BY BARBARA ZIA
Originally published in The Post and Courier on 10/08/03.

We thought the suffragette days ended in 1920, when American women were finally given the right to vote, 133 years later than men. In South Carolina, the overall turnout of women who vote is quite strong -- 57 percent of women who are registered went to the polls last year. Lowcountry women vote!

But not so younger women: of those between the ages of 22 and 44, only 48 percent voted. For those between the ages of 18 and 21, only 27 percent of registered women actually went to the polls last year. It seems the only women in this state who vote are those who remember that it was a hard-won victory.

Adding to the plight of women in our state is this: South Carolina ranks 50th in the nation for having women representatives in our congressional delegation (if you didn't know already, the current grand total is 0). We are also last when it comes to state legislators -- less than 10 percent of our state decision-makers are women. Not only are our young women not voting, they are not voting for other women.

Times must change in South Carolina. Women have made great strides here, in all professions. Yet we do not fully participate in the political process. As a result, decisions regarding our education system, health care, economic security, community growth management and even family planning are largely determined by men. We need to get more young women to the polls, and we need more women involved in South Carolina politics.

"Government is too important to be a spectator sport," said the late Southern Congressman Barbara Jordan.

Lowcountry Women Vote, a new coalition, urges women here to let their voices be heard. Our quality of life and self-sufficiency depend on women taking part in the political process. And we must increase the awareness of women to vote, especially those between the ages of 18 and 44. Some women may find the negativity of political campaigns distasteful but, if you choose not to participate, you are only ensuring that the issues you care about will not be addressed by our policy makers.

The non-partisan coalition includes the American Association of University Women, the Center for Women, the Charleston chapters of Links, Continental Societies, NOW, Hadassah of Charleston, the Junior League of Charleston, Women Making a Difference, and the local area League of Women Voters. The coalition effort is being enhanced by contributions from the Community Foundation, Adams Outdoor Advertising and Skirt magazine.

"We want to help spread the word that we must actively participate in the voting process," said local Links' chapter President Yvonne Orr. "Together, we can reach so many more people in our quest to effect positive changes in our society," added Priscilla Robinson of Continental Societies Inc. "Women can make a difference in the world, but not if they don't exercise their right to vote," said Eileen Chepenik of Charleston area Hadassah. "By voting locally, we can truly effect change," added Nancy Currey, president of the Center for Women Board of Directors.

On Nov. 4, elections will be held in Charleston, Isle of Palms and Seabrook Island. We encourage employers to allow workers time to vote on Election Day. If you do not remember where your precinct is located, call your local county Election Commission. For more information about Lowcountry Women Vote and links to voting sites, visit us online at www.c4women.org.

Bring a neighbor to the polls with you. And teach your children the importance of voting. It is a learned activity. Your vote makes an enormous difference, year in and year out, in every election. Let's not wait 133 years to hear the voice of women making decisions for South Carolinians. Lowcountry women, vote.

Barbara Zia is president of the Charleston area League of Women Voters.