Registering to Vote in the Upcoming Presidential Preference Primaries
The State Election Commission and county election commissions are urging citizens to register to vote for the upcoming Presidential Preference Primaries (PPPs). These primaries will be historic in South Carolina in that this is first time that the government of South Carolina will be conducting them.
Traditionally, these primaries have been conducted by the Democratic and Republican parties. Not much emphasis has been given to how these primaries differ from the statewide primaries in June. South Carolinians will still have three sets of elections in 2008. First, the two Presidential Preference Primaries in January. Second, the June statewide primary. And finally, the November General Election.
The PPPs are purely party primaries and do not take the place of the June primary or November General Election. If you decide to vote in one of the PPPs this coming January, then you are electing a delegate to represent your particular candidate at their party’s political convention later in the year. In essence, this is a statewide straw poll.
It is important to note a few things about registering and voting in the PPPs. 17 year olds may register 30 days before the PPPs and vote in one of the PPPs, the June Primary, and November General Election if their 18th birthday will be before the November General Election. Also, South Carolina does not register voters by party. This is a huge misconception since other neighboring states conduct this practice. Any voter may vote in any party’s primary in January.
To learn more about the PPPs and other elections in 2008, visit:
