Early voting turnout quadruples that in SC primaries

Published: Nov. 2, 4:34 p.m.

Updated: Nov. 4, 11:45 a.m.

South Carolina broke its one-daily early voting record for the sixth time since early voting began. Around 55,000 South Carolinians cast their ballot at the polls on Thursday, Nov. 3.

More than 430,000 South Carolinians have cast ballots as the state continues in its second week of early voting.

“The early voter turnout for the General Election has already tripled the number we saw in the June primaries, and we still have a few days left in the early voting period,” said John Michael Catalano, Voter Education and Outreach Coordinator for the S.C. Election Commission.

This year, for the first time, S.C. voters don’t need to provide a reason for voting early. All S.C. residents who are registered to vote can vote early.

Voters still can vote “absentee” in the state — meaning they can’t go to the polls on the actual Election Day. However, the deadline for requesting an absentee ballot has passed.

Election Day is Tuesday, when polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

This year, all South Carolinians will see seven statewide elections on their ballot as well as two constitutional amendment questions. In the gubernatorial election, incumbent Republican Henry McMaster is running against Democrat Joe Cunningham and Libertarian Bruce Reeves.

Both McMaster’s and Cunningham’s campaigns emphasized the importance of early voting. Cunningham’s campaign said it was grateful for the opportunity for South Carolinians to vote early as it “maximizes the number of voices that can be heard.”

Early voting in Lexington County is going “really well,” according to Lexington County Registration and Elections Director Lenice Shoemaker.

The office is seeing a steady flow of voters, said Shoemaker, even in colder weather and drizzle.

People are definitely interested in the races, she said.

“If voters want to know what their ballot will look like ahead of time, they should go to scvotes.gov,” Shoemaker said. “We have two constitutional amendment questions on the ballot (statewide) this year as well as one for (Lexington) County. That way, voters can be prepared with their answers, and they won’t have to spend as much time at the polls.”

Lexington’s ballot asks voters to approve a penny-on-the-dollar sales tax to pay for road and bridge construction and maintenance and stormwater projects.

Absentee voters can return their ballots by mail or in person to their county’s voter registration office. But they have to plan ahead.

“Don’t expect to mail the ballot on Monday and have it get here by Tuesday,” Shoemaker said.

Early S.C. voting started Oct. 24 and runs through Nov. 5, the Saturday before Election Day. Early voting polling locations will be open Monday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“I encourage anyone that wants to vote to go ahead and vote early,” said Terry Graham, interim director of the Richland County Voter Registration & Elections Office. 

In Richland County, voters can cast ballots early at one of five locations:

• Richland County Voter Registration & Elections Office: 2020 Hampton St., Columbia, SC 29204
• (Richland Two’s) Institute Of Innovation: 763 Fashion Drive, Columbia, SC 29229
• Ballentine Community Center: 1053 Bird Road, Irmo, SC 29063
• Hopkins Park Adult Activity Center: 150 Hopkins Park, Hopkins, SC 29061
• Parklane Adult Activity Center: 7494 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223

In Lexington County, voters can cast ballots early at one of five locations:

• County Voter Registration and Elections Office: 605 W. Main St., Room 130, Lexington, SC 29072
• Midlands Technical College (Batesburg-Leesville Campus): 423 College St., Batesburg-Leesville, SC 29070
• Midlands Technical College (Harbison Campus): 7300 College Street, Irmo, SC 29063
• Pelion Branch Library: 206 Pine St., Pelion, SC 29123 
• West Columbia Community Center: 754 B Ave., West Columbia, SC 29169