early voting 1

Early voting in the 2024 Presidential General Election is underway at seven locations in Horry County. (Photo by Casey Jones/casey.jones@myhorrynews.com)

Voting is underway in Horry County in the 2024 Presidential General Election, with a presidential race and a penny sales tax for transportation on the ballot.

Early voting began Monday, Oct. 21 in the county, and nearly 12,000 voters had cast ballots as of noon on Tuesday, according to county election officials.

Statewide, a record 125,000 South Carolinians voted on Monday, according to the South Carolina Election Commission. The previous record was 70,100 in 2022.

鈥淚t鈥檚 started off really good,鈥 said Sandy Martin, director of the Horry County Voter Registration and Elections Office.

She attributed the swarm of early voters in part to individuals trying to avoid possible long lines on Election Day, Tuesday Nov. 5.

Roger that, said Logan Davis of Conway. He said when he voted two years ago he spent two hours in line at his precinct, compared to 30 minutes on Tuesday at the county election office in Conway.

Asked if he was concerned that he might change his mind between now and Election Day, he said 鈥淣o. I鈥檝e decided.鈥

Davis shared that he voted Republican, and against the sales tax for transportation. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just not a good time for the sales tax with inflation the way it is,鈥 he said.

Shinephia Kollock of Conway said she鈥檚 going to be out of town on Election Day, so she took advantage of early voting, and kept her voting streak alive. 鈥淚 vote every time,鈥 the Conway woman said.

About 273,000 persons are registered to vote in the county, and about 75% participation is expected both locally and statewide, according to Martin. She said the presidential election and the penny sales tax for transportation are expected to drive turnout locally this year.

The county has completed testing all voting machines, and they鈥檒l be rolled out to 124 voting precincts for Election Day.

Early voting is available at seven locations in the county from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays through Saturday, Nov. 2.

You can vote at Aynor Town Hall at 600 S. Main St. in Aynor; at the Carolina Forest Library at 2250 Carolina Forest Blvd. in Myrtle Beach; at the Grand Strand Senior Center at 1268 21st Ave. N. in Myrtle Beach; and at the Loris Public Safety Center at 3909 Walnut St. in Loris.

Early voting is also available at the North Strand Recreation Center at 120 Highway 57 S. in Little River; at the South Strand Recreation Center at 9650 Scipio Lane in Myrtle Beach; and at the Horry County Voter Registration and Elections Office at 1516 4th Ave. in Conway.

Voters must present a valid photo ID to vote.

In addition to early voting, about 9,000 absentee ballots were mailed out to Horry County residents, Martin said.

Reach Casey Jones at 843-488-7261 or casey.jones@myhorrynews.com.

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