Early voting closes with record turnout; Election Day is Tuesday

Early voting in South Carolina ended at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, after two weeks of record turnout across the state. In Laurens County, more than 8,000 voters cast their ballots early. Voters who have not yet voted have one more chance on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, when polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Statewide, 1,043,810 voters cast ballots during the early voting period from Oct. 19 through Oct. 31, according to the South Carolina Election Commission. That is about 30% of the state’s roughly 3.47 million registered voters.

The turnout far exceeds the previous early voting record for a gubernatorial election year. In 2022, the first midterm election with early voting in South Carolina, 561,563 voters cast ballots early. This year’s total is nearly double that figure. The state passed the 2022 mark on Oct. 26, nearly a week before early voting ended. The all-time record of 1,471,663 early ballots, set during the 2024 presidential election, still stands.

Friday, Oct. 30, was the busiest single day of the early voting period, with 110,172 ballots cast statewide. More than 95,000 voters turned out on Saturday, the final day.

Greenville County led the state with 103,282 early votes. Charleston County followed with 99,275, then Richland County with 91,732, Horry County with 88,568 and York County with 60,875.

In Laurens County, 8,079 voters cast ballots during early voting, or 17% of the county’s registered voters.

Older voters made up most of the county’s early turnout. Voters ages 65 to 74 were the largest group, with roughly 2,300 ballots. Voters ages 55 to 64 and voters 75 and older each cast about 1,700. Together, voters 55 and older accounted for more than 70% of early ballots in the county. Voters ages 45 to 54 cast about 900 ballots, and voters younger than 35 cast about 800, or roughly 10% of the total.

Lynne West, director of voter registration and elections for Laurens County, said the early voting period went smoothly from start to finish.

“We had a steady stream of voters every day, and everything ran just the way it should,” West said. “I can’t say enough about our poll workers. They gave up two full weeks to serve their neighbors, and they did it with patience and a smile. My staff has also worked incredibly hard, not just these last two weeks but for months leading up to this election, and I’m so grateful for every one of them. Their dedication is the reason Laurens County voters can have confidence in the process.”

Election Day reminders

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Anyone in line by 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote. On Election Day, voters cast ballots at their assigned polling place, which may not be the same location as their early voting center. Voters should bring a valid photo ID.

Voters can confirm their polling place and review a sample ballot at scVOTES.gov or by contacting their local election office.

Voters who still have an absentee ballot must return it to their county voter registration office by 7 p.m. Nov. 3. Election officials recommend delivering the ballot in person instead of mailing it so it arrives on time. Absentee ballots cannot be turned in at polling places. Before returning the ballot, voters must sign the voter’s oath and have a witness sign the return envelope and include an address. Voters returning an absentee ballot in person must show a valid photo ID. An authorized returnee may drop off a ballot for a voter if the required form is completed.

Election results will be posted on election night at scVOTES.gov.