CH Votes Receives 4 National Awards

Columbia Housing receives 4 National NAHRO Awards of Merit for CH Votes

Columbia Housing recently received notification of 46 NAHRO Awards of Merit in the categories of Administrative Innovation and Resident Services from the National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO). Four (4) of the Awards of Merit were awarded for Columbia Housing's Voter Education initiatives, delivered in partnership with the COMET (Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority) and subject matter experts, James Felder, Director of SC Voter Education Project; Chris Whitmire, Director of Public Information for the SC Elections Commission; Charles Austin, Chairman of the Richland County Board of Voter Registration and Elections; and Vince Ford, Senior Vice President of Prisma Health.

- CH Votes

- Zooming to the Polls

- COMET Transportation to the Polls

- Get Out the Vote Parade

Columbia Housing Votes campaign, commonly known as CH Votes is a non-partisan activity solely designed for the purposes of Voter Registration, Education, and Mobilization for families served by Columbia Housing. Columbia Housing has actively engaged residents in the voting process for decades. CH Votes, for us, places a brand around what we have and will continue to do to engage our residents in exercising their civic duty of voting in all local, state, and national elections. Voting is a vital part of our democracy and Columbia Housing works to ensure all of its families know their rights, make a plan and exercise their right to vote in local, state, and national elections. 

Zooming to the Polls is a component of CH Votes. It is a virtual platform that gives families a space where where they can communicate directly with experts to ensure they are knowledgeable about the voting process. It consisted of the following topics: voter registration, absentee voting, voter after incarceration and homeless voting, ballot education, meeting the candidates, empowering young voters, and SC Celebrities Get-Out-the-Vote.

COMET Transportation to the Polls was a partnership between Columbia Housing and Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority, which used a combination of free special bus routes, the Dial-A-Ride (DART) transportation system, and personalized transportation requests through its Reflect Transportation Program. Transportation to the polls can be a huge barrier for people with disabilities and limited disposable income. Launching COMET's free and COVID-19 safe Transportation to the Polls was a successful platform engaging Columbia Housing's residents in exercising their civic duty of voting. 

Get Out the Vote Parade was the grand finale of the 2020 CH Votes campaign. The parade was held on October 31, 2020, at the Latimer Manor public housing community - an official Polling Precinct for Ward 19. Residents stood on their porches and waved as Columbia Housing staff, community partners, and candidates running for non-partisan school board election positions paraded through the Latimer Manor public housing community. Many of the children in the Latimer Manor community wore costumes, creating a festive, fun-filled, socially distanced atmosphere.

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