MORNING HEADLINES | Despite some state legislators seeming to do their best to confuse South Carolinians for whom exactly they’re voting for in South Carolina’s fast-approaching June 9 primary, election officials are working to ensure voters head to the polls anyway. Early voting starts Tuesday.
“Our goal is to let the voters know that the primary is still scheduled,” said Isaac Cramer, executive director of the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections (BVRE). “Everything is the same as far as voters are concerned — you still need your ID. It’s the same process to vote.”
The S.C. General Assembly’s unprecedented proposed late changes to district lines only days before the primary has made waves across the state. Opponents have decried the redistricting plan as racist politics aimed only to give Republicans an advantage in congressional primaries. While the S.C. House last week passed a rushed plan to change congressional lines, the Senate wasn’t able to muster a final vote over the weekend before early voting starts Tuesday.
Cramer said every office on the Tuesday ballot is a valid election for that office, meaning every vote cast is just as important as ever.
“You need to trust the election officials through this process,” Cramer said. “We’re going to be giving updates along the way. Our goal is to be as clear as we can be and ensure that every vote cast is done legally and that they have the best voting experience while doing so.”
Since 2022, early voting has been the most popular way for voters to cast their ballot in South Carolina elections, and Cramer doesn’t expect this year to break the trend.
“The beautiful thing about early voting is the flexibility,” he said. “You can vote at any voting location in your county, not just your assigned polling place. … And we are able to change people’s addresses through early voting on site. You can’t do that on election day. … It’s like a one-stop shop!”
Where to vote early in Charleston County:
- Baxter-Patrick Library: 1858 S. Grimball Road, James Island
- Charleston County BVRE Headquarters: 4340 Corporate Road, North Charleston
- Greater Macedonia AME Church: 725 Savage Road, West Ashley
- Morris Brown AME Church: 13 Morris Street, Downtown
- Wando Mount Pleasant Library: 1400 Carolina Park Blvd., Mount Pleasant
Voters must bring a current photo ID to vote, such as an S.C. driver’s license, federal military ID or a U.S. passport. Polls open for the S.C. primary from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 9. —Skyler Baldwin
Around town
Our online events calendar has scores of events around the Lowcountry every day, making it the most detailed calendar of what’s happening in the area. Just click on “Events” above at right under the black toolbar. You’ll be amazed at what you find.
- Also sign up today to get relevant newsletters on art, music, food, fun events, statewide news and opinion.
- Check out our daily Piccolo Spoleto calendar online.
In weekend headlines
CP OPINION, Brack: Gather stories to get through emotional times. “As the Tahoe pulled around the cloverleaf from Interstate 26 to Interstate 20 last Saturday, a dazzling dawn broke with feathers of pink and orange sifting through a dark sky turning blue. It made me sad. I realized then that my father, longtime Georgia newspaperman Elliott Brack, would never see the beauty of another dawn.”
- Hicks: Redistricting effort spits in face of military personnel, vets
- Beasley: S.C. deserves better than partisan redistricting games
CP FESTIVALS: Charleston’s Spoleto, Piccolo Spoleto kick off with confetti, music, more. White confetti fluttered Friday onto the hot downtown Charleston pavement to celebrate the start of festival season.
- Dance company celebrates 100 years during Spoleto
- ‘Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer’ brings climate story to Spoleto
- Spoleto juggles two acrobatic performances this season
- Photo Essay: A parade of Piccolo Abominables
Charleston airport sees more Memorial Day travelers despite higher costs. Airport officials say they expect to handle more than 100,000 travelers before the Memorial Day weekend is over.
- Piccolo’s traditional Memorial Day concert returns May 25
- Charleston Medal of Honor recipient honored on Memorial Day
- Schedule of Lowcountry Memorial Day events
Support independent journalism
Keep the City Paper strong with a spring gift. This holiday season, please consider donating $25 — or even $100 — to support free, independent journalism at the Charleston City Paper. Every donation helps keep alive a voice of freedom. Your help is appreciated.
Help keep the City Paper free.
No paywalls.
No subscription cost.
Free delivery at 800 locations.
Help support independent journalism by donating today.