Horry County’s socially distant election: What to know before heading to the primary polls
It’s the statewide primary day in South Carolina, and it certainly will be one for the history books given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Now is the time to help each party select the candidate that can best accomplish local issues like road construction, public safety and flood mitigation ahead of the November election later in the year.
Here’s what you need to know if you plan on voting in person today.
What do I need to bring?
Coronavirus cases are still rising in Horry County, and the South Carolina Election Commission recommends you wear a mask, and to be extra safe, bring your own pen to sign in.
To be clear, wearing a mask isn’t a requirement to enter the voting location, but it is a useful way to decrease the odds that folks get sick while doing their civic duty.
Voter identification is required in South Carolina. Please bring an official photo identification card like a Real ID or normal driver license, passport, a voter registration card with your photo on it or military ID.
If you forget your ID, you can still cast a provisional ballot, but for your vote to count, you need to prove you have an ID to the election commission before votes are certified a few days after the election.
Also, if religious or personal obligations keep you from getting a voter identification card, you can still vote if you sign an affidavit swearing you have a legitimate reason keeping you from getting an official photo ID.
While waiting in line to check-in or to vote, please try to keep six feet between the person in front and behind of you.
Once you’re inside the polling place, you will use the new voting machines first used last year during the November nonpartisan elections. You will make your selection on a computer terminal and then your ballot is printed out to be submitted. The new machines haven’t had any major problems in Horry County since implemented.
Who can I vote for?
In South Carolina you do not register to vote by party, so you can vote in the Republican or Democratic primary even if you don’t consider yourself a member of the party. But you can only pick one party’s primary to cast a ballot in.
Horry County residents, both in municipalities and unincorporated areas, will get to vote for candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, S.C. Senate and House of Representatives, county council, school board and other elected officials.
Most of Horry County’s local races will be decided through the Republican primary since there are no Democratic challengers. That said, there are some key Democratic races for the U.S. House of Representatives and S.C. Senate.
The Republican ballot will include a non-binding question if in the future primaries should be open to only party members. This would mean you would have to be a registered Republican or Democrat to vote in the respective primary.
If the question is overwhelmingly answered yes, that does not mean change will come soon. The information will be used in later policy change discussions.
Where do I vote?
Typically your precinct can be found on your voter registration card or by visiting scvotes.org to see where you can vote. If you have further questions about where and how to vote, you can call the Horry County election’s office at 843-915-5440.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Preliminary results will be available Tuesday night with certification happening later in the week. A candidate isn’t formally declared the winner until after the certification.
If a candidate doesn’t get 50 percent of the votes, then there will be a runoff election on June 23.
The coronavirus pandemic closed voting locations across South Carolina, including here in Horry County. This was due to fewer poll workers than needed and some locations choosing not to open up for voting this year.
Here is a list of the moved precinct with its new locations:
Aynor to Aynor Elementary School
Brownway to Highpoint Baptist Church
Cherry Grove #2 to Chapel By The Sea Baptist Church
Coastal Lane #2 to 21st Ave County Complex
Crescent to NMB Fire Station
Dunes #2 to Risen Christ Lutheran Church
Forestbrook to Forestbrook Elementary
Galivants Ferry to Aynor Elementary School
Garden City #2 to Garden City Baptist Church
Garden City #4 to Seaside Elementary School
Hickory Grove permanently moved to Kingston Elementary School
Hickory Hill to Live Oak Baptist Church
Inland to James R Frazier Community Center
Joyner Swamp to Midland Elementary School
Little River #3 to St. Paul AME Church
Myrtle Wood #3 to Myrtle Beach Middle School
Poplar Hill to Salem Baptist Church
Red Hill #1 to Seacoast Church
Red Hill #2 to Sweetwater Branch Church
Tilly Swamp to Chesterfield Baptist Church
West Conway to Conway Library
This story was originally published June 9, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
