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Volunteers needed to work polls for Democratic primary

By LISA B. STOKES, T&D Bamberg Correspondent

BAMBERG -- Despite financial concerns within the state and local Democratic parties, Bamberg County plans to have all of its usual polling places open for the upcoming Feb. 3 Democratic primary.

"We are still working with individuals who are willing to donate their time or accept nominal pay for certain duties. As much as we would like to pay all of the poll workers for the time that we expect them to contribute, we just can't afford it," Gerald Wright, executive chair, said. "We are hoping that citizens will volunteer and contribute because they want to make a difference in their communities. We know that Bamberg County has citizens who are willing to volunteer for the good of the party."

Instead of voting machines, paper ballots will be used to save money in the Bamberg County primary, as well as throughout the state, Wright said.

Statewide, South Carolina is expected to open all polling places for the first Democratic Party primary to be run by the state.

Wright noted that in the 2000 Republican presidential primary, the GOP did not staff all polling places, especially those in areas with larger black populations. The state Democratic Party sued, saying the GOP was in violation of the federal Voting Rights Act, he said. The legal action, settled after the GOP agreed to do its best to open all polls, ended up costing the party hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees, Wright said.

Democrats could find themselves in this same situation if they choose to be selective about which polls to open, he said.

On Tuesday, February 3, 2004, Bamberg County voters will use the following voting locations for the Democratic primary election.

Colston

Colston Fire Department

6785 Colston Rd., Bamberg

Edisto

Edisto Fire Station

4532 Edisto River Rd., Branchville

Ehrhardt

Ehrhardt Town Hall

13442 Broxton Bridge Rd., Ehrhardt

East Denmark

Brooker Center

19 Maple Ave., Denmark

West Denmark

The Train Depot

West Heritage Hwy., Denmark

South Bamberg

J. Carl Kearse Agriculture Building

Calhoun Street, Bamberg

North Bamberg

National Guard Armory

612 Main St., Bamberg

Olar

Olar Town Hall

Govan

Old Govan Fire Station

12237 Carolina Hwy., Olar

Hightower Mill

Hartzog's Store

9803 Voorhees Rd., Denmark

Hunters Chapel

Hunters Chapel Fire Department

6313 Farrells Rd., Branchville

Kearse

Brandt's Office

8804 Low Country Hwy., Ehrhardt

Little Swamp

Little Swamp Community Center

16589 Hunters Chapel Rd., Smoaks

T&D Correspondent Lisa B. Stokes can be reached by e-mail at lisastokes@bellsouth.net or by phone at 803-245-5648.