Voting closing early? Lost poll worker? Are Myrtle Beach election rumors true

Editor’s note: This article was updated to correct the date of the runoff council election.

After crowded and, at times, contentious campaigns, Myrtle Beach voters chose Tuesday their next mayor and one council member, advancing three others to a runoff election.

Months of campaigning led up to the Nov. 4, 2025, polls, but Election Day brought its share of allegations and confusion in Myrtle Beach.

Election Day poll hours were 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and poll workers are required to let anyone in line by closing time vote. But before voting locations officially closed, some took to social media with allegations of voting difficulties.

“Poll workers closing down polls early … An hour before polls close NO street directional signs out. ‘We just picked up the signs, we almost done,’” mayoral candidate Mark McBride wrote on Facebook. “All 4 of Market Common voting precincts NO signage out on streets … Closed door which was stuck had to knock on it. Asked why it is not left open, so people could see light inside. ‘It’s cold. It’s 69* in here!’”

McBride didn’t immediately respond to a request to comment to clarify what he meant by closing down early, and Horry County Voter Registration and Elections Board Director Sandy Martin referred The Sun News to the city for inquiries on polling location hours.

City spokesperson Meredith Denari told The Sun News voting precincts did remain open through voting hours, but couldn’t verify when directional signs were taken inside.

“All of the polling locations inside the city of Myrtle Beach were open until 7 p.m.,” Denari said. “Our polls closed at 7:00 and signs were posted outside of the polling places. I don’t know what time certain poll workers may have brought them in.”

Was poll worker missing?

Once polls closed, the final preliminary election results for the city came in slower than some expected, with about 75% of precincts reporting around 9 p.m. Unlike previous years, the Horry County Board of Voter Registration and Elections handled Myrtle Beach’s results, so precincts had to report to Conway.

City officials were concerned about an election worker who couldn’t be reached and called to send an officer to check on her, before ultimately reestablishing contact.

“She was not missing. She was at her precinct the whole time. She was trying to get some of her paperwork corrected. She did not leave the precinct at 6:00 or 7:00, like they said, she left about 8:15,” said Martin. “She came straight here. She just left her precinct a little later. She was concerned about making sure her paperwork was correct, and she got here a little later than some of the others.”

Ultimately, Myrtle Beach did receive unofficial election results shortly after 9 p.m., once precincts finished reporting. The preliminary results showed Mark Kruea won the mayoral election, Mike Lowder will serve another council term and Jackie Hatley, Nick Vaugh and Phil Render will square off in a runoff election.

Kruea and Lowder’s election victories will be certified Thursday, Nov. 6, and voters will cast ballots in the runoff election on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

This story was originally published November 6, 2025 at 6:00 AM.