2024 SC election: How to vote, what’s on your ballot in York, Lancaster, Chester counties

As voters get ready to head to the polls in York County, they'll have a new option for the first time in a presidential year: early voting.

Early voting is no different than going to the polls on Election Day, except potentially shorter lines and 12 days to do it at six sites around York County. York County elections director Alan Helms said officials expect as many as half of voters could choose early voting rather than Election Day.

During the 2020 election, state officials extended absentee voting because of the coronavirus pandemic. Then in 2022, legislators made early voting permanent in South Carolina.

York County had about 69% voter turnout in the 2020 presidential election year, state statistics show.

This year, interest in the race between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump is expected to push voter turnout up for local races, according to elections experts, officials and chairmen from the political parties. Early voting also could push turnout higher across the ballot, said Adolphus Belk, a Winthrop University political science professor and expert on South Carolina politics and voting patterns. Most people work on the Tuesday of election day, Belk said.

"The number one reason we have seen before for why people did not vote was voters said they didn't have time," Belk said. "Early voting gives convenience and access."

Candidates have about a month left until the Nov. 5 general election in South Carolina. Several competitive races are on the ballot in York, Chester and Lancaster counties aside from the presidential race, including a congressional seat, some South Carolina statehouse positions and school boards.

Here's a snapshot of what voters need to know.

Voter registration extended to Oct. 14.

Voter registration was extended to Oct. 14 Friday by court order after the Helene storm , the S.C. Election Commission said in a statement. Registration can be done online at scvotes.gov by midnight Oct. 14 or in person at your county elections office, the commission said. Voter registration forms can be downloaded from the scvotes.gov web site and returned by Oct. 14.

Early voting in SC: what to know

Early voting starts Oct. 21 and runs through Nov. 2.

Early voting is done in-person just like on Election Day, but is not an absentee ballot, state and local elections officials said. Before the state approved early voting, voters generally had to use an absentee ballot and provide a reason to vote before Election Day. South Carolina also offers absentee ballots by mail to residents who are unable to vote in person, but they must be requested by Oct. 25.

Registered voters can go to any of the sites in their county of residence and cast their ballot in early voting, elections official said. The ballot is the same as an Election Day ballot.

York County has six early voting sites that will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday from Oct. 21 - Nov. 2. State law does not allow Sunday voting, Helms said.

The sites are:

Fort Mill: Carolinas Cornerstone Church, 1790 Gardendale Road; and Fort Mill Community Center, 1011 Talbot Drive.

Rock Hill: Baxter Hood Center at York Technical College, 375 South Anderson Road; and Clinton College library, 1029 Crawford Road.

: Lifeway Church, 114 South Congress St.

LakeWylie/Clover: Imagine Church of the Carolinas, 5501 S.C. Highway 55.

Lancaster County has four early voting sites, including two in Indian Land where the population has grown significantly in recent years.

Indian Land: Indian Land Annex, 8286 Charlotte Highway; and Del Webb Library, 7641 Charlotte Highway.

: County Administration Office, 101 N. Main St., Lancaster.

: Kershaw Second Baptist Church, 77-37 Kershaw-Camden Highway.

Chester County has has two early voting sites.

: Chester County elections office: 109 Ella St. Chester.

: Town Hall, 201 N. Main St. Richburg.

A list of early voting sites, addresses, and more information also is available on county elections office web sites and at the S.C. Election Commission web site scvotes.gov .

For questions, call your county elections office. Those numbers are 803-684-1242 in York County, 803-285-2969 in Lancaster County and 803-385-2562 in Chester County.

Who is on your ballot?

Registered voters can go to scvotes.org and see their sample ballot that shows who is running based on their address.

On the website, click on the voters tab at the top. Then, click on "Get my sample ballot." Any registered voter can then log in with required information, which includes your county, name, date of birth and the last four digits of your social security number.

When logged in, click on "sample ballot." Your ballot will appear on the screen and look just like the ballot you will receive when you vote.

U.S. House race a rematch

Voters in all three counties will choose whether incumbent Republican Ralph Norman or Democrat challenger Evangeline Hundley wins the 5th District U.S. House of Representatives slot. Norman easily beat Hundley by 30 points in 2022.

Norman, one of the Rock Hill area's most well-known conservative Republican political figures, has been in the seat since 2017.

Norman supported former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley early in 2024 during the presidential primary season before swinging back behind Trump after Trump won. York County Republican Party Chariman Larry Barnett said some York County Republicans did not like that Norman supported Haley, but he expects Norman will again prevail.

"Republicans will come out for Ralph," Barnett said.

Democrats believe Harris being on the ballot in the presidential race could help Hundley, said Nikita Jackson, York County Democratic Party chair.

"Having Harris on the ticket will benefit all Democratic candidates," Jackson said.

Belk, the Winthrop professor, said Barack Obama's candidacy in 2008 and 2012 mobilized Democratic voters. Harris's candidacy as an African-American woman at the top of the ticket could help Democrats, he said.

Yet, York County , the most populous county contained entirely within Norman's district, has leaned Republican for years, Belk said.

For example, Trump carried York County in 2020 by 12 points over Joe Biden and won the county easily in 2016, too. All county-wide political offices are held by Republicans.

Democrats did not field candidates for countywide offices this year, including sheriff, solicitor, clerk of court, and coroner where Republican are running unopposed. Democrats also did not field challengers in any of the four York County Council seats up for election in November.

S.C. General Assembly competitive races

State Senate District 17 has a competitive race between incumbent Democrat Mike Fanning and Republican challenger Everett Stubbs. The district covers Fairfield and Chester County, plus parts of York County and Lancaster County. Stubbs, a lawyer from Chester, defeated two challengers in the June Republican primary. Fanning, of Fairfield County, has been in the senate since 2015.

In State Senate District 26 that covers parts of fast growing Fort Mill and Indian Land in Lancaster, incumbent Republican Michael Johnson faces Workers party candidate Kiral Mace. Johnson of Fort Mill is a former York County Council member. Mace is seeking his first South Carolina legislative office.

State House District 26 that covers much of Fort Mill will have a new representative. Republican David Martin faces Democrat Matt Vilardebo. Martin is a Fort Mill lawyer. Vilardebo, also of Fort Mill, ran for the seat in 2022.

Several legislative races in York, Chester, and Lancaster counties have only one unopposed candidate on the ballot.

Lancaster County competitive races

Lancaster County has several competitive races, elections official said.

State Senate District 27 has Republican Allen Blackmon against Democrat Yokima Cureton.

State House District 45 has incumbent Republican Brandon Newton against democrat Nicole Ventour.

State House District 44 pits incumbent Republican Mike Neese against democrat Katie Crosby.

State House District 53 has incumbent Republican Richie Yow against Democrat Bruce Wallace.

Lancaster County Council District 1 has Republican Stuart Graham versus petition candidate Barbara Scannell.

Non-partisan Lancaster school board seat 6 has Olivia Hann, Jenna Rathe-White, and Keith Snipes.

Chester County competitive races

Chester County has competitive races for clerk of court, county council district 3, and school board district 1.

Clerk of Court has Democrat A. Tenna Thompson Cook against petition candidate Betty Jo Lawson.

Chester County Council District 3 pits Republican Bobby Rains against Democrat Ken Hines.

Nonpartisan Chester County school board District 1 has Delores Ann Crockett and Tara Thomas.

York County school boards

All four York County school districts have elections for school board. All are non-partisan.

Belk said races down the ticket such as school boards are important to the community, but do not receive the attention of the top races because candidates do not have much money to spend on campaigns. Much of the campaigning is done online on social media, Belk said.

All candidate names below are officially listed by the S.C. Election Commission as active candidates.

Fort Mil schools : Six candidates are running for three seats. They include Ellen Abramo, incumbent Anthony D. Boddie, Denise Casey, incumbent Scott Frattaroli, Michelle K. Hoffman and incumbent Kristy Thames Spears. The top three vote-getters win.

Rock Hill schools : Five seats are up for election — two at-large seats and three districts.

One at-large race has Lacy Daniel, incumbent Bryan McAlinden, and Kevin Thompson. McAlinden was appointed to the seat in 2023. The second at-large seat has Jennifer Hutchinson and Fred Jordan.

District 1 has Montrio Belton and Matt Hiers. District 3 shows James Burns, and incumbent Mildred B. Douglas. Burns is an incumbent at-large member running for the District 3 seat. District 5 has Corree Carelock, incumbent Windy Cole, and Melissa Harris.

Clover schools : Three seats are up for election, with two competitive races and one unopposed. Seat 4 has Nataly Burgio and Kenda Cook. The at-large seat shows Kevin Johnson and incumbent Tracy Bell Stiff.