Live Updates: Voters head to polls in Beaufort County. Follow our primary coverage
7 a.m. — Polls open in Beaufort County
Polling locations open at 7 a.m. Tuesday across Beaufort County. Residents can check their voting registration status, find their polling place and view their sample ballot at scvotes.gov.
Primary voters on Tuesday will choose a Republican candidate for Beaufort County Sheriff, who in November will face off against the race’s sole Democrat. The winner will become the county’s first new sheriff in nearly three decades. Five out of eleven County Council seats are up for grabs in crowded races revolving around issues of development, transparency and infrastructure.
In the primary race for South Carolina’s first congressional district, voters in both primaries have a long list of options in nominating Nancy Mace’s potential replacement. Several candidates have local roots, including County Councilman Logan Cunningham, a small business owner running as a Republican.
Local voters will also help choose the nominee for District 121 of the U.S. House, which spans parts of Beaufort and Colleton counties. High-profile primaries include the statewide races for attorney general and governor, the latter of which will test the power of President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette.
South Carolina holds open primaries, meaning voters can choose to participate in the primary of their choosing, no matter their party registration.
In late May, Beaufort County officials changed the venues of several polling places for the June 9 primary. Click here to see the updated locations.
Early voting hits spike in Beaufort County
The two-week early voting period for the Palmetto State’s primaries began May 26, and Beaufort County officials reported a spike in turnout compared to the same period in 2024.
The county had four polling locations for early voters. Here’s the preliminary totals for each location:
- Bluffton Branch Library: 4,878
- USCB Hilton Head: 2,646
- St. Helena Island Branch Library: 1,447
- Voter Registration Office in Beaufort: 3,120
