More voters stepping out to vote early compared to June primaries

Rising prices, a struggling economy, a woman's right to choose and a citizen's civic duty− there are several reasons why people in South Carolina are venturing out early to cast their vote.

Ever since the state signed into law provisions that expanded advanced voting, more people have voted ahead of the Nov. 8 midterm election than they did in June before the primaries, as per the latest figures reported by the SC Election Commission.

In just a week since early voting began, between Oct. 24 and Oct. 29, 238,461 voters − about 7% of the registered 3.3 million voters, have cast their ballots in polling stations across the state. That's twice the number of voters who voted in advance during the June primaries.

Meanwhile, there has also been a rise in applications filed by voters to mail in their votes. While in June, 25,916 voters applied for absentee voting, the midterm election has seen more than twice the number of applications at 75,159.

These trends are generally expected as voters tend to prioritize voting in major elections over primaries, but an accurate picture of how advanced voting has faired will be clearer closer to the election date as votes are still in the process of being cast.

The Greenville News and Spartanburg Herald Journal went to different parts of the two counties to assess the issues motivating people to vote and step out early. They were not asked to say who they are voting for.

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Of the several people the reporters approached over the course of a week− in parks, neighborhoods and outside offices, 46 voters responded. Of the 46, only nine said that they were comfortable with being on camera or being recorded.

A majority of the ones who declined said that they did not want to add to the divisive nature of politics. They have friends with opposing views, and they want to keep their opinions about what motivates them to vote private. Near Laurens road in Greenville, a young group of four voters between ages 19 and 21 did not know that there's an upcoming election, and one voter from a neighborhood in the same area declined because they thought it would affect their business.

As of Oct. 21, Greenville County had the most number of registered voters in the state at 344,310. Spartanburg County had 202,738 registered voters, and Anderson County had 124,330. Together, they make up 20% of the state's registered voter base.

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Among the older voters, between the age group of 45-64, an air of anxiety permeated every answer. There was concern about what the future might look like for the next generation, whether their children or grandchildren would have to face unsurmountable challenges. Rising prices of utilities and inflation were a common connecting thread between them. But their responses diverged when perceptions related to choice and morality came into the mix.

Vietnam veteran Donald Craig, 74, is a longtime Republican. "Some of the things on my mind is, first and foremost, the economy," he said, "There are moral values at stake, the overall condition of our country, the lawlessness, defund the police movement by certain factions− I'm concerned for my children, I'm concerned for my grandchildren."

"I’m just concerned for people overall, and I think we need to learn to get along, love another and serve the Lord Jesus Christ, our savior, and the world will be a better place," he said.

Craig, who tends to vote on partisan lines, said that he would always vote Republican. However, he said he didn't think Republicans had all the answers.

"I'm not convinced that all Republicans are what they say they are. But it's something to think about and give some serious thought," he said.

Ralph Settle, a local real estate professional in the city of Spartanburg, said that he's voted every year but he was following the gubernatorial race between incumbent Gov. Henry McMaster and former U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham closely.

"I think Gov. McMaster has done great for us. Our state is thriving and has thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic. We continue to see economic development here in Spartanburg County, record announcements with BMW investing 1.7 billion on top of a 2 billion dollar number for 2022," Settle said. "A lot of that is through his leadership, commerce and OneSpartanburg."

The economic success, he said, was the reason he was voting this year.

Outside his house in Gantt, Terry Gamble said that he is an independent and usually picks his side based on the policies he most cares for. As a business owner, the economy is a big concern for him, but so is choice. More specifically, he said, women's choice.

"If you start changing all the people’s rights, then everybody’s rights can be changed anytime," Gamble said, adding that he is also concerned about climate change and the alarm bells that have been rung by scientists. Gamble said that he is leaning toward Democrats this election cycle and was hopeful since the approval ratings for President Joe Biden have improved.

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Though it has hard to paint a picture of what truly drives voters, female voters interviewed by The News said that abortion access is a big factor in casting their votes this election cycle.

In Gantt District, not too far away from Mt. Pleasant Community Center, Shelby Skinner, 45, sat in her van.

"I'm all about− even everything out," Skinner said, describing how voters were embattled by the struggling economy and high inflation. But for her, it is the access to abortion that had a lot to do with determining what party she is voting for. "I feel like a woman shouldn't be told what to do with their body," she said.

Based on voter statistics, women outnumber men when it comes to voting in South Carolina.

The majority of them tend to be white and in the age group between 45-64. Several of these women were either toddlers or were old enough to be teenagers when the U.S. Supreme Court gave the landmark judgment on Roe. v Wade in 1973, which guaranteed access to abortion.

But on a county level, younger women between the ages of 25-44 dominate the voter base in Greenville County. In Spartanburg, there is a marginal difference between the two age groups. Skinner straddled the line between the two age groups and said that it was imperative for her to vote. "If you don't vote, then you don't have a voice," she said.

Several election watchers have viewed Gen-Z voters, or the group of voters between ages 18-24, as the game-changing voting bloc in any election. Nationally, Democrats have tried to connect with Gen-Z voters on hot-button issues such as abortion access, which they believe could tip the scales in their favor.

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Focusing on generational divides is a strategy that's most visible during the recent gubernatorial debate where Democratic candidate Joe Cunningham emphasized on how he differed from Gov. Henry McMaster based on their opposing view on abortion access.

The generational connection seems to work for some younger voters.

At Furman University, Ella Fillippo, 19, fell into the category dominated by younger, more politically activated voters. Fillippo, who is from Clemson, said that though she doesn't agree with all of Cunningham's policies, she was leaning towards him.

Meanwhile, Ellie Howard, a sophomore, will be voting in Georgia elections. But the issues she's concerned with cross state lines and bear similarities with what a lot of other women said. "Policies with education, police, abortion − all of those things kind of contribute, personally, to why I vote."

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This article originally appeared on Greenville News: More SC voters stepping out to vote early compared to June primaries