Elections

Bluffton adds web feature to help avoid voter confusion

By LUCAS HIGH lhigh@islandpacket.com
It's now easier for residents to tell if they live in the town of Bluffton or Beaufort County. 1. Go to the town's homepage and click on the new "Do I live in the town of Bluffton" link. 2. The link takes you to an instruction sheet for additional information. 3. The instructions send you to the "Bluffton Explorer", a mapping application that provides information on every parcel in the area.
It's now easier for residents to tell if they live in the town of Bluffton or Beaufort County. 1. Go to the town's homepage and click on the new "Do I live in the town of Bluffton" link. 2. The link takes you to an instruction sheet for additional information. 3. The instructions send you to the "Bluffton Explorer", a mapping application that provides information on every parcel in the area. Staff illustration
Less than two days after greater Bluffton residents reported confusion over whether they are allowed to vote in the town's municipal election, the town's website has a new feature to help avoid that confusion in the future

Displayed at the top right of the website -- www.townofbluffton.sc.gov -- is a link that reads "Do I live in the town of Bluffton?"

Clicking that link brings users to an interactive map that allows them to locate their address.

Once you click your address, an information box will appear.

If the word "Bluffton" displays next to the "Town" category in that box, you can vote in municipal elections.

If the word "County" displays, you cannot.

This feature comes just in time for the town council runoff election on Nov. 17.

Incumbent councilman Ted Huffman, Dan Wood and Harry Lutz are participating in that runoff.

The top two vote-getters will win the two open council seats.

You can vote in the runoff even if you missed Tuesday's election.

"Anyone can vote in the runoff as long as you're registered and a resident of a the town of Bluffton," Beaufort County Board of Elections director Marie Smalls said Thursday.

Follow reporter Lucas High on Twitter at twitter.com/IPBG_Lucas.

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This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 8:47 AM with the headline "Bluffton adds web feature to help avoid voter confusion."

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