Statewide primaries are still scheduled for June 9. Here’s what you need to know
Even though the coronavirus pandemic has largely halted life in South Carolina, election officials still plan to hold the statewide primary elections on June 9 and the runoff June 23.
In mid-April, S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster said there was “no reason” to postpone the primaries, which will include contests for S.C. House and Senate races, U.S. House seats and several local races in Beaufort and Jasper counties.
During such an uncertain time, The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette have compiled the information you should know before going to the polls on June 9.
When is the deadline to register to vote in the primary?
You must be registered to vote by 5 p.m. Friday if registering in person, or by Sunday if registering by email, fax or online. Seventeen-year-olds turning 18 by Nov. 3 can register and vote in the June 9 primary.
I am concerned about voting in person because of the pandemic. What can I do?
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, voting options are unchanged.
You may vote absentee if you fit one of the S.C. Election Commission’s 16 qualifications. They include voters who on vacation, at work, are physically disabled, attending school outside of their county or are members of the armed forces. The League of Women Voters advises that “If you (or someone you live with or care for) have an underlying medical condition or a risk factor that could be jeopardized by your exposure to COVID-19, you can apply for absentee voting by mail with physical disability or caregiver as your reasons.”
Residents planning to vote absentee in person must visit the county voter registration office, complete an application and cast their ballot no later than 5 p.m. on the day of the primary.
Those planning to vote by mail must access the application online or request it by mail, complete and return the application to the county voter registration office no later than the Friday before the primary, receive their absentee ballot in the mail and return the ballot to the registration office by 7 p.m. the day of the primary.
However, the Beaufort County Registration and Election Board is urging voters to register as absentee as soon as possible and not wait until the Friday before the primary to request a ballot.
“We at the Election Board strongly recommend voters contact our office tomorrow, or as early as possible for their ballot, because the four days is dangerously close to the election day and we can not guarantee that is enough time for their ballot to be received, returned and counted,” board chair Ron Clifford said in an email Tuesday.
I am self-isolating due to the pandemic. Does this qualify me to vote absentee?
To vote absentee, you must fit one of the S.C. Election Commissions 16 qualifications. The SEC cannot expand the qualifications by law.
What will voting look like during the coronavirus pandemic?
According to the SEC, election officials are taking steps to protect the health of voters and poll managers. Poll managers will receive special training on applying social distancing and maintaining sanitary conditions in the polling place. Check-in stations and voting equipment will be spaced at least six feet apart.
According to the SEC, election officials are working to source:
▪ Masks, face shields and gloves for poll managers.
▪ Sneeze guards for check-in stations.
▪ Sanitizing wipes for cleaning common surfaces.
▪ Hand sanitizer for voters and poll managers.
▪ Cotton swabs for making selections on the touchscreen.
▪ Check-in stations and voting equipment will be spaced at least six feet apart.
Where do I vote? Will my polling place be open?
The SEC has a Find My Polling Place portal. Enter your county, first and last name and your date of birth to find your polling place. Polling addresses in Beaufort County are listed on the county’s website.
What’s going to be on the ballot?
Here’s what’s at stake in the 2020 election in Beaufort County and Jasper County.
You can view you sample ballot on the SEC website. Enter your county, first and last name and your date of birth.
Beaufort County will have only a Republican primary. But because South Carolina’s party primaries are open, any registered voter may vote in any party’s primary.
When will the polls be open?
Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m on June 9. If you are in line by 7 p.m., stay in line. You will be allowed to vote.
What do I take with me to the polls to vote?
You will be asked to show one of the following Photo IDs on Election Day:
▪ South Carolina Driver’s License
▪ ID Card Issued by South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles
▪ South Carolina Voter Registration Card with Photo
▪ Federal Military ID
▪ U.S. Passport
What if I don’t have one of those IDs?
If you do not have one of the above photo IDs, you can get one for free:
▪ Registered voters can get a voter registration card with a photo from their county voter registration and elections office by providing their date of birth and the last four digits of their Social Security number.
▪ Get a DMV ID card at a local DMV office.
If you do not have a photo ID on Election Day you may be able to vote a provisional ballot after showing your non-photo voter registration card. You must have a “reasonable” reason for not obtaining a photo ID to be able to vote the provisional ballot. According to The League of Women Voters Education Fund, these reasons include:
▪ Religious objection to being photographed
▪ Disability or illness
▪ Work schedule
▪ Lack of transportation
▪ Lack of birth certificate
▪ Family responsibilities
▪ Any other obstacle you find reasonable
How is the winner determined in a primary?
To win in a primary, a candidate must receive a majority of votes cast for the office. The majority is determined by dividing the total votes cast for the office by two. If no candidate has a majority, then the two candidates remaining with the highest number of votes will appear in a runoff on June 23.
Where can I see results?
The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette will post election results on their websites after they have been announced.
This story was originally published May 6, 2020 at 4:55 AM.
