Letter: Please take part in primary election

South Carolina was chosen for the First-in-the-South primary for two main reasons: We are a small state and therefore can be covered more easily by the candidates and their staff, and we are a diverse state (roughly 60 percent white voters and 40 percent nonwhite) and can give an estimate of how the general population of the U.S. will decide.

It is a great benefit to our state to have the national spotlight shown on us in this positive way. As the candidates and their staffs set up local offices and campaign workers crisscross the state with visits from the possible future leaders of our country, the major press people follow in their wake, and we make headlines.

My message: It is very important that we have a large turnout for voting in the primaries. Our citizens need to let the political parties know that we are concerned citizens who follow the issues and will assist with the campaign work of the candidates, donate and be counted.

Early voting can be done at the county voter registration office or by mail. Request an absentee ballot by calling 843-255-6900. They mail you an application and when you return that, they will mail you a ballot. Record your vote, have it witnessed and return it by mail.

Please take part in the primary voting.

Anne C. Pollitzer

This story was originally published January 23, 2016 at 5:17 PM with the headline "Letter: Please take part in primary election."