If you're reading this and you are not registered to vote... REGISTER TO VOTE!

Unfortunately, I am not a resident of South Carolina and cannot vote in this election; however, it's important that if you are eligible to vote in SC, you most definitely should!

The current governor, Henry McMaster (R), assumed his position in January 2017 and is running against SC Rep. James Smith (D) in the 2018 gubernatorial election.

McMaster has campaigned on the values which contemporary conservatism rests — promises of lower taxes, more jobs, etc. Admittedly, the unemployment rate in the state has declined since he took office; within the year (August 2017-2018) the unemployment rate dropped from 4.2% to 3.6%, a significant decrease.

What should be startling is the state remains at the bottom of national rankings for education (#48) and healthcare (#41), which are kind of important. Democrat candidate, James Smith, has vocalized his goal to make these issues a priority, something McMaster has failed to do thus far.

Smith believes that through smaller class sizes, instituting competitive teacher wages, and developing a more equitable education system such that rural areas are not left behind, are crucial to improving the state's education system. By going through McMaster's education ideas on his website, it is evident his priorities are different than Smith's. McMaster focuses on things such as increasing technology in schools and cutting costs, rather than working on the issues teachers have been vocalizing for years, such as class size.

One factor that may work in McMaster's favor is the recent fight over Brett Kavanaugh's appointment, which has charged Republican voters. McMaster consistently vocalized his support of Kavanaugh's nomination and subsequent confirmation, potentially further amplifying Republican voter turnout and increasing his chances of winning.

Also, if it means anything to you, President Trump endorsed McMaster.

In a primarily red state, it is undoubtedly difficult for a Democrat to win, however, this can be attributed to the low turnout of young voters. Additionally, while every poll thus far has McMaster ahead by several percentage points, if not more, each has a fairly notable margin of error.

The disappointing voter turnout of college-age students is what has continued the cycle of electing officials with outdated priorities and values. This is why if you are an SC resident, Democrat, Independent, or Republican, it is SO important to not only register to vote (there are registration drives all around USC) but to turn up to the polls and actually exercise your right to vote.

USC's campus is closed election day to help students have the time to vote, so take advantage of it!