Volunteer poll workers needed in S.C.

A week from the Feb. 3 presidential primary, S.C. Democrats are still searching for volunteers to work poll sites in heavily Republican or rural areas.

Democrats have to find about three people to staff each of the state’s nearly 2,000 precincts Tuesday.

Carol Khare, who is heading up volunteer recruitment for the party, said the Democrats have enough people, but they have a surplus of volunteers in some places and not enough in others.

If they can’t find enough locals to work the polls, organizers might have to shuffle volunteers from one region to another.

Party leaders would rather not do that, however. So they are scrambling, calling potential volunteers, past precinct workers and anyone they can think of who might be interested in working the polls Tuesday.

People are more aware about the primary now that it’s close, and volunteers are calling and offering to help.

“We’re getting them steadily,” Khare said. She said one person volunteered at breakfast this morning.

Last fall, many observers were skeptical that the party could mobilize enough volunteers. The party lost almost all its statewide races in 2002, and many activists were demoralized.

But Khare said things are coming together. “We’re pushing along,” she said.

Richland County organizer Hannah Timmons said she has been so busy getting ready for Feb. 3 she hasn’t had the chance to learn much about the candidates.

The retired teacher started recruiting from the Richland Democratic Women and from an organization of retired teachers and moved on from there.

Early this week, she was still looking for volunteers to work in Blythewood, where there are many newcomers who lean Republican, and in Lower Richland, which is heavily Democratic but also rural. Many say they can’t afford to take the day off for the election.

Although some organizers said they have had trouble finding people to work in heavily Republican areas, others said they were surprised to hear from several Republicans and independents who wanted to help.

South Carolinians do not register to vote by party, so the primary is open to anyone.

“A lot of people that have called said they’re dissatisfied with the way the country’s going,” said Charles Hamby, the Oconee County Democratic chairman.

Rusty DePass, a Republican who ran for state Senate in 2000, volunteered to work a half-day at his Richland County precinct because he said he wants to promote cooperation between the parties.

DePass will help staff the Jewish Community Center on Tuesday. “I certainly would not want to see any Democrat denied the opportunity to express their vote,” he said.

Not all Republicans share his views. State GOP executive director Luke Byars said the party is urging Republicans to stay away from the Democrats’ primary.

Some have speculated Republicans might cross party lines and try to skew the results by voting in the Democratic primary. South Carolina’s contest will play a big role in determining who challenges President Bush in November.

Byars predicted the Democrats will have a tough enough time staffing precincts and getting the ballots counted and results reported.

“We don’t want Democrats to blame us for the handling of the primary,” he said.

Reach Talhelm at (803) 771-8339 or jtalhelm@thestate.com.