Myrtle Beach sees more than 40,000 early voters. Where are the longest & shortest lines?

Elizabeth Brewer
·2 min read
Long lines for early voting on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024 in Little River. According to data from The State, South Carolinians came out in record numbers to early vote this election cycle.

South Carolina is one of the states that offers early voting before a general election in the U.S.

Including today, Oct. 25, voters will have eight more days to participate in early voting before Election Day.

Locally, in Horry County, voters were reporting hours-long wait times at the polls this week.

According to director of the Horry County Voter Registration and Elections Office, Sandy Martin, as of just before noon on Friday, 44,017 votes had been cast.

When asked if this was a record for the county, Martin said they don’t have another presidential election to compare with.

“Well, we don’t have a presidential election to compare it to, because in 2020 we had 30 days of no excuse voting,” she said. “So this is our first time having early voting for a presidential election.”

Based on information from the Horry County polls, Martin said the South Strand Recreation Center was the busiest location so far this week, and the Aynor Town Hall precinct was the slowest of the bunch.

This cycle, voters broke previous statewide records for voter turnout within the first three days of the polls opening.

The new record as of Oct. 21 is now approximately 125,900 votes, according to data from the South Carolina Election Commission.

The previous record was set on Election Day in November 2022, with 70,100 votes in one day, the data said.

“We just urge voters to have patience, especially with poll managers, because they’re working as hard as they can. And, of course, they’re your friends, they’re members of your community. They’re there to do a very necessary service,” John Michael Catalano, South Carolina Election Commission spokesperson, told The State.

Early voting will remain open throughout South Carolina until it closes on Nov. 2, except for Sunday, Oct. 27, when the polls will be closed.

The U.S. general election day will take place on Nov. 5, three days after early voting closes in South Carolina.

In Horry County, here are the early voting precincts that are open:

  • Horry County Board of Voter Registration & Elections, 1515 4th Ave Conway, SC 29526

  • Loris Public Safety Center, 3909 Walnut St. Loris SC 29569

  • Aynor Town Hall, 600 S Main St, Aynor SC 29511

  • Carolina Forest Library, 2250 Carolina Forest Blvd, Myrtle Beach, SC 29579

  • North Strand Recreation Center, 120 Hwy 57 S Little River, SC 29566

  • South Strand Recreation Center, 9650 Scipio Ln Myrtle Beach, SC 29588

  • HCCOA Grand Strand Senior Center, 1268 21st Ave N, MB SC 29577

They’re open each day from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.