The LWVUS —along with more than 350 national organizations—signed a letter ahead of this week’s passage of the Respect for Marriage Act in the United States Senate. With the passage, the country received a strong message that our leaders in Congress affirm the fundamental rights the aforementioned landmark cases secured, and it also provides reassurance for couples across the country who have faced discrimination due to the Defense of Marriage Act. This further ensures that all federal benefits are available to married couples no matter where they live and ensures that states give full faith and credit to all validly celebrated marriages.

Happy American Indian Heritage Month and National Men's Health Awareness Month! Did you know that Native Americans lived in South Carolina 14K years before the first Europeans arrived? The earliest pottery made in North America, called Stallings, was first made in South Carolina. It is recognized by the inclusion of Spanish Moss as "temper" to help hold the hand-molded clay together.

The Statehouse Report

We are soon to be voting in the 2022 General Election. What can we expect? First, we can expect that this election will be like those before, with hundreds of professional and volunteer workers doing their best to make sure that voting is secure and accessible for South Carolina’s citizens. Once more, citizens will vote, by mail or in person, exercising the most basic of our rights and responsibilities. However, in some other ways, this will not be like earlier elections

The State newspaper

More than 30 South Carolina charities granted a combined $11.3 million through the budget earmark process over the past two years were out of compliance with state law and should not have been soliciting donations, an analysis by The State Media Co. has found.

"Regardless of any charity’s merits, lawmakers need to know some basics about its operations before appropriating public funds, "said Lynn Teague, vice president for issues and action with the South Carolina League of Women Voters.