Rock Hill’s three ward elections are next month. What to know about absentee voting
Hundreds of Rock Hill residents will now have the opportunity to vote in the city’s postponed ward races.
The city will hold elections for Wards 4, 5 and 6 on Feb. 8., but for those who want to cast a ballot before then, absentee voting has started.
Council voted several months ago to delay the ward races, which were originally scheduled for October, until city officials were able to redraw its six voting districts. Redrawing the districts is required every 10 years based on updated U.S. Census Bureau information.
Rock Hill adopted a new ward map in November.
Now that the city has adopted a new elections map, dozens of Rock Hill residents may need to vote in new wards. The city’s map did not undergo “too many changes,” but a handful of residents were moved to different wards in an attempt to balance the number of voters in each of the six voting districts because of Rock Hill’s significant population growth, city officials said last month.
Residents can find more ward information on the city’s website.
Six candidates are vying for three seats. Just one incumbent is running unopposed.
In Ward 4, which covers the northwestern part of the city and has the highest population, incumbent John Black, who has held his seat longer than a decade is running against newcomer Maggie Schwietert.
In Ward 5, which includes East Main Street and the southern part of the city, incumbent Nikita Jackson, who was first elected in 2017, is running against youth football coach Perry Sutton and newcomer Kenneth Harris.
And in Ward 6, which covers Winthrop University and runs up to the Catawba River, incumbent Jim Reno, who has been on council for more than 20 years, is running unopposed.
How to vote absentee
Absentee voting began on Jan. 10. Rock Hill residents can vote absentee in-person between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the county elections office, 6 S. Congress St. Absentee in-person voting will end on Feb. 7 at 5 p.m.
The last day to request a by-mail ballot is Feb. 4. Residents can request an absentee ballot online.
For those who want to vote on Election Day, polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Voters can find information on precinct locations on the county’s elections office site.
A run-off would be held on Feb. 22 if needed.
