CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) – Polls in South Carolina will open at 7 a.m. Tuesday, but officials expect lower turnout for elections that include several Lowcountry mayoral runoffs.
Click here to view the Live 5 2025 voter guide.
Voters will elect mayors for Mount Pleasant, Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island and Lincolnville.
More than 3.35 million people are registered to vote statewide. In the Tri-County region, Charleston County has 272,000 registered voters, Berkeley County has about 155,000 and Dorchester County has just under 105,000.
Greenville County has the most registered voters in the state, at just under 341,000, while Allendale County has the fewest, at about 4,000.
Expected drop in participation for local races
Election officials expect turnout to be around 20% with only local elections on the ballot and no statewide, presidential or Senate races.
Several mayoral races are taking place in the Lowcountry, including Mount Pleasant, Isle of Palms and Folly Beach. Long queues are still expected at polling stations.
“Municipal elections just don’t have the same level of engagement. Even though they don’t make national headlines, these are local issues that affect all of us, our daily lives,” said Isaac Cramer, executive director of the Charleston County Board of Elections. “So our goal is just to let people know that there’s an election. There’s still time to do your research, research the candidates. But know that today’s election impacts your daily life.”
Voting conditions and accessibility
Voters must bring a photo ID to vote, but a real ID is not required.
Click here to check your voter registration, get a sample ballot, or find your polling location.
Absentee ballots must be returned to the Charleston County Voter Registration and Elections Board by 7 p.m.
All polling locations provide accessible parking, doors, railings and paths. Residents with disabilities may receive assistance during the voting process, but must notify a poll official if assistance is needed. Voters can choose anyone to help them except their employer, an agent of their employer, or an officer or agent of their union.
Curbside voting is available for people with disabilities or voters 65 or older. Poll officials are monitoring the area every 15 minutes to help anyone who cannot wait in line.
Polling stations are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Voters can find their polling location and candidate information at scvotes.gov.
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