Published: Tuesday, Jun. 24, 2008 / Updated: Tuesday, Jun. 24, 2008 02:25 PM

Primary election turnout slow today

If you live in Lake Wylie, southwestern Rock Hill or Senate District 17, you have something important to do today — vote.

Voter turnout in the 23 open York County polling locations this morning is starting off slow, more so than the June 10 primary that caused this runoff election, said Registration and Elections Director Wanda Hemphill.

“It seems to be relatively slow,” she said, “but we expected it to be.”

In one Rock Hill precinct, Hemphill said, there were only five voters by 7:30 a.m.

Today's primary runoff elections will help decide who gets two seats on the York County Council and a spot in the S.C. Senate. The winners will advance to general election contests on the ballot in November.

The races in today's runoff are:

n Senate District 17, where Rock Hill lawyer Leah Moody squares off in the Democratic primary against Creighton Coleman, a Winnsboro attorney who has spent eight years in the state House.

The winner will face Republican Mark Bennett in November.

n York County Council District 2, where incumbent Republican Tom Smith faces challenger David McCorkle for the right to represent the Lake Wylie and Clover areas.

No Democrats have filed for the District 2 seat.

n York County Council District 4, where Councilman Roy Blake meets challenger William "Bump" Roddey in the Democratic primary. District 4 represents southwestern Rock Hill.

The winner will face Republican Tom Hardin in November.

All registered voters in each of the districts are eligible to vote today, unless they voted in the opposing party's primary on June 10. For example, if a resident in York County Council District 4 voted in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate June 10, he cannot vote in the Democratic runoff. But if a registered voter in York County Council District 4 didn't vote at all June 10, she can vote in the runoff.

All the polling locations opened on time without problems, Hemphill said. They’ll remain open until 7 p.m.

Where to vote in today’s primaries:

York County Council District 2

Allison Creek, Allison Creek Presbyterian Church, 5780 Allison Creek Road, York

Bethel 1, Bethel Fire Department, 5600 Highway 557, Lake Wylie

Bethel 2, River Hills Community Church, 104 Hamiltons Ferry Road, Lake Wylie Bethel School, Bethel Elementary School, 6000 E. Highway 55, Clover

Bowling Green, Bowling Green Presbyterian Church, 250 Ridge Road, Clover

Clover 1, Clover school district office, 604 Bethel St., Clover

Clover 2, Clover Middle School, 320 Clinton Ave., Clover

Filbert, St. James Methodist Church, 1930 Quary Road, York

Lakeshore, Lake Wylie Christian Assembly, 5766 Charlotte Hwy., Lake Wylie

New Home, New Home Church, 3290 Charlotte Hwy., York

York County Council District 4

Edgewood, Edgewood School, 1446 Russell St., Rock Hill

Mount Holly, Oakdale School, 1129 Oakdale Road, Rock Hill

Newport, Newport Fire Department, 5198 Hampton Ridge Road, Rock Hill

Northwestern, Applied Technology Center, 2399 W. Main St., Rock Hill

Oak Ridge, Bethesda Fire Department, 1705 Hwy. 324, Rock Hill

Ogden, Antioch United Methodist Church, 930 W. Rambo Road, Rock Hill

Rock Hill 2, Rock Hill City Hall, 155 Johnston St., Rock Hill

Rock Hill 3, Sunset Park Elementary School, 1036 Ogden Road, Rock Hill

Rock Hill 4, Boyd Hill Center, 1165 Constitution Blvd., Rock Hill

Rock Hill 5, Grace Lutheran Church, 426 Oakland Ave., Rock Hill

Rock Hill 6, ParentSmart, 384 E Black St., Rock Hill

Rock Hill 8, Sylvia Circle School, 929 Sylvia Circle, Rock Hill

Tirzah, Tirzah Presbyterian Church, 181 Tirzah Road, York

State Senate District 17

Edgewood, Edgewood School, 1446 Russell St., Rock Hill

Mount Holly, Oakdale School, 1129 Oakdale Road, Rock Hill

Ogden, Antioch United Methodist Church, 930 W. Rambo Road, Rock Hill

Rock Hill 2, Rock Hill City Hall, 155 Johnston St., Rock Hill

Rock Hill 3, Sunset Park Elementary School, 1036 Ogden Road, Rock Hill

Rock Hill 6, ParentSmart, 384 E Black St., Rock Hill

Rock Hill 8, Sylvia Circle School, 929 Sylvia Circle, Rock Hill

Baldwin Mill, old bowling alley, Brice Street, Chester Baton Rouge, West Chester Fire Station, Pinckney Road, Chester

Beckhamville, Trinity Baptist Church, Chester Avenue, Great Falls

Blackstock, Cornwell Community Center, Columbia Road, Blackstock

Chester Ward 1, Memorial Building, Main Street, Chester

Chester Ward 2, Chester County Library, Pinckney Street, Chester

Chester Ward 3, Old Armory of 911 Building, Ella Street, Chester

Chester Ward 4, Calvary Baptist Church, Walnut Street, Chester

Edgemoor, Lando Community Center, 1066 Westbrook Road, Edgemoor

Eureka Mill, The Holy Place, Saluda Street, Chester

Fort Lawn, Community Center, 554 Main St., Fort Lawn

Great Falls 1, 2, 3, Great Falls Memorial Building, Dearborn Street, Great Falls

Halsellville, St. Paul’s Baptist Church, West End Road, Chester

Hazelwood, Pleasant Grove Church, Pleasant Grove Road, Chester

Lando, Lando Community Center, 1066 Westbrook Road, Lando

Landsford, Fort Lawn Community Center, 554 Main St., Fort Lawn

Lowrys, Lowrys Community Center, 2266 Old York Road, Lowrys

Richburg, Town Hall, Main Street, Richburg

Rodman, Rodman Community Center, Rodman Road, Chester

Rossville, Community Center, Great Falls Hwy., Great Falls

Wilksburg, Wilksburg Baptist Church, Pinckney Road, Chester