Mission & GoalsAbout us
South Carolina Public Information Commons
The South Carolina Public Information Commons is a 501(c)(3) community knowledge initiative dedicated to expanding equitable access to public information and strengthening civic participation across the state.
We serve as a statewide public resource—collecting, organizing, and translating government data, public records, and community-sourced information into clear, accessible formats that residents can understand and use.
Our work includes filing and publishing FOIA requests, developing issue explainers, curating open-data resources, and providing localized reporting that highlights the policies, decisions, and community conditions affecting South Carolinians. We regularly host voter education programs, public forums, community workshops, and informational events designed to build civic awareness and empower individuals with the tools they need to engage in public life.
By transforming raw data and public information into digestible articles, visual materials, and community educational resources, the South Carolina Public Information Commons ensures that essential knowledge remains open, accessible, and actionable—supporting a more informed public and a stronger, more transparent democracy.
We serve as a statewide public resource—collecting, organizing, and translating government data, public records, and community-sourced information into clear, accessible formats that residents can understand and use.
Our work includes filing and publishing FOIA requests, developing issue explainers, curating open-data resources, and providing localized reporting that highlights the policies, decisions, and community conditions affecting South Carolinians. We regularly host voter education programs, public forums, community workshops, and informational events designed to build civic awareness and empower individuals with the tools they need to engage in public life.
By transforming raw data and public information into digestible articles, visual materials, and community educational resources, the South Carolina Public Information Commons ensures that essential knowledge remains open, accessible, and actionable—supporting a more informed public and a stronger, more transparent democracy.
InitiativesPublic Information & Civic Knowledge Initiatives
Strengthening South Carolina’s civic landscape by expanding community access to trustworthy public information, open data resources, and clear, unbiased reporting that empowers residents to engage fully in local and statewide decision-making.
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Open Data for All (FOIA Transparency & Reporting Initiative)
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Carolina Information Briefs (Issue Explainer Series)
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SC Civic Exchange (Public Forums & Community Workshops)
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Voices of the Palmetto State (Local Storytelling & History Project)
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Civic Access Labs (Training on Using public Data & Government Resources)
Policy WatchBills We’re Tracking
(H.4513)Election Transparency & Public Records Access
This bill would require county election offices to maintain and release critical election records — such as cast-vote files, chain-of-custody reports, and audit documents — free of charge to qualified voters. We are monitoring this legislation because expanding access to election data strengthens public trust, supports civic transparency, and aligns with our mission to make government records easier for South Carolinians to understand and use.
(H.3401)Digital Communications & Government Data Integrity
H.3401 proposes new rules governing how state agencies manage digital communications and handle personal data, including transparency around interactions with social-media platforms. We are tracking this bill because digital-information policy directly affects how the public receives government communications, how personal data is protected, and how accessible civic information remains in the digital age.
(S.132 / H.4498)Strengthening South Carolina’s Freedom of Information Act
These bipartisan FOIA reform bills seek to eliminate excessive fees, shorten response times, and ensure government agencies deliver public records more affordably and reliably. We are watching this legislation closely because fair and timely access to public information is the foundation of an informed community, open data initiatives, and accountable government.