What's New?

League of Women Voters^®
of the Charleston Area

Of specific interest are the following new items:

URGENT! Some members of the House of Representatives are trying to push through a bill that would limit third-party voter registration efforts, such as those that the League holds. A vote could happen as early as February 8. Limiting third party voter registration is not good government or democracy at work; it is just more government, more unnecessary regulations, and more protection for those who are currently in office. Please call or email your SC House Representative today to vote NO on House Bill 4549. What you can do:
- Call or email your legislator. Just go to www.scstatehouse.gov/legislatorssearch.php and complete the information in the "Find Your Legislator" box (on the left side) to get their names and contact information.
- Sign this petition: SC Government: Stop the Assault on Voting Rights
- Mobilize friends and family to speak with their representatives. The LWVCA has written a Letter to the Editor and sent an email advising friends and members of the League of the legislation.

March's "Hot Topic" is on The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as the Affordable Health Care Act or Obamacare, which was signed into law in March of 2010. Many states, organizations, and individuals have filed actions in federal court to challenge the law's constitutionality. The US Supreme Court has agreed to review the lawsuits and has scheduled 5 hours to hear oral arguments in March of this year.

Hot Topic Speaker: Charleston School of Law Adjunct Professor Mary Kay Schwemmer
What's in the law? How could it affect you?
March 14th, 6:30 to 8:30, YWCA, 106 Coming St. downtown

Federal Court has blocked Sections 4, 5 & 6 of SB 20 The League opposed SB 20 and participated in a peaceful rally on December 19th to express concern over the law.

Guess how many high school students our voter registration team registered this fall.... 917!!! Thanks to Joan Dehne and crew for introducing our youth to the world of voting!

A "HOT TOPICS" discussion about South Carolina's new immigration law and its effects on law enforcement and our community was held on November 9. Scott Bischoff, criminal defense attorney for Savage & Savage Law Firm and former public defender, will speak. Discussion to follow.
Update: Read Post and Courier article on the Forum: Law on illegal immigrants stirs up concerns during forum
Meeting Flyer

First in the South Voter Registration Toolkit: Everything you need to hold your own Voter Registration Drive -- who's waiting on you for that extra nudge to participate??

The LWVCA continues to work alongside other Leagues to promote the importance of fair and impartial courts nationwide. The League promotes independence and diversity at all levels of the state judiciary to enhance the legitimacy of our system of justice in the eyes of an increasingly diverse public. A continuation of the status quo will "affect the way citizens look at the role courts play in their communities, erode the trust in the courts, question the right of equality under the law, and negatively affect the perception of the judiciary as fair and impartial."
The Greenville League's Judicial Independence And Diversity Website is a great new resource on how the South Carolina Judicial Branch is organized and operates.

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: February 5, 2012 18:41 PST.