Laurens County passes its 2022 early voting total as SC sets midterm record
October 28, 2026
Laurens County voters have already cast more early ballots than they did during the entire early voting period four years ago. With early voting continuing through Saturday, turnout across South Carolina has set a new record for a midterm election.
Laurens County outpaces 2022
As of the close of early voting Monday, Oct. 26, 4,519 Laurens County voters had cast ballots at the county’s early voting center, according to the Laurens County Board of Voter Registration and Elections. That is about 9% of the county’s registered voters. Another 169 absentee ballots had been returned.
During the 2022 midterm election, 3,405 Laurens County voters cast ballots during the full two-week early voting period. This year’s count has already passed that mark by 1,114 ballots, an increase of about 33%, after just six days of voting.
Who is voting early in Laurens County
Older voters account for most of the county’s early ballots. Early ballots cast by age group:
- Ages 18 to 24: 119
- Ages 25 to 34: 221
- Ages 35 to 44: 224
- Ages 45 to 54: 381
- Ages 55 to 64: 920
- Ages 65 to 74: 1,512
- Ages 75 and older: 1,142
Late morning has been the busiest time at the Laurens County early voting center, with the 11 a.m. hour drawing the most voters. Turnout has dropped off sharply after 4 p.m., which means voters looking to avoid a wait may find shorter lines later in the afternoon.
Statewide record
Across South Carolina, nearly 564,000 ballots had been cast during early voting as of 3 p.m. Monday, according to the South Carolina State Election Commission. That broke the previous midterm record of 561,563 early ballots, which was set over the entire early voting period in 2022. About 239,000 ballots had been cast during the first week of early voting four years ago. This year’s ballot includes races for governor and U.S. Senate.
The all-time early voting record still belongs to the 2024 presidential election, when 1,471,663 South Carolinians voted early.
Opening day, Oct. 19, has been the busiest day statewide so far, with 98,695 ballots cast. Greenville County leads the state with nearly 50,000 early ballots, followed by Charleston County with nearly 47,000 and Richland County with nearly 44,000.
How to vote early in Laurens County
Early voting continues through Saturday, Oct. 31. Laurens County voters may cast ballots at the Laurens County Voter Registration and Elections Office, 105 Bolt Drive, Suite B, in Laurens. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Voters must present an acceptable photo ID, which includes a South Carolina driver’s license, a South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles ID card, a South Carolina voter registration card with photo, a federal military ID, a concealed weapons permit or a U.S. passport.
Election Day
Voters who do not vote early may cast ballots at their assigned precinct on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, when polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Absentee ballots must be returned to the county voter registration office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Voters can check their registration, find their polling place and view a sample ballot at scvotes.gov. For questions, contact the Laurens County Voter Registration and Elections Office at 864-984-4431.
