Photos| Cheris Hodges

Photos| Cheris Hodges

<p>Photos| Cheris Hodges</p>

Photos| Cheris Hodges

<p>Photos| Cheris Hodges</p>

Photos| Cheris Hodges

<p>Photos| Cheris Hodges</p>

Photos| Cheris Hodges

<p>Photos| Cheris Hodges</p>

Photos| Cheris Hodges

BENNETTSVILLE—South Carolina will host the first in the nation Democratic Primary this Saturday.

Historically, the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary started the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. And while these two states did have voters casting their ballots last month, South Carolina is the first official contest for the national Democratic Party’s nomination process.

Party chairman Jamie Harrison visited Bennettsville Thursday to rally the Democratic base to vote this Saturday. Early voting in the Democratic Primary began Jan. 22.

Harrison, who described himself as a “dirt road Democrat” is from Orangeburg and he said it was because of S.C. voters that President Joe Biden won the party’s nomination in 2020. “It’s important that we go into these rural communities and let people know that we see them and we understand the unique things that they have to deal with.”

He said that with South Carolina being first, the candidates have to talk about and focus on the issues that matter to voters here. Harrison said Biden wanted to change the primary schedule to reflect the diversity of the country and the Democratic party when it came to picking presidential candidates.

“You are now, first in the nation,” he said. “Black folks here in South Carolina, we are no longer at the back of the bus, we are driving the bus. We have to understand the power that now have. The hands that were enslaved and in bondage, the hands that picked cotton, now the kids and the grandkids and the great-great grandkids of those people will now pick presidents.”

Rules for voting in the primary according to SCVotes.gov:

  • You can pick either primary but you can only vote in one.
    • The Democratic Presidential Primary is on February 3.
    • The Republican Presidential Primary is on February 24.
  • Make sure you have one of the following Photo IDs: SC Driver’s License, SC DMV ID Card, SC Voter Registration Card with Photos, Federal Military ID, or US Passport.
  • If you do not have one of the Photo IDs, make your voting experience fast and easy by getting a free one from the DMV or your county elections office.
  • If you forget to bring your Photo ID to the polling place, you can vote a provisional ballot that will count only if you show your Photo ID to the county elections office before the certification of the election (on Friday after the General Election).
  • If you can’t get a Photo ID, remember to bring your non-photo voter registration card with you to the polling place. You may vote a provisional ballot after signing an affidavit stating you have a reasonable impediment to obtaining a Photo ID.