One-Man Voter Registration Drive Hits Midlands

RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. (WOLO) — With 76 days until the 2012 General Election, the deadline to register quickly approaches. However, one Midlands man is on a mission to increase registration numbers, in a very unique way. “I come out here everyday.” In the parking lot of a convenience store… “I love it and I love the people.” …at one of the busiest intersections in Richland County… “I got ’em coming in all directions. They can’t miss it.” …sits a man… “I keep folks focused on the election.” …on a mission. Former marine corps sergeant, now disabled veteran, Joe Solomon, has been pulling up a chair at the corner of Hard Scrabble and Clemson Roads, weekly…sitting, and waiting…he says, for more than four years. “The only reason I’m doing this is to get folks to come here and register,” said Solomon. “Who they vote for is their business.” While Joe Solomon getting people to fill out this form appears to be noble, even selfless…is it practical? Legal? ABC Columbia News went to the Richland County Voter Registration office to find out. Executive Director for the Richland County Elections and Registrations Office, Lillian McBride, says anyone can retrieve voter registration applications from her office and start their own drive like Joe Solomon. “There’s no law that says you can’t,” said McBride. “He can say he’ll turn in the info to the office, and it’s up to that individual to trust him to do what he said he would do.” She says she’s actually received calls about Solomon and whether what he’s doing is legitimate. She points out not everyone who does drives is associated with an official office and warns citizens to apply at their own risk. For folks in charge of these drives, she warns them not to hold “those applications because people depend on them coming to our office.” Joe Solomon claims he turns in apps collected through the week each Friday and that he will continue to do so until the October 6th deadline to register. The 2012 General Election is Tuesday, November 6th. For more information registering to vote or answers to other election questions, go to www.scvotes.org.