Starting today, you can vote early in the 2024 Democratic presidential primary election in South Carolina, the historic “first in the nation” official Democratic primary that experts say tends to set the tone for the region.
“Voting in the presidential preference primaries in South Carolina is a unique opportunity for voters to be the first in the South to voice their choice for our country’s leader,” said Isaac Cramer, executive director of the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections. “By casting your ballot, you are shaping the future of South Carolina and the United States. Voting is how we make our voices heard, and our voices are powerful.”
South Carolina will also be the first state to have President Joe Biden on a ballot. There is not an official Democratic primary in New Hampshire this week, but New Hampshire is offering an unofficial Democratic primary on Jan. 23. Political experts say South Carolina’s early voting period is the president’s best chance to sway voters to his favor.
How to vote early
Polls in selected locations are open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Early voting runs until Feb. 2.
Election officials say they expect a decent turnout for the state’s Democratic primary, but expect a much bigger turnout for the Republican “first in the South” primary on Feb. 24. In South Carolina, where voters do not register by party, voters can pick which primary in which they want to vote, but they can only pick one primary.
Early voting for the Republican presidential primary begins Feb. 12 with the same voting times.
Early voting locations in Charleston County include:
- Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections. 4340 Corporate Road, North Charleston.
- Essex Village Church of Christ. 736 Savage Road, West Ashley.
- Wando Library. 1400 Carolina Park Blvd., Mount Pleasant.
Early voting locations in Berkeley County include:
- Berkeley County Board of Voter Registration and Elections 1003 U.S. Highway 52, Moncks Corner.
- Hanahan Library. 1216 Old Murray Court, Hanahan.
- St. Stephen Library. 113 Ravenell Drive, St. Stephen.
Early voting locations in Dorchester County include:
- St. George Civic Center. 303 Ridge St., St. George.
- Trident Technical College Dorchester Campus. 10055 Dorchester Road, Summerville.
Registration for the Democratic primary closed Jan. 4, but registration for the Republican primary remains open until Jan. 25. Register to vote online at scvotes.gov.
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