Guest post written by Chris Keefer, Turning Pages SC Board CFO / Treasurer
It is estimated that in Lexington and Richland Counties here in central South Carolina, one out of every 10 people read below a sixth-grade level.
Given that the minimum age to vote is 18, voting requires more than a sixth-grade reading level. Sadly, 10 percent of eligible voters around the capital city of Columbia, SC, lack the skills to fill out a voter registration card, request an absentee ballot, vote in person, or research the candidates and referendum questions on their ballot.
Fulfilling Work as a Tutor
I have been with Turning Pages SC since 2016. I started off as a basic adult education reading tutor. During the 2010s, I spent a lot of time getting to know my learners and helping them achieve personal goals tied to reading and writing.
One of my learner’s goals was to vote in the 2020 presidential election. He was 53 years old at the time. Due to his lack of reading skills, he had never voted. We worked together so that he could learn the voting process, register to vote, research the candidates on his ballot, and then cast his vote.
Learning the Voting Process
As we went over the voting process, he discovered that he would likely not be able to vote in person due to his work hours and inability to take someone to the polls to assist him. So, we opted to request an absentee ballot.
After downloading the absentee ballot request form from Richland County Voter Registration and Election office’s website, I called them to ask about helping my learner with the process since he could not read well. After explaining the situation, they gave the go-ahead to assist my learner as he completed his ballot.
Once my learner had his absentee ballot in hand, we went over the various offices, candidates, and referendum questions up for vote on the ballot. (Referendum questions are a challenge for even well-skilled readers!) I read the ballot out loud to him, pointed out each candidate, and asked him which candidates he wanted to vote for. He considered this information then decided who to vote for. I then guided him to the applicable circles, helped him sound out the name listed, and he made his vote on the absentee ballot.
When we were done 20 minutes later, he was so proud that he had voted for the first time in his life. And I was happy and thankful that I had the skills to help my learner accomplish one of his life goals.
Helping Others Exercise Rights
It’s amazing how much we as skilled readers take for granted. Voting is one of those constitutionally guaranteed rights we have as Americans. Yet, not all Americans can exercise this right—especially if the literacy skills to do so are missing.
As we enter another presidential election cycle, think about what you can do now to help someone eve vote in excise their right to vote 2024.
At Turning Pages, we can train you to tutor learners in essential reading skills so that they can achieve their life goals!
