The Hopkins Elementary polling location had no line at 12:30 p.m. Workers said the day had been calm and there were “no issues.” (Photo by Mary Gaughan/Carolina News & Reporter)
The Associated Press called South Carolina for former president Donald Trump shortly after 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
Election Day came after about 1.47 million votes had already been cast in early voting, according to the South Carolina Election Commission. Another 100,000 had been cast by mail. The state has about 3.5 million registered voters.
Poll workers said lines were minimal and moved quickly Tuesday, in part because of early voting.
Day-of vote totals were being reported slowly Tuesday night. More than 1.5 million votes had been cast across the state as of 9:30 p.m.
At 9:45, Trump held the lead with 59.6% of the votes that had been counted so far. More than half of the counties had reported their vote totals by then.
About 70% of Lexington County votes had been counted by 9:45 p.m., with Trump leading at 66.93% of votes.
Richland lagged behind with 25.5% of votes counted. Vice President Kamala Harris had the lead in Richland with 53.3% of the vote.
In many polling places in the Midlands, early and absentee voting led to shorter wait times.
“It’s really been a very uneventful day,” Kilbourne Park Baptist poll clerk Rusty DePass said.
Melanie Murphy drove three blocks from her house to the Kilbourne Park Baptist polling location. She didn’t wait at all to vote.
“This is kind of surprising that I could just walk straight in,” Murphy said. “This precinct is normally crazy busy. I’ve been in a line out the door before.”
Michael Gauthreaux, a retired Columbia native who voted former president Donald Trump, said he did not have to wait in line at the Hand Middle School polling place. He said the voting process was very easy.
“Times will change tomorrow,” Gauthreaux said. “This is all part of our country’s growing pains – It’s an ugly time.”
Richland County resident Jannie Roberts voted at A.C. Flora High School, and she’s looking forward to less tension after Election Day.
“No matter what happens, it’s got to be calmer,” she said. “We’re looking for peace now.”
