Myrtle Beach Divided Over Councilman’s Controversial Voting Sticker Post

Myrtle Beach Community Reacts to Controversial Voting Sticker Post

In the sunny town of Myrtle Beach, a social media post by Horry County Councilman Al Allen has stirred up quite a buzz. On October 25, Allen shared a picture of a Spanish “I Voted” sticker, known as “Yo Voté,” on his Facebook page. He followed up the post with a message that caught many folks’ attention, saying, “I apologize to my constituents who may have been offended by this because I was when it was brought to my attention! ‘America First Always.’” He also raised the question, “Who authorized and paid for this?”

A Mistake or a Message?

As the Myrtle Beach community begins to ponder over this post, it seems to have sparked a mix of feelings. Some folks in the comments expressed their offense, siding with Allen’s perspective, suggesting that it disrespected veterans. Others, however, don’t see any harm in having a voting sticker in Spanish. Isn’t representation important, after all?

To add to the chatter, John Michael Catalano, a spokesperson for the South Carolina Election Commission, clarified that these stickers, including the Spanish version introduced this year, are distributed to counties at no cost. It turns out that the local elections office, led by Sandy Martin, made an error by sending “Yo Voté” stickers to polling places such as those in Aynor and Carolina Forest. Martin stated they decided not to distribute the Spanish stickers on Election Day, saying, “It will be a very busy day for our workers and we don’t want them to make decisions on which sticker to pass out.”

Community Voices

This incident has brought forward a wide spectrum of opinions. Local Spanish radio host El Gallo voiced his thoughts, describing Allen’s post as “disrespectful” and “problematic.” He expressed concern about the message being communicated — that Hispanics and Latinos are less welcome in our community. “By someone important posting something like this to social media, you’re promoting hate,” he remarked. “You’re not promoting a welcome to our city.”

Dr. Wendy Weinhold, a communications professor at Coastal Carolina University, weighed in as well. She believes situations like these open the door for discussions about individual perceptions, beliefs, and opinions within the community. “Everyone deserves the same opportunity to share their voice,” she emphasized.

The Hispanic/Latino Community in Horry County

It’s worth noting that according to the South Carolina Election Commission, there are around 5,124 registered Hispanic/Latino voters in Horry County, a solid contribution to our electoral process. Moreover, in South Carolina, a total of 77,524 registered Hispanic/Latino voters exists, and projections suggest that Latinos will account for 14.7% of all eligible voters come November 2024. This indicates a growing presence, participation, and influence of the Hispanic community in our local culture and politics.

What’s Next?

As the chatter continues online, it’s clear that this topic means different things to different people in Myrtle Beach. It has inspired many to think critically about inclusion and representation in our political landscape. Whether one agrees or disagrees with Allen’s sentiments, the conversation around community, inclusivity, and representation is invaluable. Stay tuned as this story develops, and let’s hope we can foster constructive discussions that build bridges rather than walls!