Judge Rules Against Reopening Voter Registration For Teens

South Carolina American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Allen Chaney argues for reopening voter registration to allow teens to vote after a glitch in the DMV's computers on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Colu

A judge in South Carolina has ruled that nearly 1,900 teens will not be able to reopen their voter registration after a glitch at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) prevented them from registering to vote as they obtained their driver's licenses. These teens were 17 at the time of their DMV visit but would turn 18 by Election Day. The DMV's computers failed to identify them as eligible voters and did not prompt them to complete an additional form certifying their eligibility to vote.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit to reopen registration for these teens, but the judge deemed it too late to make such a significant change to the voting rolls so close to Election Day. The ruling was supported by lawyers representing the South Carolina Election Commission, the SCDMV, the General Assembly, and the Governor's Office, who cited the challenges of addressing registration issues while early voting was already underway.

While around 6,000 affected teens were able to complete their registration after realizing the process was incomplete, the judge's decision means that the remaining teens will not be able to vote in the upcoming election. The ACLU argued that these first-time voters may not have been aware that checking a box at the DMV meant they were not fully registered.

2. Teens were affected by a DMV glitch preventing voter registration at 17.

1. Judge denied reopening voter registration for 1,900 teens in South Carolina.

3. ACLU filed a lawsuit to reopen registration, but judge deemed it too late.

Despite efforts by the DMV and state officials to rectify the situation and prevent similar errors in the future, the ACLU expressed disappointment in the ruling, stating that excluding voters due to a government error is unfair and infringes on their constitutional rights.

Early voting in South Carolina has seen significant turnout, with over 511,000 votes cast in the first four days, representing approximately 15% of eligible voters. The judge had previously extended the registration deadline due to the impact of Hurricane Helene, emphasizing that natural disasters were beyond human control.

While the DMV and state officials have committed to addressing the issue and ensuring the integrity of future elections, the ACLU remains steadfast in advocating for the rights of all voters, especially first-time voters who were inadvertently excluded from participating in this historic election.