‘This election is very important’: Horry County voters cast votes in Democratic Primary
This November will be the first time Melaysia Moore, 18, a resident of Bucksport, casts a vote for president.
Being a first-time voter, Moore took her responsibility as a voter seriously. On Saturday, Moore went to the polls to vote in the Democratic Presidential Primary with her grandmother.
Her voting decision was last minute, but she cast her first vote for Tom Steyer.
“I gotta have someone who is authentic,” she said. “And he seemed dedicated.”
Across Horry County, residents took to the polls to pick which Democrat they want to challenge President Donald Trump on Nov. 3.
South Carolina is the “first in the south” to vote in the primaries. Polls opened at 7 a.m. on Saturday and closed at 7 p.m.
As of Feb. 29, Horry County Election’s Director Sandy Martin said, more than 1,600 absentee ballots were cast: 19 by email, for people in the military or overseas, 715 by mail and 1,924 in person
While many polls have former Vice President Joe Biden winning South Carolina, voters who spoke to The Sun News on Saturday supported a variety of candidates.
Many voters used new paper-based polling machines for the first time. Patricia King, in charge of the Coastal Carolina precinct, said the primary was good training for November’s general election.
King believes the new voting machines are a substantial improvement to the old system.
Being a predominantly Republican area, Horry County voting locations rarely had lines form but voters steadily showed up throughout the day.
Jack Gregory was in charge of The Market Common area precinct in the Crabtree Memorial Gym. He said many new transplants to South Carolina don’t realize you do not register by party here, so it is okay for Republicans to vote in a Democratic primary.
Gregory, who has worked elections for more than a decade, helped former Professor William Jarvis use a curbside voting machine.
In South Carolina, people with a disability or those who are unable to enter the polling area can vote from the car, a service Jarvis praised. He said he cast his vote in support of Biden because he thinks the country needs an honest, proven leader in office.
“I’m hoping to bring some stability back to the government,” he said.
Gianna Fine, 23, voted at Crabtree because she believes voting expresses her passion for politics. She supported Sen. Bernie Sanders because she believes he’s been a proven advocate for civil rights and can excite young voters to rally against Trump.
“I like that he is really passionate behind his politics,” she said.
Conway voter Mary Pryor supported South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg because she agrees with his platform to build unity even across party lines. Pryor respects Sanders, but opposes medicare for all, a key issue for the senator.
Moore’s grandmother, Gwendolyn Moore-Mishoe, voted for Biden, but also considered supporting Michael Bloomberg but he wasn’t on the ballot.
Ultimately Moore-Mishoe, who likes to vote for a mix of Republicans and Democrats, thinks whomever gets the nomination needs to unite the country and work with both parties to bring needed change.
“I believe the person needs to take charge,” Moore-Mishoe said. “This election is important given how the nation is very divided.”
Polls close at 7 p.m. on Saturday and results will be available after Sunday’s print deadline. Check out myrtlebeachonline.com for results.
This story was originally published February 29, 2020 at 2:45 PM.
