Time running out for voter registration - wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina |

Time running out for voter registration

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COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -

The deadline to register to vote in the presidential election is just two weeks away. As time runs out, many are making it easier to fill out that voter registration form.

If you thought registering to vote was a time-consuming process, people like Joe Soloman and technology are making it easier every day.

Six days a week, from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Solomon is at the intersection of Clemson and Hard Scrabble Road, reminding and registering people to vote.

"The music that I have is loud," said Soloman. "That's attention, what's going on over there."

Soloman is not paid for his work. He's just a disabled Veteran with a sense of duty and humor.

"I have a lot of jokes about Obama, and I have a lot of jokes about Mitt Romney," said Soloman.

He shares those jokes with 80 people a week who fill out voter registration forms. Those forms may have sensitive information, but they are safe in Soloman's hands.

"What I do with the forms, after you fill it out, they got a little seal, I tear the little what-you-call-it off and stick it together and fold it," said Soloman.

After that, Soloman drops the forms off at the elections office.

"Richland County is receiving just over 500 applications each week," said Richland County elections official Garry Baum.

These days, voter registration applications can be mailed, faxed, scanned, and emailed.

"We have voters who will take a picture of their driver's license on their phone and email that in with their application," said Baum.

Luckily, that's an acceptable way to show off a form of identification. Because Soloman doesn't take that kind of information, those registering through him must bring the information to the polls.

"Voting is the thing," Soloman said. "Anybody can come here and register and put all their information just to register, and get a card in the mail, but voting, that's what I want you to do. Not only register, vote."

If you are unregistered to vote, you have until Oct. 6 to send in your form to the elections office.

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