The big day is almost here. The day when American citizens exercise their most important right as citizens.
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, most citizens inThe Island News’ circulation area who exercise their right to vote will make the choice between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris for President of the United States.
But there are plenty of other, more local races that are pretty important this year, including City of Beaufor municipal elections, Beaufort County Council races, and the race for Sough Carolina’s 1st Congressional District seat.
What follows is a brief primer on this year’s General Election.
Who can vote?
Anyone age 18 or older with a valid voter’s registration and a valid photo ID may vote.
Acceptable forms of identification include:
— S.C. Driver’s License
— S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles ID card
— S.C. Voter’s Registration Card with Photo
— U.S. Passport
— Federal Military ID
State law requires a person to register to vote at least 30 days before an election.
Voters can check their registration status by visiting scvotes.gov.
When can I vote?
Precincts will open at 7 a.m. on June 11 and will close at 7 p.m., although anyone in line before 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
Where do I vote?
To find you polling place, go to https://vrems.scvotes.sc.gov/Voter/Login.
Beaufort County polling places are listed at https://bit.ly/3NIlH5Y.
Local races
Races on the ballot in northern Beaufort County, including races for those candidates running unopposed, include:
Mayor of Beaufort: Phil Cromer (incumbent), Josh Scallate.
Beaufort City Council: Julie Crenshaw, Josh Gibson, Neil Lipsitz, Mitch Mitchell.
S.C. District 1, U.S. House of Representatives: Nancy Mace (Republican – incumbent), Michael B. Moore (Democrat).
District 43, S.C. Senate: Chip Campsen (Republican — incumbent, Julie Hussey (Democrat).
District 45, S.C. Senate: Margie Bright Matthews (Democrat – incumbent).
District 46, S.C. Senate: Tom Davis (Republican – incumbent), Gwyneth J. Saunders (Democrat).
District 121, S.C. House of Representatives: Michael F. Rivers Sr. (Democrat – incumbent), Shelley Gay Yuhas (Republican).
District 122, S.C. House of Representatives: Bill Hager (Republican – incumbent), Audrey Hopkins Williams (Democrat).
District 124, S.C. House of Representatives: Shannon Erickson (Republican – incumbent), Melinda Henrickson (Democrat).
14th Circuit Solicitor: Isaac M. “Duffie” Stone, III (Republican – incumbent).
Beaufort County Clerk of Court: Jerri Roseneau (incumbent)
Beaufort County Coroner: Deborah Ann Youmans (Republican)
District 1, Beaufort County Council: Adam Biery (Republican), Gerald Dawson (Democrat – incumbent), Jevona Armstrong (write-in)
District 3, Beaufort County Council: York Glover (Democrat – incumbent).
Soil and Water District Commission: Dense M. Parsick.
District 1, Beaufort County Board of Education: Isaac Gordon III; Tradd Corinthian Williams.
Beaufort County Special Sales and Use Tax
Also on the ballot is the Beaufort County 2024 Transportation Sales &Use Tax Referendum.
The tax will be voted on in two questions. The first question is the tax itself, which is a 1% sales tax levied on most retail purchases for 10 years or until $950 million is raised, whichever comes first.
Of the money raised, 95% or $900 million will go toward transportation projects; 5% or $50 million to land and water protection purposes.
The seconds seeks the approval to bond $515 million of the funds to potentially complete some projects sooner.
Here’s how the questions will read on the ballot:
Question 1
I approve a special sales and use tax in the amount of one percent (1%) to be imposed in Beaufort County for not more than ten (10) years, or until a total of $950,000,000 in resulting revenue has been collected, whichever occurs first, to fund the following projects:
Project (1) For financing the costs of highways, roads, streets, bridges, and other transportation-related projects facilities related thereto including, but not limited to, drainage facilities relating to the highways, roads, streets, bridges, and other transportation-related projects; and mass transit systems operated by Beaufort County or jointly operated by the County and other governmental entities $900,000,000.
Project (2) For financing the costs of greenbelt initiatives $50,000,000.
Instructions to Voters: All qualified electors desiring to vote in favor of levying the special sales and use tax shall vote “YES” and All qualified electors opposed to levying the special sales and use tax shall vote “NO.”
_____ Yes, In favor of the question
_____ No, Opposed to the question
Question 2
I approve the issuance of not exceeding $515,000,000 of general obligation bonds of Beaufort County, maturing over a period not to exceed ten (10) years and payable from the special sales and use tax described in Question 1 above, to fund completion of projects from among the categories described in Question 1 above.
Instructions to Voters: All qualified electors desiring to vote in favor of levying the special sales and use tax shall vote “YES” and All qualified electors opposed to levying the special sales and use tax shall vote “NO.”
_____ Yes, In favor of the question
_____ No, Opposed to the question
Sample ballots
To view your sample ballot, go to scvotes.gov.
Ballot question
According to SCDailyGazette.com. there is one constitutional question on the ballot.
The ballot measure asks if the state constitution’s guaranteed right to vote should change from “every” to “only a” citizen who’s at least 18 and properly registered. In South Carolina, only the Legislature can put a question on general election ballots.
Supporters of the change say it will prevent any future court ruling allowing non-citizens to vote in local elections in South Carolina. They acknowledge that no local governments in the state have tried to let noncitizens vote or even asked for the ability, but they contend the amendment will make sure they do not in future. Democrats called it completely unnecessary, though most voted for it anyway.
The question as it will appear on the ballot:
Must Section 4, Article II of the Constitution of this State, relating to voter qualifications, be amended so as to provide that only a citizen of the United States and of this State of the age of eighteen and upwards who is properly registered is entitled to vote as provided by law?
This Measure Would
- A “yes” vote supports changing the state constitutional voter qualification from “every” to “only a” citizen
- A “no” vote would oppose any changes to the state constitutional voter qualifications
Problems or concerns
Any issues or complaints should be brought to the attention of the poll manager, but if the issue does not get resolved, voters can contact the Beaufort County elections office as soon as possible.
The phone number is 843-255-6900 and the address to visit is 15 John Galt Road.
Election fraud allegations can be reported to the State Law Enforcement (SLED) hotline at 843-4SC-VOTE or by emailing any supporting documents and complaints to 4SCVote@sled.sc.gov.
For more information about precincts go to beaufortcountysc.gov or scVOTES.gov.
