Tuesday is Election Day: Here’s what voters need to know | Palmetto … – Charleston Post Courier

From the mountains to the coast, voters across South Carolina will head to the polls to decide who they want to represent their local interests in the Nov. 7 election.

And the stakes are high.

In Greenville, longtime Mayor Knox White faces his first serious challenger in his final campaign. 

City of Charleston voters will confront a $70 million parks referendum question at the end of their ballots, along with a crowded six-way race for mayor.

In North Charleston, voters will decide who they want to lead the city in a post-Keith Summey era. But that’s just a snapshot.

Town of James Island voters will also be picking a new mayor with longtime Mayor Bill Woolsey stepping down. 

According to a tally from the South Carolina Election Commission, some 228 local elections are happening across the Palmetto State on Nov. 7 in towns big and small.

Here’s what you need to know about casting your ballot. Polls are open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. There are no COVID-19 restrictions in place.

Where do I vote?

Your voting precinct and polling place are determined by your address and should be listed on your voter  registration card.

To check your voting location, visit the S.C. Election Commission website at scvotes.gov. At the top of the homepage, click the word “Voters.” Then, click “Check Your Voter Registration” or “Find My Polling Place.” You can also contact your county voter registration office directly.

Need a lift to the polls in the Charleston area?

CARTA is offering free bus rides to the polls on Election Day. To receive fare-free transit, riders are asked to communicate with drivers that they are traveling to or from their polling location. The bus system can be found online at ridecarta.com/maps.

What races are on my ballot?

For the most part, local politics will dominate the ballot. That means city or town council races and mayoral contests.

But there are exceptions. 

In the Charleston area, Democrat Deon Tedder will face Republican Rosa Kay in the Senate District 42 special election. The seat came open after former Democratic Sen. Marlon Kimpson resigned to accept a job in the Biden administration.

To double-check the races and names that will appear on your ballot, visit the Election Commission website at scvotes.gov.

At the top of the homepage, click the word “Voters.” Then, click “Get My Sample Ballot.”

What is this City of Charleston parks question?

In addition to local races, some ballots will get to weigh in directly on specific issues. In Charleston, voters will be asked about a $70 million parks bond referendum.

If approved by voters, the bond program will fund a series of parks projects and upgrades throughout the city via a property tax increase.

Following are examples of how much taxes would go up annually in Charleston and Berkeley counties if the bond passes:

$42 on a $350,000 owner-occupied home (city residents in Charleston County).

$63 on a $350,000 rental home.

$60 on a $500,000 owner-occupied home (city residents in Berkeley County).

$90 on a $500,000 rental home.

Those figures could decrease over time as city tax bases grow.

What else will Isle of Palms voters decide?

In addition to the local municipal election, registered Isle of Palms voters will consider a ballot question on imposing a distribution cap of 1,600 on short-term rental licenses for investors and second-home owners. There would continue to be no cap for homes that are the owners’ primary residence.

What should I bring to vote?

To vote in the election, you will need one of the following forms of photo ID:

• S.C. driver’s license
• S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles ID card, which would include an S.C. concealed weapons permit
• U.S. passport
• S.C. voter registration card with photo
• Federal military ID, which would include all Department of Defense photo IDs and the Department of Veterans Affairs benefits card

If you do not have proper photo ID but are registered to vote, you can cast a provisional ballot that will be recorded once your eligibility is verified.

What can I expect?

Most polling places are community hubs such as schools and churches. (Some students have the day off because of it.)

On Election Day, these locations will be surrounded by campaign signs for various political races. You may also see people waving signs as you get closer to the polling site.

Sometimes, candidates or campaign staffers will be shaking hands and talking to voters. They are allowed to do that right up to the entrance.

However, any campaign signs or materials must be at least 500 feet from the polling entrance. Inside the polling place, no campaigning is allowed.

Need more information on the candidates?

The League of Women Voters offers a nonpartisan voter guide online at www.vote411.org/ballot, which includes sample ballots, candidate questionnaires and basics about each office on the state and local South Carolina ballot.

Just enter your street address to learn more.