A March 23 Coastal Carolina University panel discussion, Fighting Against Major Party Polarization: Can a Different Approach Improve American Politics?” included Nancy Williams, LWVSC president. The event recording is available.

Status uncertain: H.3695, Closed Primaries, and H.3823, limiting the number of absentee ballots one can witness to five. H. 3734 would further standardize municipal elections, limiting the dates on which they can be held to three and requiring counties to administer elections for municipalities on request. This useful bill was forwarded with a favorable recommendation.

The Greenville News

The fate of South Carolina's transgender residents remains uncertain as lawmakers consider two bills that would ban gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth and restrict residents from being able to change the gender on their birth certificate. Lynn Teague with the League of Women Voters questioned if the state had a compelling interest in restricting transgender rights. "We don't prohibit every medical procedure that can turn out badly," Teague said. "If we did, no one would ever get knee replacement or back surgery. Much of Teague's argument is likely to be the crux of a lawsuit if the bill becomes law.

There has been progress on some useful legislative “fixes” for election issues. We hope that the General Assembly will take up bills that would reform the selection and retention of magistrates. H.3014, the Clementa C. Pinckney Hate Crimes bill, received second reading in the House yesterday. Our senators should be strongly encouraged to pass this bill, without amendments.