Election Day is Tuesday, Beaufort County! Here’s who (and what) are on the ballots
Election Day is Tuesday, and all registered voters in Beaufort County have at least two boxes to check on the ballot.
This election is an off year — South Carolina has no national or state elections — so turnout is expected to be light, and races can be decided by a single vote.
In Estill, for example, the mayoral election earlier this year took longer than a month because one candidate was declared the winner by two votes, but a recount called it a tie. The governor eventually scheduled a runoff election.
Before Monday, 2,726 absentee ballots had been cast in person and 316 had been submitted by mail, Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County director Marie Smalls said. She said the number of in-person absentee ballots may pass 3,000 by the end of Monday.
“Depending on what you would consider low turnout, I would say yes it will be low,” Smalls said in anticipation of Tuesday. “Typically in the off-year elections we don’t have a very high turnout. It’s usually between 7% and 13%, but the referendum may increase it a little.”
On Tuesday’s ballot, county voters have two referendums: a proposed 1% sales tax and a proposal to change the county’s form of government. Voters within town limits of Bluffton, Port Royal and Yemassee will also be electing two members to their respective councils.
Check your sample ballot online at scvotes.org. Here’s what’s on the ballots:
All Beaufort County residents
Regardless of whether you’re in a municipality that has elections for mayor or council, every Beaufort County voter is eligible to weigh in on two referendums.
The referendums are yes-or-no questions.
1. Penny tax: “Authorization to impose one percent (1%) local option sales tax to reduce property tax on persons in Beaufort County,” the question reads.
If approved, the tax would be levied on most sales countywide and would be used to offset property taxes (71%) and provide funding to county and municipal operations (29%).
State law requires the money to be distributed this way despite the wording of Tuesday’s ballot that says the tax “may” be used to offset property taxes and pay for government operations.
2. Form of government: “Should the form of Beaufort County’s government be changed from that of a Council-Administrator form of government ... to that of a Council-Manager form of government ... and provide for the appointment of the County Treasurer and County Auditor?”
If approved, the county’s current form of government would change to allow certain positions, such as the treasurer and auditor, to be appointed by the county manager instead of being elected by voters.
Bluffton residents
Those who live in Bluffton town limits will also be voting for two town council positions.
Three names will be on the ballot: Councilmen Fred Hamilton and Larry Toomer and challenger Nathan Ferrell. Voters can select two.
The election comes as Bluffton grapples with explosive population growth and a construction boom during the pandemic. As of this summer, the town was on track to approve more than 1,000 new homes this year while environmental groups warn about the threat to the health of the May River.
The two men elected will serve on the five-person council alongside Mayor Lisa Sulka and council members Bridgette Frazier and Dan Wood.
Port Royal residents
Voters who live inside the Town of Port Royal will be choosing two town council members.
Four people are running, and the two top vote-getters will win election. The two incumbents are Daryl Owens and Mary Beth Heyward; the two first-time challengers are Eddie Gugino and John Hazel.
The election arrives as the town is on the verge of a major redevelopment of the Port of Port Royal. Port Royal is also trying to figure out the future of its shrimp docks and associated facilities, which were losing money before the town suspended operations earlier this year. Among the other top issues in the campaign: providing sewer service for all residents, traffic on major thoroughfares, business growth, attracting young families.
Those elected will serve on the five-person council with Mayor Joe DeVito and council members Jerry Ashmore and Kevin Phillips.
Yemassee residents
Yemassee residents in town limits will also be voting for mayor and two open council positions. Although most voters live in Hampton County, almost 100 registered voters are in Beaufort County and will vote at their respective polling places in Sheldon.
Mayor Colin Moore is running unopposed for his second term.
Six candidates are seeking one of two seats on town council: Trena Ellis, Natasha N. Green, Robert “Bobby” Moore, David Paul Murray, Stacy Pinckney and Darrell Russell. Voters can choose two.
Yemassee, which is dealing with growth issues after major annexations in recent years, is also pushing to attract businesses and beautify existing buildings and infrastructure.
Those elected will serve with the mayor and council members Peggy Bing-O’Banner and Alfred Washington.
Previous voter turnout
In recent years, Beaufort County has seen an uptick in the number of registered voters and the number voting, according to data from the state election commission website.
In similar election years without state or federal races on the ballot, such as 2019, less than a quarter of registered voters in Beaufort County showed up at the polls.
In 2019, 22,650 ballots were cast, indicating 17.63% of the 128,503 registered voters participated in the election, according to a summary results report from Beaufort County.
In the 2020 general election, a presidential election year, 98,050 of 139,388 registered voters participated, marking a 70.34% participation rate.
In 2018, during a non-presidential election year that still had statewide races, 71,075 of 122,447 registered voters cast a ballot for 58.04% participation.
This story was originally published November 1, 2021 at 12:39 PM.
