I hope you’re doing well.
Good news for Murrells Inlet and Garden City. Last week the Army Corp of Engineers approved $6.1 million for needed navigational channel dredging. The sand that’s dredged will be pumped to the south end of Garden City to renourish the eroded beach. A real win-win for our area.
Voting in free and fair elections is what sets our American democracy apart and makes our country the greatest in the world. Ensuring that this right is upheld is of utmost importance.
On Thursday, I cosponsored H. 4919, which will make it easier to vote while making it harder for fraudulent votes to be cast. Here’s some of what the bill would do:
This bill repeals the “in-person” absentee voting system, so all absentee ballots would have to be submitted by mail.
Instead, it creates 12 days of “early voting” with an acceptable form of ID, just as voting on Election Day. These early voting locations must be “brick and mortar”, and offer every ballot for that particular election - giving every individual a chance to go vote if voting on election day is not possible.
This bill enforces voter ID requirements when voting absentee, just as they are enforced on Election Day. IDs would mirror what is already in South Carolina law: SCDL, state ID card, passport, military ID, voter registration card with a picture.
Every absentee ballot that is submitted must have the signature of a witness. With this, witnesses would be required to print their name beside their signature and provide an address so their identity can be verified.
Absentee envelopes would be opened prior to Election Day so results are available by the close of polls. To safeguard this, any disclosure of any election-related information before the polls close is a felony.
South Carolina is known for its natural beauty and great hunting. It’s important that we preserve and protect our natural resources and the sport that so many love.
This week, I voted to pass H. 4177, which requires the Dept. of Natural Resources to hire a waterfowl program manager, who would be responsible for the development, protection, and propagation of our natural resources and waterfowl. If passed by the Senate, the bill includes funding to rebuild the important waterfowl impoundment dikes at the Samworth Wildlife Management Area in Georgetown County.
It’s an honor to represent District 108 in the House. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.
Rep. Lee Hewitt