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Over 3,700 vote early in Barnwell County

Find out who's on the ballot

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There’s a week left until the Nov. 5 General Election, but nearly 4,000 Barnwell County voters have already cast their ballots.

As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, 3,753 of Barnwell County’s 14,680 registered voters have cast their ballots during early voting, according to Naomi DeFrenn, director of the Barnwell County Board of Elections & Registration. That’s approximately 24.64 percent.

So far, more than 735,000 voters across the state have already turned out to cast their ballot ahead of Election Day, according to data provided Monday, Oct. 28 by the State Election Commission. This compares to 561,600 for early voting in the 2022 General Election. With another week remaining, the state has already surpassed the total early voting turnout from the 2022 General Election.

“We are excited to witness such a strong turnout of early voters making their voices heard,” said Howie Knapp, executive director of the South Carolina Election Commission (SEC), “We expect continued record-breaking participation as we enter the second week of early voting."

As voting continues, the SEC would like to remind voters who haven’t cast their ballots yet that they still have time to vote at any early voting center in their county during this period.

Barnwell County early voting centers include:

  • Blackville Community Center (19464 Solomon Blatt Ave. N., Blackville)
  • Barnwell County Voter Registration and Elections (367 Fuldner Rd., Barnwell)
  • Williston Town Hall (13112 Main St., Williston)
    Early voting is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Early voting ends on Saturday, Nov. 2.

Voters will be asked to present a Photo ID when checking in to vote.
Who’s on the ballot?

In addition to voting for president of the U.S., here’s a look at who’s running for local, state and federal seats:

  • U.S. House of Representatives District 2 seat: Incumbent Republican Joe Wilson is being challenged by Democrat David Robinson II.
  • S.C. Senate District 40 seat: Incumbent Brad Hutto, a Democrat, is being challenged by Republican Sharon Carter.
  • S.C. House of Representatives District 91 seat: Incumbent Lonnie Hosey, a Democrat, is challenged by Republican Ben Kinlaw.
  • Second Circuit Solicitor:  Incumbent Bill Weeks, a Republican, is the lone candidate.
  • Barnwell County Soil & Water Conservation District seat: Mindy Sandifer is unopposed for this non-partisan seat.
  • Barnwell County Sheriff: Incumbent Sheriff Steve “Grits” Griffith, a Republican, is unopposed.
  • Barnwell County Coroner: Incumbent Denise Gibson, a Republican, is unopposed.
  • Barnwell County Clerk of Court: Incumbent Rhonda McElveen, a Democrat, is unopposed.
  • Barnwell County Council District 1: Incumbent Freddie L. Houston Sr., a Democrat, is unopposed.
  • Barnwell County Council District 3: Republican Andy Hogg and Democrat Willie Walker are vying for the seat after incumbent Don Harper chose not to seek re-election.
  • Barnwell County Council District 5: With current councilman Ben Kinlaw not seeking re-election, Republican JJ Cruz is the only candidate.
  • Barnwell County Council District 7: Incumbent Jerry Creech is not seeking re-election, but Republican Travis Hooper will be the sole candidate.
  • Barnwell County School District Board District 1: Bob Snead, Becky Wier Huggins, Crystal Nix, and Alan Kennedy will be on the ballot, though Kennedy has dropped out and endorsed Huggins.
  • Barnwell County School District Board District 2: Felicia Robinson Devore, Vanessa Taylor Childs, and Dawn Mansfield.
  • Barnwell County School District Board District 3: Rosey Anderson, Teresa B. Hughes, and Abraham Sexton.
  • Barnwell County School District Board District 4: Ronnie Brown, Paula Marie Little, and John Melton.
  • Barnwell County School District Board District 5: Catrena Hughes-Parker, Ethel Faust, Ed Rockwell and Tim Scott.

It’s important to note that not all seats will appear on every voter’s ballot. This will depend on where a voter lives and what seats they are eligible to vote for.

Capital Projects Sales Tax Referendum

The Capital Project Sales Tax (CPST) referendum voters will see on the November ballot is a continuation of the penny tax that Barnwell County voters passed in 2016.

When the 2016 CPST was passed, numerous capital projects were funded in each municipality and in the county. The 2024 referendum will fund a new set of projects. That list has been published numerous times in this newspaper and can be found at www.thepeoplesentinel.com.

If passed, the projected total collection county-wide would be $17,780,062. This total will be allocated between the county and municipalities based on population. Much of the funding will be bonded to the county and municipalities, allowing multiple projects in each area to begin simultaneously and mitigating the future costs of inflation.

Ballot Question
All voters will be asked to vote on a change in description of constitutional voter qualifications.

The ballot measure asks if the state constitution’s guaranteed right to vote should change from “every” to “only a” citizen who’s at least 18 and properly registered. In South Carolina, only the Legislature can put a question on general election ballots.

Supporters of the change say it will prevent any future court ruling allowing non-citizens to vote in local elections in South Carolina. They acknowledge that no local governments in the state have tried to let noncitizens vote or even asked for the ability, but they contend the amendment will make sure they do not in future. Democrats called it completely unnecessary, though most voted for it anyway.

The question as it will appear on the ballot:

Must Section 4, Article II of the Constitution of this State, relating to voter qualifications, be amended so as to provide that only a citizen of the United States and of this State of the age of eighteen and upwards who is properly registered is entitled to vote as provided by law?

This Measure Would:

  • A "yes" vote supports changing the state constitutional voter qualification from “every” to “only a” citizen
  • A "no" vote would oppose any changes to the state constitutional voter qualifications

For more information on the upcoming November election, including to check your voter information or see a sample ballot, visit scvotes.gov/.