MORNING HEADLINES | State officials marked nearly 170,000 South Carolina voters as “inactive” on the state’s voter rolls after they failed to verify their registration information.
The State Election Commission (SEC) mailed address confirmation cards in April to more than 191,000 registered voters who had not voted or updated their registrations since 2020. The group represents about 5% of the state’s nearly 3.5 million registered voters.
Voters were asked to confirm their address on the cards and mail them back to the SEC office within 90 days. Only about 23,000 did.
“The business of running elections doesn’t end on Election Day,” SEC Executive Director Howie Knapp, said in a WCBD TV report. He continued to say that the process of marking voters as “inactive” was a “critical tool” to ensure accurate and up-to-date voter rolls.
“It’s one of the many ways we safeguard the integrity of our elections and ensure every eligible South Carolinian can vote with confidence,” he added.
Inactive voters are still eligible to vote, but they must reconfirm their address before participating in future elections. Inactive voters remain on the list for two general election cycles before being removed.
The next statewide elections in South Carolina are in November 2026. You can verify that your registration is up to date on scvotes.gov.
In Friday’s issue of the Charleston City Paper
CP OPINION: Boost solving murders to slow murder rate. “One of the most disturbing stories in recent weeks — besides all of the terrible things that are expected to happen to the country’s safety net after passage of the federal budget megabill — is how almost half of murderers get away with their killings.”
- Reale: Stop science cuts to keep future from becoming more vulnerable
- Hogan: An arts-eye view of the Big Beautiful Bill
- CP CARTOONS: Ariail: Bacteria Beach
- CP CARTOONS: Stegelin: It’s a win/win
CP NEWS: Housing gap challenges Charleston. The cost of being able to live affordably in the Charleston area is out of control, a housing crisis just as real as rising sticky temperatures, climate-induced flooding and expensive prices just about everywhere.
CP NEWS: Expansions, upgrades under way at Charleston International Airport. Charleston International Airport will soon see several improvements, including a major concourse expansion, a new parking garage and a new connector to alleviate traffic congestion along International Boulevard.
CP NEWS: OHM Radio 96.3 celebrates a decade of service. Charleston’s only non-commercial, volunteer-powered radio station, OHM Radio 96.3 FM, is gearing up this month to celebrate a major milestone — a decade of nonstop, community-driven programming.
CP FOOD: Sizzling dinner to feature New Orleans chef at Charleston’s Beautiful South. You might assume that New Orleans’ Mr. Mao restaurant serves Chinese food and that it’s named after Chinese politician Mao Zedong. You’d be wrong.
CP MUSIC: Chicago’s Hot Like Mars to jam July 16 in Charleston. The Chicago quintet Hot Like Mars will bring its funk to the Pour House on July 16. The band is fluent in tight, insistent and danceable funk that can move even the most sedentary booty.
In other headlines
Potential illegal oil dumping in North Charleston sparks resident concern. A North Charleston resident is sharing environmental concerns as the neighborhood pond has continued to fill up with more than just water.
Charleston County Council weighing potential 2026 transportation sales tax. After voters overwhelmingly rejected the 2024 transportation sales tax, Charleston County Council discusses priorities that could go on a 2026 referendum.
Local group hosts beautification projects for “25 for 2025” litter cleanup initiative. Keep North Charleston Beautiful is calling on the community to help out with its initiative as the local organization celebrates 25 years.
5 years after crackdown, Folly Beach looks to make abandoned boat laws mirror state changes. The abandoned boat is an iconic slice of Folly Beach, and it may likely be the only one in city limits that won’t be touched by proposed changes to the city’s abandoned and derelict vessel ordinances council advanced on July 8.
Charleston’s summer meal programs help feed kids when school is out. Every summer, school closures leave many low-income students without easy access to breakfasts and lunches, but the work of schools and community groups to bridge hunger gaps for their most vulnerable students does not stop.
Isle of Palms considers ban on shark fishing. Isle of Palms leaders are considering a ban on shark fishing in their waters, amid safety concerns from residents.
Mount Pleasant’s tree team aims to boost the town’s community forest. Mount Pleasant established a tree taskforce in June to develop strategies to boost its urban forest. The group’s seven members, announced July 8, are local residents and bring different areas of expertise to the table.
Parked cars now leading source of stolen S.C. guns, report finds. A growing number of firearms are being stolen from parked cars, especially in urban areas, according to a new report that highlights a frequently overlooked source of illegally circulating guns.
Hundreds pedal across South Carolina to end Alzheimer’s disease. More than 400 cyclists will be trekking across South Carolina this weekend as part of a three-day cycling challenge to raise money and awareness in the fight to end Alzheimer’s disease.
State, utility leaders say S.C. heading toward ‘nuclear renaissance.’ Gov. Henry McMaster recently compared South Carolina’s position in leading the way for a nuclear revival to the car in the poll position for the start of the Darlington 500 Race.
Help keep the City Paper free.
No paywalls.
No subscription cost.
Free delivery at 800 locations.
Help support independent journalism by donating today.