Across the state, the rooms where these conversations are happening tell their own story. Some forums are half full, even when several candidates are on stage and the issues are critical. Some candidates show up everywhere; others skip entire communities.

That difference matters.

When you are in the room, you can see how someone listens, how they handle a tough question, how they treat people whose identities they perceive as different from their own. You can learn a lot from a handshake—and from the choice not to offer one.

We are seeing the same pattern in other public moments.

SC State University students are protesting their planned commencement speaker, and farmers continue raising concerns about how policy decisions affect their operations, markets, and our state’s and nation’s food security. These moments remind us that people notice who is invited into the room, who is left out, and who is affected when decisions are made without broad participation.

We are seeing similar dynamics in statewide decisions.

The legislature recently voted on limiting foreign purchases of land, even as communities weigh the rapid expansion of data centers and the strain they place on water, energy, and local infrastructure. Meanwhile, South Carolina’s manufacturing base continues a steady downward turn, raising questions about how resources are used, who benefits from these shifts, and who is left absorbing the costs. These choices shape everything from land use to food security—and they underscore why public engagement matters.

In 2022, 50.9% of registered voters cast a ballot in the general election—only about 32% of South Carolina’s total population. Primary turnout was 16.9%, roughly 11% of the state’s population. And because South Carolina votes relatively early, our primaries often influence which issues gain national attention and which candidates remain viable.

The League of Women Voters believes plainly: “An educated citizenry is needed for a strong democracy.” Awareness is not extra; it IS the work.

South Carolinians must be registered by May 8 for the June 9 primary and by October 4 for the November 3 general election.