SOUTH CAROLINA — Polling locations across the Carolinas are preparing for Election Day, and both states are seeing an increased turnout over 2022’s midterm.
More than a million people voted early in South Carolina, which is more than 80% higher than 2022. Those numbers could point to increased interest in this election.
“Comparing [to last election], we’ve had a big increase in early voting, which is well welcomed,” Alan Helms told Channel 9 South Carolina Reporter Tina Terry.
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Alan Helms, executive director of the Board of Elections in York County, says nearly 62,000 people voted early in York County during this year’s statewide general election. That’s almost three times the amount when early voting started in 2022.
“Those are voters that are not gonna come on Election Day, so we can focus on who will show up on Election Day,” Alan Helms said.
We asked Winthrop University political scientist Scott Huffmon if the spike has anything to do with the heated Senate race between Sen. Darline Graham and Democratic candidate Dr. Annie Andrews.
“The question, as always, is who is doing the turning out. We know there is excitement for Annie Andrews. The question is: are the Republicans excited to do that, or are they just trying to keep her from winning,” Scott Huffmon said.
Political experts say recent polling shows a close race between the two, unusual in what is considered a solid red state.
“If we compare this race to the 2020 race between Lindsay Graham and Jamie Harrison, this time Republicans are worried. The White House is worried enough to send the president down to stump for the Republican candidate. That’s something we haven’t seen before,” Huffmon said.
Regardless of the reason for that record early voting, officials say it will certainly help them on election day.
They say those 62,000 early votes will be able to be counted within a few minutes of polls closing Tuesday.