(Columbia, SC) – As the House Judiciary Committee concludes its meeting today to further “tweak” district lines, Better Ballot SC and like-minded organizations stand outside the Blatt Building to call for an end to the endless cycle of map manipulation. While politicians engage in “gerrymandering wars” to dictate election outcomes, the voters of South Carolina are the ones left behind.
The current fight over mid-decade redistricting is a symptom of a broken, winner-take-all system. Better Ballot SC and like-minded organizations assert that the only way to restore trust in our democracy is to move toward Proportional Representation, specifically through Proportional Ranked Choice Voting (Single Transferable Vote).
“Today, we are watching a familiar play: politicians playing with maps to pick their own voters before a single ballot is cast. These ‘gerrymandering wars’ are popping up across the country, and while parties fight over lines, trust in our democracy continues to erode,” states Nicole Sanchez, President of Better Ballot SC.
“The solution isn’t a ‘better’ map; it’s a better system. We stand with voters who vote in good faith, who expect their votes to matter. With proportional representation, every vote matters. We call on the Legislature to truly allow all South Carolinians to be fairly represented. We’re all in this together and our elected officials should reflect that.”
Retired Army Colonel Christopher Himsl, current state lead of Veterans for All Voters said, “Gerrymandering was wrong in 1812 when it was first used and it’s wrong today. It’s hard to do the right thing when everyone else is doing it. But, this is not a procedural issue, this is a moral test. Power should rest with the people. Leaders should face real competition. The rules should be fair even when your side loses. It’s the American way.”
“Congress is meant to represent the will of all citizens. For state leaders to use their power to favor one party over another is discrimination and counter to their oath.” Sam Gibbons, state coordinator for the SC 50501 movement and Republican candidate for SC Congressional District 2 said, “In keeping with my oath, I will continue to fight for the constitution and the people in any clime and place.”
As the legislative session enters its final three days before the “Sine Die” adjournment on May 14, we urge lawmakers to pivot away from partisan map-making and toward structural reforms that make every vote count equally.
