Elections in Pickens County: New early voting in SC and what else to know in 2022
Election Day comes Nov. 8 as local, state and federal offices are up for grabs when voters take to the polls, but voters in South Carolina don't have to wait until November to cast their ballots.
Because of a new law passed earlier this year, voters in South Carolina can vote in person any time from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays between Oct. 24 and Nov. 8. They need only show up with a photo ID or voter-registration card at an early voting center in their county of residence.
In Pickens County, those early voting centers are:
County Voter Registration and Elections Office, 222 McDaniel Avenue, Pickens SC, 29671
Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library, 304 Biltmore Road, Easley SC, 29640
Central-Clemson Library, 105 Commons Way, Central SC, 29630
Of course, early voters, like others, must be registered to vote. It requires state-issued identification. Voters must be registered at least 30 days prior to an election in order to vote in that election.
You can register to vote online at scvotes.gov, in person at the Pickens County voter registration and elections office on McDaniel Avenue or by mail at 222 McDaniel Avenue, Suite B-2, Pickens SC, 29671. You can also call 864-898-5844 for more information.
Here's more you should know about this year's general election:
Voter guide: A guide to voter rights in South Carolina. What you need to know before you cast a ballot
Related: Early voting is biggest expansion of voting rights in recent South Carolina history
Absentee voting in SC
Voters who want to cast absentee ballots must request an application from their local election office by phone, mail or in person. Applicants must provide their name, date of birth and last four digits of their Social Security number.
Voters will be mailed their ballots, and the ballots must be returned to their local election office between Oct. 24 and Nov. 5 before 5 p.m. prior to Election Day. Voters must present a photo ID when returning the ballots to the office.
When to vote on Election Day
Voting on Nov. 8 runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., though anyone in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote no matter how long it takes them to cast their ballot.
Where to vote in Pickens County
Pickens County will have 62 precincts open for voting that Tuesday. Visit scvotes.sc.gov for a full list of polling places, or call the election office at 864-898-5844.
To find your individual polling place using your name and birthday, visit scvotes.sc.gov.
Who's on the ballot in SC
Every registered voter in the nation can vote in races like presidential elections. Anyone in South Carolina can vote in races like for governor and the state's U.S. Senate election. For local races, however, where elected officials represent residents of distinct areas within the bounds of the state, voting eligibility is determined by location of residence.
Some races cross county and city lines.
To know the races and candidates on your specific ballot ahead of time, visit scvotes.gov, where you can type in your name, birthday and county to see a sample ballot.
Races on the ballot in Pickens County for 2022 election
Governor and Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina
Joe Cunningham and Tally Parham Casey, Democratic Party
Henry McMaster and Pamela Evette, Republican Party, incumbent
Bruce Reeves and Jessica Ethridge, Libertarian Party
Secretary of State
Rosemounda Peggy Butler, Democratic Party
Mark Hammond, Republican Party, incumbent
State Treasurer
Curtis Loftis, Republican Party, incumbent
Sarah E. Work, Alliance Party
Attorney General of South Carolina
Alan Wilson, Republican Party, incumbent
Comptroller General
Richard Eckstrom, Republican Party, incumbent
State Superintendent of Education
Lisa Ellis, Democratic and Alliance parties
Patricia M. Mickel, Green Party
Ellen Weaver, Republican Party
Commissioner of Agriculture
David Edmond, Green Party
Chris Nelums, United Citizens Party
Hugh Weathers, Republican Party, incumbent
U.S. Senate
Krystle Matthews, Democratic Party
Tim Scott, Republican Party, incumbent
U.S. House of Representatives, District 3
Jeff Duncan, Republican Party, incumbent
South Carolina House of Representatives, District 1
Bill Whitmire, Republican Party, incumbent
South Carolina House of Representatives, District 2
Bill Sandifer, Republican Party, incumbent
South Carolina House of Representatives, District 3
Jerry Carter, Republican Party, incumbent
South Carolina House of Representatives, District 5
Neal Collins, Republican Party, incumbent
South Carolina House of Representatives, District 10
Thomas Beach, Republican Party
Solicitor, Circuit 13
Walt Wilkins, Republican Party, incumbent
Probate Judge
Debora A. Faulkner, Republican Party, incumbent
Pickens County Council, District 1
C. Claiborne Linvill, Democratic Party
Brad White, Republican Party
Pickens County Council, District 2
Chris Lollis, Republican Party
Soil and Water District Commission
Chuck Owens, Nonpartisan
Pickens County School Board of Trustees, District 2
Randy Robinson, Nonpartisan
Pickens County School Board of Trustees, District 4
Brad Dover, Nonpartisan
Brian D. Swords, Nonpartisan
Pickens County School Board of Trustees, District 6
Karla Kelley, Nonpartisan
Pickens County School Board of Trustees, District 7
Zach Epting, Nonpartisan
Amy Williams, Nonpartisan
Watershed Conservation District, Brushy Creek
Rick Gantt, Nonpartisan
Allen Wilson, Nonpartisan
Watershed Conservation District, Georges Creek
Steve P. Pace, Nonpartisan, incumbent
B.J. Sutherland, Nonpartisan
Watershed Conservation District, Oolenoy River
Andy Anderson, Nonpartisan, incumbent
Jeff White, Nonpartisan
Tamia Boyd is a Michigan native who covers breaking news in Greenville. Email her at tboyd@gannett.com, and follow her on Twitter @tamiamb.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Elections in Pickens County: Early voting in SC and what to know