alabama or South Dakota, your time runs out by the end of day on Oct. 21st.