Civic Engagement
Civic Engagement at USC Upstate supports and extends the efforts of the Office of Service Learning and Community Engagement by promoting non-partisan awareness of, and involvement in, multiple aspects of the electoral process, primarily for students, but tangentially including faculty, staff, and the greater community.
Three primary goals for Civic Engagement are:
- Raising awareness of the importance of our democratic process
- Assisting with voter registration and motivation to be involved in elections
- Educating our community concerning issues and candidates at both local and national levels
This report offers the first comprehensive assessment of civic health in the state of South Carolina. Civic health is determined by analyzing a series of indicators that measure political participation, community involvement, and neighborhood engagement. The findings show that South Carolinians vote at surprisingly high rates, frequently discuss politics with friends and family, participate heavily in community groups- particularly religious organizations, and regularly talk with neighbors.
The South Carolina Civic Health Index concludes with four “Visions for Action” designed to improve civic health for all residents or targeted groups. Any specific idea, however, must be created and vetted by the people of the state. Therefore, each vision is accompanied with discussion questions that can aid in the development of plans to build a more participatory and engaged South Carolina.
South Carolina Civic Health Index in the News
- South Carolina Radio Network: New report finds SC residents eager to vote but hesitant to act afterwards.
- North Augusta Star: Political activity statewide and locally varies.
- Bluffton Today: What is SC's civic health? It depends.
- The State: Study: SC Resident's eager to vote, unlikely to act.
USC Upstate is one of about 1,000 colleges and universities that participate in the National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement (NSLVE). The study is conducted by the Institute for Democracy and Higher Education at the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University.
The attached report provides USC Upstate's student voting rates for the 2012, 2014, and 2016 national elections. The data are broken down by characteristics such as age and field of study. In the 2012 election, USC Upstate students voted at a much higher rate than their peers across the country and, as seen in the report for 2016, a higher percentage of students registered and voted in 2016 than in 2012.
Voting FAQ
For South Carolina residents: visit www.scvotes.org, select voters and register to vote. Follow the instructions on the website to complete your voter registration.
For out-of-state residents: visit www.usa.gov/register-to-vote for more information on how to register to vote in your state.
Yes! When filling out the voter registration application, use the following address: 470 Hodge Drive, PMB # (enter actual number) Spartanburg, SC 29303.
For South Carolina residents: visit www.scvotes.org, select voters and register to vote. Follow the instructions on the website to complete your voter registration.
Make sure you have updated your information with the SC DMV prior to updating your voter registration information.
For out-of-state residents: visit www.usa.gov/register-to-vote for more information on how to register to vote in your state.
Paper copies of the SC and National voter registration forms can be obtained from the Office of Service-Learning and Community Engagement, CLC 202.
For South Carolina Residents: visit www.scvotes.org, select voter and check your voter registration.
For out-of-state residents, visit www.usa.gov/register-to-vote#item-212825 to find a list of state or local elections offices to verify your registration status.
For South Carolina Residents: visit www.scvotes.org, select voters and absentee voting for a list of who is eligible and instructions for requesting and submitting absentee ballots.
For Out-of-State Residents, visit www.usa.gov/register-to-vote#item-37337 for information regarding absentee voting in your state.
For voters registered in South Carolina:
In person (deadline: November 7, 2016 at 5 p.m.)
Visit the county voter registration office in your county of residence, complete an application, and cast your ballot.
By mail (deadline: November 4, 2016)
Visit www.scvotes.org, select voters and absentee voting. Click on the “Get the application online” link.
For individuals registered in a state other than South Carolina:
Visit www.usa.gov/register-to-vote#item-37337 for more information about requesting absentee ballots for your state.