SC primaries are on Tuesday. Everything you need to know in Beaufort, Jasper counties
Polls open Tuesday for voters in Beaufort and Jasper counties to cast ballots in the June primary elections.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic largely shutting down public life in South Carolina since March, the June primaries are still happening.
The local races in both counties have been tightly contested and vocal with attack ads and virtual public forums.
The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette have compiled the information you should know before casting your ballots.
What’s going to be on the ballot Tuesday?
If you’re voting in person in Beaufort or Jasper counties, you need to be aware of which party ballot to request.
Since only Republicans have competition locally and statewide in Beaufort County’s primary, Democrats do not have a primary ballot. This means Beaufort County residents must ask for a Republican ballot to vote Tuesday.
Beaufort and Jasper voters will be asked to choose primary winners for U.S. Senate and county coroner. In addition, depending on where they live, their ballot also may include S.C. House of Representatives District 118 or 123 and U.S. House of Representatives District 1.
In Jasper County, only Democrats have choices in local elections. So Jasper County residents must ask for a Democratic ballot if they want to vote in the primary for coroner, sheriff, and/or town council seats.
If voters in Jasper County ask for a Republican ballot, they will have only one race: for U.S. Senate.
S.C. House District 118: Longtime incumbent Bill Herbkersman is facing Beaufort County Council member Mike Covert in Tuesday’s primary. The winner will face Democrat Mitch Siegel in the November general election.
S.C. House District 123: Incumbent Jeff Bradley is running against Phil Hartman, a former schools superintendent, in the Republican primary. The winner will face Christine DeVries, Democratic candidate and former nonprofit association executive.
Beaufort County Coroner: David Ott, chief deputy coroner, and David J. Zeoli, former deputy director of Beaufort County Emergency Management, are facing off in Tuesday’s primary.
Jasper County Coroner: Longtime coroner Martin Sauls III is facing two challengers — former deputy coroner Jeremiah E. Vaigneur III, and funeral home operator Willie Patrick Aiken III — in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.
Jasper County Sheriff: For the second time in four years, Sheriff Chris Malphrus and Donald Hipp will face off in the race to be Jasper County sheriff.
You can view your sample ballot on the SEC website. Enter your county, first and last name, and your date of birth.
I am concerned about voting in person because of the pandemic. What can I do?
You may vote absentee if you fit one of the S.C. Election Commission’s 16 qualifications. They include voters who are 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 4 p.m. the Monday before the primary.
All mail-in absentee ballots must be received by the voter registration office no later than 7 p.m. on June 9 or they will be disqualified.
Bring your ballot to the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County in Beaufort at 15 John Galt Road, Beaufort or Bluffton at 61B Ulmer Road, Bluffton, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday, or between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Election Day, June 9. Someone else may return your ballot for you, but they must complete an “authorized returnee” form.
Do not return your absentee ballot to your polling place.
What will voting look like?
According to the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County, officials have taken steps to protect the health of voters and poll managers:
▪ Poll managers have received special COVID-19 training and supplies to apply social distancing and clean common surfaces in the polling place.
▪ Managers will wear masks, face shields and gloves.
▪ Sneeze guards will be placed at check-in stations.
▪ Hand sanitizer will be available for voters and poll managers.
Where do I vote?
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.
Here are the polling places in Beaufort County:
Beaufort 1, 2, & 3: Charles L Brown Activity Center — 1001 Hamar Street
Burton 1A: Burton Wells Recreation Center — 1 Middleton Recreation Dr
Burton 1B & 3: Robert Smalls International Academy — 43 W.K. Alston Rd
Burton 1C & 1D: Shanklin Elementary School — 121 Morall Dr.
Burton 2A & 2B: Community Bible Church — 638 Parris Island Gateway
Burton 2C: Love House Ministries — 423 Parris Island Gateway
Chechessee 1: Thomas C Barnwell Administrative Building — 721 Okatie Hwy.
Chechessee 2: Thomas C Barnwell Administrative Building, 721 Okatie Hwy.
Lady’s Island 1A: Lady’s Island Middle School — 30 Cougar Drive
Lady’s Island 1B: Lady’s Island Elementary School — Gymnasium, 73 Chowan Creek Bluff Rd.
Lady’s Island 2A: Coosa Elementary School — 45 Middle Rd.
Lady’s Island 2B & 2C: David Smith Community Center — 140 Coosaw River Dr.
Lady’s Island 3A & 3C: Tidal Creek Fellowship — 290 Brickyard Point Rd.
Lady’s Island 3B: Lady’s Island Elementary School – Cafeteria, 73 Chowan Creek Bluff Rd.
Mossy Oaks 1A: Cornerstone Christian Church — 2301 First Blvd.
Mossy Oaks 1B: Beaufort Middle School — 2501 Mossy Oaks Rd.
Mossy Oaks 2: Mossy Oaks Elementary School — 2510 Mossy Oaks Rd.
Port Royal 1 & 2: Port Royal Town Hall — 700 Paris Ave.
Dale/Lobeco: Davis Elementary School — 364 Keans Neck Rd
Seabrook 1: Beaufort County Public Works — 120 Shanklin Rd.
Seabrook 2: Whale Branch Middle School — 2009 Trask Pkwy.
Seabrook 3: Grays Hill Community Center — 45 Bruce K. Smalls Blvd.
Sheldon 1: Elijah Washington Medical Center — 211 Paige Point Rd.
Sheldon 2: Booker T. Washington Community Center — 182 Booker T. Washington Cir.
Saint Helena 1A: St. Helena Branch Library — 6355 Jonathan Francis, Sr. Rd
Saint Helena 1B: Scott Community Center — 242 Scott Hill Rd.
Saint Helena 1C: Dataw Island Club Community Center — 43 Marina Dr., Dataw Island, SC 29920
Saint Helena 2A: St. Helena Elementary School — 1025 sea Island Pkwy.
Saint Helena 2B: Gloria Potts Community Center — 130 Seaside Rd.
Saint Helena 2C: Fripp Island Community Center — 205 Tarpon Blvd.
Daufuskie: Jane Hamilton School — 48 Ole Haig Point Rd.
Hilton Head 1A & 5C: Hilton Head Presbyterian Church — 235 William Hilton Pkwy
Hilton Head 1B: HH School for the Creative Arts — Blue Building, 10 Wilbourn Rd.
Hilton Head 2A: Hilton Head Library — Small Conference Room, 11 Beach City Rd.
Hilton Head 2B & 3: Hilton Head Library — 11 Beach City Rd.
Hilton Head 2C: Indigo Hall Facility (Indigo Run) — 101 Indigo Run Dr.
Hilton Head 4A: Plantation House — 235 Seabrook Dr.
Hilton Head 4B: Hilton Head School for the Creative Arts — Blue Building, 10 Wilborn Rd.
Hilton Head 4C & 5B: Plantation House — 235 Seabrook Dr.
Hilton Head 4D: Hilton Head School for the Creative Arts — Blue Building, 10 Wilborn Rd.
Hilton Head 5A: Dolphin Head Golf Club — 56 High Bluff
Hilton Head 6: Port Royal Beach House — 45 South Port Royal Dr
Hilton Head 7A & 9B: Christ Lutheran Church — 829 William Hilton Pkwy
Hilton Head 7B: Arts Center of Coastal Carolina — 14 Shelter Cove Ln
Hilton Head 8 & 11: St. Luke’s Church — 50 Pope Ave
Hilton Head 9A (TEMPORARY LOCATION): Church of Christ — 23 Bow Cir.
Hilton Head 10: Spanish Wells Club — 1 Bram’s Point Rd.
Hilton Head 12 & 13: Mission and Ministry Center — St. Luke’s Church, 44 Pope Ave.
Hilton Head 14, 15A, & 15B: Sea Pines Community Center — 71 Lighthouse Rd.
Belfair: Bluffton Library — Kids Room, 120 Palmetto Way.
Palmetto Bluff (NEW PRECINCT): Bluffton High School Gymnasium, 12 H. E. McCracken Circle.
New River (NEW PRECINCT): Mill Creek Amenities Center, 140 Colvin Dr.
Sandy Pointe (NEW PRECINCT): Bluffton High School Gymnasium, 12 H. E. McCracken Circle.
Bluffton 1A, 1B, & 1C: Bluffton Library — 120 Palmetto Way
Bluffton 1D, 2A, & 2E: Rotary Community Center — 11 Recreation Ct.
Bluffton 2B, 4B, 4C, & 4D: Buckwalter Recreation Center — 905 Buckwalter Pkwy
Bluffton 2C & 2D: Pritchardville Elementary — 9447 Evan Way
Moss Creek: Moss Creek Bostwick Pavilion — 341 Moss Creek Dr.
Bluffton 3: Bluffton Recreation Center — 61B Ulmer Rd.
Bluffton 4A, 5A, & 5B: St. Gregory the Great Parish Life Center — 32 Saint Gregory Dr
Rose Hill: Colleton Point Club House — 1 Pavilion Point Dr.
Sun City 1, 2, 7, & 8: Pinckney Hall — 114 Sun City Ln.
Sun City 3, 4, 5 & 6: Pinckney Hall — 114 Sun City Ln.
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?
▪ Bring your Photo ID (or voter registration card if you do not have a Photo ID).
▪ Wear a face mask if you have one, although masks are NOT required.
▪ Bring your own pen for signing the poll list.
▪ Practice social distancing by spacing yourself at least six feet apart from others.
▪ Show your Photo ID by holding it up for poll managers instead of handing it to them.
▪ You will be provided a cotton swab for making selections on the touchscreen.
For questions, contact Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County at www.beaufortcountysc.gov/vote or call 843-255-6900.
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.
