South Carolina primary early voting begins May 31

May 17—Aiken County residents looking to vote before the June 14 primary election have two choices: vote during a two-week early voting period that begins on Tuesday, May 31, or cast an absentee ballot by mail.

S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster signed a bill revamping how South Carolina conducts its elections into law Friday, one day after the bill was passed by the General Assembly and two-days before in-person absentee voting was set to begin.

Now, instead of a one-month absentee period that required people wishing to vote early to fit into one of several categories, there is a two-week excuse-free period for in person early voting that begins at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 31 and ends at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 10.

In Aiken County, in person early voting will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Ronnie Young County Government Center located at 1930 University Parkway in Aiken.

Absentee voting by mail is still allowed for qualified voters including people who have disabilities or who are attending people with disabilities, who are 65 or older, who are members of the military or married to someone who is in the military, who are in the hospital, who aren't going to be in their county of residence on June 14, who have employment obligations or who are in a jail awaiting a trial.

People who want to vote absentee are required to apply by phone, mail or at the county voter registration office.

The phone number of the Aiken County Voter Registration and Elections office is 803-642-2028. The mailing address is P.O. Box 3127; Aiken, SC 29802.

After receiving their application, people are asked to return it to the voter registration office by mail or in person by June 3. Once people receive their ballot, they're asked to return it to the election office by 7 p.m. on June 14. Ballots returned by mail should be mailed no later than one week prior to election day to help ensure timely delivery.

Absentee voters are still required to have the ballot signed by a witness and to have a photo identification if they return their ballot in person.

People will need to bring a photo ID to vote early or if they vote on election day. Acceptable forms of photo ID are a driver's license or DMV ID card, a military ID, voter registration card with photo or a passport.

South Carolina uses an open-primary system, meaning that a registered voter can vote in whatever primary he wishes to vote in regardless of what party he's registered to. As such, voters will need to choose which primary, Republican or Democratic, to vote in.

Four Aiken County races will likely be decided in the June 14 primary.

House Districts 81 (south Aiken) both only have candidates running in the primary without general election opposition. In District 81, incumbent Bart Blackwell faces Betsy Lamb in the Republican primary.

County Council Districts 1, 2 and 5 also only have candidates running in Republican primaries without general election opposition. In District 1, Ron Kellums faces Melinda Starnes. In District 2, Russ "Tony" Ferrara faces Mike Kellums. In District 5, incumbent Sandy Haskell faces Kurt Mueller.

A fifth Aiken County race, House District 82, was set to be decided in the Democratic primary. However, Brian "Ryan B" Doyle was decertified by the South Carolina Democratic Party and can't receive votes or win the primary. As such, S.C. Rep. Bill Clyburn, D-Aiken, does not face opposition in the primary or general election.

Statewide races to be on Republican ballots include: governor, attorney general, agricultural commissioner, secretary of state, and superintendent of education.

Statewide races to be on Democratic ballots include: U.S. senator, governor and superintendent of education.