Voting in Charleston on Election Day
Tomorrow is the big day — aka Election Day — and we’ve done the Googling so you don’t have to. To make this election day as easy as possible, we’ve curated need-to-know information about how + where to vote, plus what we’re voting on. 👇
Are you registered?
First things first, make sure you’re eligible + registered to vote.
Find your polling location
Charleston County polling locations will be open on Tues., Nov. 8 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Heads up: If you’re in line by 7 p.m., you’ll be able to vote.
If you’re unsure where to go, you can request voter information that provides your registration status + polling location. You’ll be required to show a photo ID, including an SC driver’s license, US passport, or federal military ID.
Voting absentee?
According to the South Carolina Election Commission, absentee ballots must have been returned by Fri., Oct. 28 to be counted.
What are we voting on?
In Charleston County, you’ll be voting for the Governor, a US Senator and US House Representative, SC Superintendent of Education, State House representatives, county seats, two amendments, and other local offices.
The candidates
Governor
- Henry McMaster (incumbent), Republican
- Joe Cunningham, Democratic
- Bruce Reeves, Libertarian
US Senate
- Tim Scott (incumbent), Republican
- Krystle Matthews, Democratic
US House of Representatives District 1
- Nancy Mace (incumbent), Republican
- Joseph Oddo, Alliance Party
- Annie Andrews, Democratic
US House of Representatives District 6
- Duke Buckner, Republican
- James E. “Jim” Clyburn (incumbent), Democratic
SC Superintendent of Education
- Ellen Weaver, Republican
- Lisa Ellis, Democratic and Alliance parties (Fusion voting allows a candidate to be nominated by multiple parties).
- Patricia Mickel, Green Party
SC Secretary of State
- Mark Hammond (incumbent), Republican
- Rosemounda Peggy Butler, Democratic
SC Attorney General
- Alan Wilson (incumbent), Republican
SC Treasurer
- Curtis Loftis (incumbent), Republican
- Sarah E Work, Alliance Party
SC Commissioner of Agriculture
- Hugh Weathers (incumbent), Republican
- David Edmond, Green Party
- Chris Nelums, United Citizens Party
SC Comptroller General
- Richard Eckstrom (incumbent), Republican
In addition to these state races, State House seats for local districts + County Council seats are up for grabs.
To find out who’s on your ballot — determine your district with these interactive maps + resources, then use your districts to identify your candidates.
You can also identify your voting district by checking your voter registration status or sample ballot. Find information on how congressional and state legislative district boundaries are established here.
Amendments
All ballots will include two Statewide Constitutional Amendments, which will be voted for or against.
Amendment 1 would modify the amount of money that the state government must keep in the General Reserve Fund (or “rainy day” fund). The current rate is 5% of the latest completed fiscal year’s revenue.
Amendment 2 would modify the money that the state government must allocate to the Capital Reserve Fund (or “reserve and capital improvements” fund). The current rate is 2% of the previous year’s revenue.
See a breakdown of current methods + what both of these proposed changes would mean.
At CHStoday, we aim to cover local elections in a way that educates and activates our community with unbiased information to encourage individual voter participation. (I.e. vote for whoever + whatever you want to, just make sure to vote.) To learn more, check out our Editorial Ethics Policy.