Lowcountry enters the second week of early voting
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Turnouts rates, statewide and locally, have shattered previous records with the first week of early voting completed.
- Charleston County: 69,807
- Dorchester County: 28,456
- Berkeley: 27,203
- Georgetown:13,356
- Colleton: 5,211
- Williamsburg: 4,192
According to the South Carolina Election Commission, over 735,000 people voted last week. Charleston County hosts the leading number of voters as well as one of the polls location that leads the state, Seacoast Church.
“We’re really excited about the turnout rate here in Charleston County – across all seven of our locations, very convenient,” Isaac Cramer, executive director of the Charleston County Board of Elections, said. “If you’re worried about lines, it’s a very in-and-out experience across the board. So, Mount Pleasant is our busiest location however there is only about a 30-minute wait times right now and they’re processing the most voters.”
However, with early voting being new this year, elections officials are continuing to make adjustments to accommodate their voters. Berkeley County has created an overflow lot for those who are voting in Moncks Corner, but are also trying to relieve the wait times.
“Once they get in line, the line moves pretty swiftly, but with additions of machines that we’ll have ready for early voting tomorrow,” Rosie Brown, director of Berkeley County Voter Registration and Elections, said. “That should be shorting the amount of time they are waiting.”
Officials said they anticipated this week bringing high turnout numbers as well. Cramer said he believes Monday will bring the most, similar to last week. He said Charleston County is prepared and has not had to make many adjustments.
“We knew when early voting was passed, that it was going to be something popular in Charleston County,” Cramer said. “So, it was dedicating hiring the right amount of people, dedicating the resources that were proper, finding the proper locations that could handle a huge turnout. And obviously we learned from our first day, it was the first day across the state for a presidential election. We made some adjustments to our locations, and I think voters are having a really good experience with casting their vote here in Charleston.”
Early voting ends on Nov. 2. Poll locations can be found here.
