CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Lowcountry voters are urged to come to the polls prepared as Tuesday marks Election Day for the anticipated 2024 Presidential Election.
The South Carolina Election Commission saw record numbers during the early voting period. Over 730,000 early voters turned out ahead of Election Day Nov. 5.
Voters that plan to cast their ballots Tuesday are urged to arrive at the polls prepared. The state Election Commission states campaign material is not allowed within 500 feet of the entrance to the polling place. That includes clothing, pamphlets, posters and small objects like pins or buttons.
The Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections Executive Director Isaac Cramer says the unacceptable materials are for current candidates. Cramer says poll workers will remove any campaign material within the 500 foot zone.
“If you’re wearing a shirt, they’ll be like, ‘wear it inside out,’ you’ll probably go to the bathroom or back to your car…If you’re wearing a hat, we’ll probably ask you to go back to your vehicle or put that piece of literature away,” Cramer says, “We know people are passing out pamphlets, we know that you might bring a pamphlet with you but we just ask that, that will be put in your purse, put in your pocket or brought back to your vehicle.”
Cramer urges voters to preview their sample ballot before heading to the ballot box. He says looking at the sample ballot online helps with speeding up the voting process.
“The ballot will contain president, Congress, you got local elections as well as the constitutional amendment, local county questions and those will just be longer for voters to review,” Cramer says.
Election officials recommend voters to be voter ready by knowing any poll location changes. Voters can find their location online on the state election commission website.
Charleston County voters will see permanent location changes starting Election Day. Officials say residents received change via notification cards. County board officials say the changes to better serve voters with fewer lines, quicker voter experience and more disability access.
The affected areas are:
- McClellanville (New Wappetaw Presbyterian Church) has moved to Lincoln High School, 714 Lincoln Road, McClellanville, SC 29458.
- Mt. Pleasant 3 (Mt. Pleasant National Guard Armory) has moved to Hilton Garden Inn, 300 Wingo Way, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464.
- Mt. Pleasant 16 (Mt. Pleasant National Guard Armory) has moved to Mt. Pleasant Fire Department Station 3, 355 7th Avenue, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464.
- Mt. Pleasant 15 (Mt. Pleasant National Guard Armory) has moved to Mt. Pleasant Library, 1133 Mathis Ferry Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464.
- Mt. Pleasant 1 (Alhambra Hall) and Mt. Pleasant 9 (Moultrie Middle School) have moved to St. Andrew’s Mt. Pleasant, 440 Whilden Street, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464.
- Mt. Pleasant 11, 12 (Mamie P. Whitesides Elementary School) have moved to Doubletree by Hilton Mt. Pleasant, 1330 Stuart Engals Boulevard, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464.
- North Charleston 9, 11, 12 (Royal Missionary Baptist Church) have moved to North Charleston Sports Complex, 1455 Monitor Street, North Charleston, SC 29405.
- North Charleston 8, 14 (Royal Missionary Baptist Church) have moved to Park Circle Community Building, 4800 Park Circle, North Charleston, SC 29405.
- North Charleston 28 (Trident Technical College) has moved to Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, 7396 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29406.
- St. Andrews 10, 14 (Pinecrest Baptist Church) have moved to Cynthia Graham Hurd/St. Andrews Library, 1735 North Woodmere Drive, Charleston, SC 29407.
- St. Paul’s 1 (Adams Run Civic Center) has moved to Minnie Hughes Elementary School, 8548 Willtown Road, Hollywood, SC 29449.
Berkeley county voters will also see changes. Voters in Hanahan 3, 5 and Yeamans Club will vote at Hanahan High School auditorium. Hanahan 4 voters will vote in the high school gym.
County officials say voters affected by the change received notification ahead of this year’s voting period.
Polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters need a valid photo identification to enter the polls. Election officials say voters are eligible to vote as long as they are in line by 7 p.m.
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