South Carolina Archives | American Democracy Minute

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.

The End of One South Carolina Gerrymandering Lawsuit and the Beginning of Another, as the Fight for Fair Maps Continues

August 1, 2024August 1, 2024

In May, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a racially gerrymandered South Carolina Congressional district and made future racial gerrymandering cases more difficult. July 29th, pro-voter groups filed a state suit, claiming the gerrymander violated the state constitutional provision to an “equal right to elect officers.”

Analysis of the U.S. Supreme Court’s South Carolina Gerrymandering Decision Finds Disturbing Guidance for Lower Courts

June 2, 2024June 2, 2024

We reported last week on U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s opinion in a South Carolina case, finding no racial gerrymandering when 30,000 Black voters were moved to dilute Black voting power in the state’s 1st Congressional district. Scholars found even more voting rights damage in the fine print.

U.S. Supreme Court Finds South Carolina Gerrymandering Case ‘Bleaching’ Congressional District Not Racially Motivated

May 28, 2024May 28, 2024

Back in October 2023, U.S. Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments to determine whether redistricting by the South Carolina legislature was prohibited racial gerrymandering, or political gerrymandering, allowed by the 2019 Rucho decision. The new opinion could have a dramatic effect on the 2030 redistricting cycle.