<strong>From staff reports</strong>

The five members of the S.C. State Election Commission on Wednesday, Nov. 18, approved a resolution of thanks and appreciation to the state’s voters for their patience and enthusiasm and to county and state election officials and volunteers for their unwavering commitment to creating and enacting plans to provide safe and accessible registration and voting opportunities for every citizen.

“Faced with extraordinary challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, state and county election officials worked tirelessly to adapt to new voting laws and set up safe voting processes,” John Wells, Chairman of the State Election Commission said. “As a result, the 2020 General Election was conducted safely and securely, all while seeing the largest number of voters in South Carolina election history. We thank the voters across South Carolina for their patience and enthusiasm under unprecedented circumstances.”

The complete resolution can be found at https://www.scvotes.gov/sec-resolution-thanks-and-appreciation.

<b>2020 GENERAL ELECTION BY THE NUMBERS</b>

A record number of South Carolinians exercised their right to vote in the 2020 General Election: Absentee Votes – 1,334,000. New record (previously 503,000 in 2016 GE).

<b>Absentee Votes: In Person </b>– 893,000. New record (previously 370,000 in 2016 GE).

<b>Absentee Votes: By Mail </b>– 441,000. New record (previously 147,000 in 2016 GE).

<b>Election Day Votes </b>– 1,199,000.

<b>Total Voter Turnout </b>– 2,533,000. New record (2,124,000 in 2016 GE).

53 percent voted absentee. Record high (24 percent in 2016 GE).

47 percent voted on election day. Record low (76 percent in 2016 GE).

<b>Voter Turnout Percentage </b>– 72 percent.

Highest turnout percentage since 2008 GE (76 percent).

Second highest turnout percentage in the last 25 years.