Polls have closed in Horry County: What to look for Tuesday night as results come in.

Voters in Horry County’s incorporated areas will decide Tuesday if two mayors have done enough to stay in office, pick new ones in three other communities and reshuffle a total of 20 council seats around the region.

Come Nov. 8, political leadership in South Carolina’s fastest growing county could take on a whole new look ahead of next year’s even broader slate of races for county and statewide offices.

With Election Day 2023 now here, here’s all you need to know about what to look for inside the Grand Strand’s cities and towns.

At least two new mayors are coming

Incumbent mayors in Atlantic Beach and Surfside Beach — Jake Evans and Bob Hellyer —have opted out of politics for now.

In Atlantic Beach, current council members John David and Josephine Isom are looking for a promotion. Whoever wins will inherit a town divided over a controversial plan to construct a $100 million high-rise hotel and condominium complex along the historically Black town’s prized beachfront.

David has been outspoken in his opposition to the project while Isom has dodged several chances to publicly defend her July 11 vote on a zoning change clearing the way for oceanfront development. Isom did not respond to a Sun News candidate questionnaire and did not attend a locally sponsored candidate’s forum.

Meanwhile, three names familiar to those following Surfside Beach are in the running to replace Hellyer. Current council member Cindy Keating is vying for the seat against former pier committee chairman Robert Krouse and one-time town council member David Pellegrino.

The town of roughly 4,000 has been gridlocked over the past year over hiccups and repeated delays to its much anticipated $20 million pier restoration, along with other complaints by some over a lack of transparency and accessibility to town leaders and documents.

Top spots in Conway and Loris are also up for grabs

Incumbent mayors Barbara Blain-Bellamy in Conway and Todd Harrelson in Loris are asking voters to reward them with new terms, though both will have to fend off competitors on their way to victory.

Bellamy has been a fixture in the county seat since 2015, when she initially was elected mayor. A former president of the state Mayor’s Association and currently first vice president of the Municipal Association of South Carolina, Bellamy found herself at the center of a dispute earlier this year when she drafted and issued a proclamation recognizing Pride Week in Conway for the first time.

She also had to navigate claims that the town acted in bad faith when considering the future of Whittemore Elementary, an historically Black school that was destroyed in a February fire.

Conway is also facing huge demand by developers who want to put thousands of homes in city limits even as officials consider whether to broaden its footprint through annexation.

There’s also the matter of creating a downtown alcohol consumption zone.

Bellamy is facing off against former Horry County Schools chairman and one time Congressional candidate Ken Richardson.

Harrelson has been Loris’ mayor since 2019, overseeing the town’s steady expansion and agreeing with his council in May to let county leaders take over local election operations.

Harrelson faces a challenge from Michael Suggs, a current council member.

Myrtle Beach will install a new council member. Or maybe three.

Eight people are seeking three spots on the city’s at-large council, including incumbents Mike Chestnut and John Krajc. Phil Render, whose term expires in January, isn’t running again.

The roster of candidates includes Stuart Behar, Debbie Conner, Kenya Hennigan, Bill McClure, Myra Starnes and Randal Wallace.

As the state’s tourism hub, Myrtle Beach holds significant economic sway and is undergoing a major transformation of its downtown into an arts and innovation district expected to infuse millions of private investment over the next decade along with the creation of affordable housing and a dynamic, tech-centered workforce.

Questions about how much public money should go into that concept are certain to emerge over the next several years as the city faces a shortage of more than 50 police officers, aging roads and omnipresent large-scale commercial development.

Council races in several other towns round out Election Day ballots

Atlantic Beach, Aynor, Briarcliffe Acres, Conway, Loris, North Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach all have multiple council seats up for grabs.

What you need to know on Election Day

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Anybody in line by 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Residents can find their precincts via this link that requires a home address. You can also call the Horry County voter registration office at 843-915-5440 or by email at hcg.votersregistration@horrycounty.gov

Campaign signs and literature are limited by law.

Signs and flags endorsing candidates or other means of personal expression can’t be more than eight feet in feet or 32 square feet on non-residential properties or any with construction approval for development.

Temporary ground signs must not block rights-of-ways and must be removed or disassembled if a zoning administrator rules they’re creating a hazard.

People interested in learning more about the state’s paper-based voting system can visit the S.C. Election Commission’s website.