It’s political primary time in SC, and early voting starts Tuesday. What to know
The June political primaries in South Carolina are less than a month away for statewide and local races, but people who want to vote early can cast their ballots as early as Tuesday.
The primaries are June 9, and any runoffs would be two weeks later on June 23.
Candidates that win primaries advance to the November general election. Not all races have primaries, but many do, including both parties choosing who will be the party’s nominee for governor in November.
York, Lancaster, and Chester counties all have early voting sites. Those sites are the only places for early voting, said Alan Helms, York County Voter Registration and Elections director.
Additionally, people have to already be registered to vote to be able to cast a ballot in the primary. That deadline for registration passed on May 10, Helms said.
Here is some important voter information, provided by Helms and the S.C. Election Commission website scvotes.gov.
When is early voting?
Early voting runs from Tuesday, May 26, through June 5, Monday through Friday. Locations are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Any eligible voter in their county of residence may vote at any county early voting location with a valid South Carolina or federally issued photo ID, according to elections officials.
Where can I vote early?
York County
Fire Training Center of York County: 2500 McFarland Road, York
Carolinas Cornerstone: 1790 Gardendale Road, Fort Mill
Holiday Inn Rock Hill: 503 Galleria Blvd Meeting Rooms, Rock Hill
Lancaster County
County Voter Registration Office: 101 N. Main Street, Lancaster
Del Webb: 7641 Charlotte Highway, Indian Land
Indian Land Recreation Annex (Library): 8286 Charlotte Highway, Indian Land
Kershaw Second Baptist Church: 7737 Kershaw Camden Highway, Kershaw
Chester County
County Voter Registration Office: 109 Ella Street, Chester
Richburg Town Hall: 201 N Main St Richburg
Will my normal polling place be open for early voting?
No. Only early voting sites are used before the June 9 primary. People who want to vote in person on June 9 will go to their normal polling place.
What political party primary can I vote in?
Voters in South Carolina do not register to vote by political party.
Any registered voter who was registered by the May 10 deadline can vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary, but not both.
Voters have to choose the party primary they want to vote in.
Who can I vote for and who is on my ballot?
Primary races for U.S. Senate, governor, attorney general, state treasurer, secretary of state, comptroller general, superintendent of education and commissioner of agriculture are statewide.
The governor’s race on the Republican side is the marquee race of summer primary, and includes people with statewide political experience. The candidates are Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, U.S. Congress members Ralph Norman and Nancy Mace, state Attorney General Alan Wilson, state Sen. Josh Kimbrell, and businessman Rom Reddy.
U.S. House of Representatives District 5 currently held by Rock Hill’s Norman is on all ballots in York, Chester and Lancaster in the Democratic primary, where Andrew Clough and Mallory Dittmer face off. That congressional seat does not have a Republican primary.
Other races are local by party, such as S.C. House of Representatives and county council, depending on where you live.
Find out more about the candidates
In York County, there Republican primaries for statewide races, three York County Council seats, York County probate judge and S.C. House of Representatives District 26, according to a list of candidates provided by York County elections officials.
On the Democratic side in York County there are statewide races, the U.S. Congress District 5 race, and S.C. House of Representatives Districts 47 and 49.
To see your sample ballot of who you can vote for in either primary, visit scvotes.gov. Click on ‘Get my sample ballot,” and fill out the information. You can then view your sample ballot for both the Republican and Democratic primaries.
What if there is a runoff June 23?
If there’s a runoff election on June 23, anyone can vote. But if someone who voted in the June 9 primary can only vote in that same party’s runoff election on June 23.
Races will have runoffs if the top two vote-getters if one candidate in that party does not receive a majority of all votes cast in the primary on June 9.
Have questions?
Each county has a voter registration and elections office that can handle questions from the public in person or by phone.
York County, 6 S. Congress St., York, 803-684-1242.
Lancaster County, 101 N. Main St., Lancaster, 803-285-2969.
Chester County, 109 Ella St., Chester, 803-385-2562.
South Carolina Election Commission, 803-734-9060
