Who can vote Aug. 11 in special GOP primary?

MORNING HEADLINES | Anyone who cast ballots in the S.C. Democratic Party primary in June can’t take part in the special Republican primary on Aug. 11 to replace the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham on November’s ballot.

That’s the ruling from the S.C. State Election Commission that says eligible voters in the special primary are those who voted in the June GOP primary and anyone who didn’t vote in either June primary.

“The commission’s determination is based on the requirements of South Carolina election law governing voter participation in political party primaries,” according to a July 15 statement.

Early voting in the primary starts in just three weeks – and candidates haven’t started filing yet. That starts July 21 and closes seven days later. Click to see the election timeline.

Poll: Undecided is big winner so far

A new poll shows voters have no clear favorite in the election with a slew of potential candidates getting less than 20% of preferences. Those mentioned ranged from three failed gubernatorial candidates – U.S. Reps. Nancy Mace (10.1%) and Ralph Norman (16.4%) and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette (9.9%)– to Mark Lynch (12.5%), U.S. Rep. Russell Fry (9.4%), Gov. Henry McMaster (7.7%) and former U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford (5.4%). The most popular answer: Undecided (17.9%).

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Also in today’s headlines

CP NEWS: Charleston residents keep rallying against city’s protest ordinance. Several Charleston-area residents spoke out Tuesday at a city council meeting on the municipality’s controversial First Amendment Ordinance that council passed in July 2021.

James Island opted out of road safety project over medians. Now it could lose $5 million in other road improvements, the state says.

Heat island project probes making neighborhoods cooler. A Charleston research project is looking at ways to use nature to cool temperatures in heat islands — areas that absorb and radiate heat.

CofC joins project to help veterans transition to college. The college has joined the Warrior-Scholar Project to offer a free week program to help enlisted active duty and former service members.

ICE traffic stops halted, then reinstated. There’s been a backlash for a federal attempt to curb ICE shootings after they were halted and swiftly reinstated.

27 people detailed on I-85 in S.C. by ICE

NextEra, Dominion file to create huge power company. The companies have asked regulators in three states to approve a deal that would create a combined company with 10 million Southeastern customers, including South Carolinians.

State regulators urged to OK Dominion deal

25 most influential works of American culture. Great story: Among the works: A 1915 silent, racist film by D.W. Griffith that was set in South Carolina and was the foundation of American cinema.

Goings on 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.