MORNING NEWSBREAK | Some 1,896 South Carolina teenagers who will turn 18 by the Nov. 5 election may have been denied the ability to register after an S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) computer error voided their voter registrations.
A judge will hold a hearing on a case filed this week by the ACLU of South Carolina. The lawsuit seeks an emergency order to add any impacted teens to voter rolls.
The teens reportedly registered legally at SCDMV offices under the federal “motor voter” law, which has required states to offer voter registration services to all eligible residents when they apply for or renew a drivers license since 1993.
State law allows teenagers who will turn 18 by Election Day to register to vote up to 13 months in advance.
The ACLU filed a lawsuit Tuesday alleging the state DMV’s system made it impossible for some 17,000 eligible teenagers to register to vote while obtaining a driver’s license or other identification. A review of its records identified the exact number of teens impacted by its system and the information was sent Wednesday to the state Election Commission, according to DMV spokesman Mike Fitts.
In City Paper news today:
CP OPINION: Pick good leaders in Statehouse races. “Perhaps the most important local Statehouse election of the season is for a gerrymandered state Senate seat that stretches from Johns Island to Ravenel and Walterboro and then swings northeast to Ridgeville.”
CP CARTOON:
CP FOCUS: Where to celebrate fall in the Lowcountry. Whether you’re a beer aficionado craving crisp, autumnal brews to sip, a foodie with a sweet tooth or a barbecue connoisseur ready to dig into an array of smoked meats, Charleston has a fall festival for everyone. Here are some events between now and the beginning of the new year.
CP NEWS: Polls for 2024 race reflect a toss-up election. With a presidential election that both sides are calling one of the most momentous in American history now only days away, partisans of Team Red and Team Blue are scouring polling data for even the slightest hint their side is going to win.
CP NEWS: S.C. ranks dead last in energy efficiency, study says. October is National Energy Awareness month, a fact not well-known during a time when climate issues continue to garner discussion, according to a study conducted in September by finance analysts at WalletHub. Energy efficiency is simply not taken as seriously as other issues, especially in the Southeast, the study suggests.
CP ART: Silverman turns grief into comedy in new tour. Sarah Silverman is set to reinforce her reputation as a powerhouse in stand-up comedy with her current U.S. tour, Sarah Silverman: Postmortem Tour, which kicked off in September and comes to the Charleston Music Hall on Nov. 7.
CP FOOD: Nonstop chefs: Maneet Chauhan and Stephanie Izarda. Two faces familiar to anyone who watches a lot of food television — Maneet Chauhan and Stephanie Izard — were among the food celebrities in town in late-September for the Food & Wine Classic in Charleston.
CP MUSIC: Charleston-bred musicians release EP as new group KIT. The band officially formed last year when Matt Calonius and Mitchell Cassaday joined forces with Athens–based musicians Jeff Webber and Cameron Kelly. The four piece hit as many stages as they could, and the introspective psychedelic-pop songs that Calonius and Cassaday had been developing for years finally found a live audience.
In other headlines:
Mark Clark expansion could damage historic Charleston sites. As Charleston County slowly moves forward with permitting for the Mark Clark extension, some historical landmarks that could be adversely impacted were identified such as Fenwick Hall Historic District, River Road and other archaeological sites.
North Charleston, Charleston working together to improve academic achievement. The city of North Charleston and the Charleston County School District are collaborating to improve academic achievement at north Charleston schools with a joint commission. School leaders say this is a call to action to create change in North Charleston schools.
‘Paws in the Park’ returning to Charleston in November. Brittlebank Park is set to host the Paws in the Park event as part of Charleston Animal Society’s 150th anniversary. The event will feature an interactive 150th anniversary exhibit, a stage with live music performances and an adoption zone where you can meet your next furry family member.
North Charleston moving forward with plans for new skate park. North Charleston Mayor Reggie Burgess and city council approved grant funding last week to design the park and get the process moving forward.
Mount Pleasant considers starting tree task force. Mount Pleasant Town leaders will now consider assigning a group of people to help preserve, restore and replant trees across the area.
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