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ELECTION DAY: Polls open at 7 a.m. across South Carolina

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ELECTION DAY: Polls open at 7 a.m. across South Carolina


CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – Voters who did not take advantage of early voting in the Palmetto State will be able to cast their ballots starting at 7 a.m. Tuesday.

Polls will be open through 7 p.m. statewide. Any voter who is in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to cast their vote.

Click here to check your voter registration.

Click here to find your polling place.

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Click here to see a sample ballot based on your precinct.

Over the last two weeks, a record number of South Carolinians — just over a million-and-a-half people either in person or via mail — voted early. That’s about 46 percent of the state’s registered voters. But unlike the early voting period, voters who will cast ballots on Election Day must go to their specific polling locations.

Voters must have a valid photo ID to check-in. Acceptable forms of photo ID include a South Carolina driver’s license, a South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles ID Card, a South Carolina Concealed Weapons Permit, a South Carolina voter registration card with photo, a United States military ID and a United States passport.

READ MORE: Your 2024 general election voter guide

If you still have an absentee ballot, the return deadline for those is 7 p.m. on Election Day. Voters are encouraged to return their ballots in person to ensure it is received before the deadline.

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The State Election Commission says if you’re voting Tuesday, it’s hard to predict how long you might have to wait in line, though typically more people go in the morning. But they say South Carolina’s strong early voting turnout should help with overall wait times.

Multiple organizations including the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority, the South Carolina Coalition for Voter Participation and the Airport Limo Taxi Association at the Charleston International Airport are offering free rides to the polls.

The biggest battle in the 2024 general election is the race for the White House between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump.

But for the Lowcountry, U.S. Congressional races will decide who represents the state’s First, Sixth and Seventh Districts.

In the First District, which includes portions of Berkeley and Beaufort Counties as well as portions of Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester and Jasper Counties, incumbent Republican Nancy Mace is hoping to keep her seat as Democrat Michael Moore challenges.

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Democrat Jim Clyburn, first elected to represent the Sixth Congressional District in 1992, faces a challenge from Republican Duke Buckner and three others. That district covers all or part of 14 South Carolina counties, including all of Williamsburg County and portions of Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Jasper and Orangeburg Counties.

South Carolina’s Seventh Congressional District, which covers all or part of eight counties, including Georgetown County, features a fight for votes between incumbent Rep. Russell Fry, a Republican; and challenger Mal Hyman, a Democrat.

Lowcountry voters will also select the state‘s Ninth Circuit Solicitor, the top prosecutor for the state’s Ninth Circuit. Republican incumbent Scarlett Wilson is facing a challenge from Democrat David Osborne. The Ninth Circuit covers Berkeley and Charleston Counties.

Two other Lowcountry solicitor candidates are unopposed. Solicitor David Pascoe, a Democrat, is running unopposed in the First Circuit, which covers Calhoun, Orangeburg and Dorchester Counties. In the Fourteenth Circuit, which covers Allendale, Colleton, Hampton, Beaufort and Jasper Counties, Republican Duffie Stone is also running unopposed.

In six Lowcountry counties, voters will decide who will be sheriff. In Charleston County, incumbent Democrat Kristin Graziano faces a challenge from Republican Carl Ritchie, the former police chief in Mount Pleasant. In Colleton County, Buddy Hall, a Republican; faces a challenge from Democrat Alyssa Bodison. Dorchester County Chief Deputy Sam Richardson, a Republican; hopes to defeat Democratic challenger Charles Frederick III. And in Georgetown County, Republican incumbent Carter Weaver is fighting Democrat Birt Adams for the job.

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Democratic incumbent Sheriffs Leroy Ravenel of Orangeburg County and Stephen Gardner of Williamsburg County are running unopposed.

Most of the coroner‘s races feature a single candidate. But in Charleston County, Democratic challenger Frank Broccolo is hoping to unseat Republican incumbent Bobbi Jo O’Neal.

In Charleston County, Democratic incumbent County Treasurer Mary Tinkler is hoping to keep her seat against Republican challenger Mike Van Horn.

The election includes scores of races in the South Carolina State House as well as Lowcountry county council and school board members.

In South Carolina, members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms while members of the Senate serve four-year terms. But in this year’s election, every seat in both houses will be up for reelection.

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All South Carolina voters will also decide whether the state’s constitution must be amended to prohibit non-citizens from voting in the state.

Voters in different counties may face additional ballot questions. One of the most watched ballot questions will likely face Charleston County voters, who will decide on renewing a half-cent transportation sales tax that will generate nearly $5 billion for road projects, including the completion of the Mark Clark Extension project, and $432 million for greenbelt projects.

Polls will close at 7 p.m. statewide. The counting of the ballots will not begin until that time, although State Election Commission officials are confident all of the state races will be decided by the end of the evening.



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87-year-old South Carolina businessman says he has no plans to retire

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87-year-old South Carolina businessman says he has no plans to retire


An 87-year-old businessman in Columbia, South Carolina says he has no plans to retire. 

Leonard Fabrizio works as a retailer at Brittons of Columbia, a locally-owned men’s clothing store.

“I’m not the type of person who can sit around by myself,” said Fabrizio. “I just enjoy the interaction and that’s the big thing, is the interaction with people. It’s always been the drive in this business for me, said Fabrizio. 

Fabrizio’s retail career began as a college student when he worked at J.C. Penney. He has watched Columbia grow and has owned a store and managed several others.

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His advice is to “Be patient. It takes time to build a business. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s rewarding. It’s fun. But you have to have compassion for the business.”

Fabrizio recently celebrated another birthday alongside those who have supported his career.



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South Carolina family raises awareness of rare Batten disease

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South Carolina family raises awareness of rare Batten disease


June 9 marked International Batten Disease Awareness Day, shining a light on a rare, inherited neurodegenerative disorder.

It primarily affects children and causes harmful waste material to build up inside the cells of the brain and nervous system.

One South Carolina family used the day to raise awareness as their 2-year-old son, Sam Stockton, lives with CLN2 Batten disease.

Sam was diagnosed at 16 weeks old, and his family says they travel every other week for enzyme-replacement therapy while also searching for clinical research opportunities.

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Through Hope for Sam, the family is working to spread information about Batten disease and support other families facing rare diseases.

“Just the more you know about rare diseases, I never knew that over 300 million people worldwide live with rare diseases. And that means there’s less access to care because people aren’t researching it and not as many people have it. So the more information that’s out there, we feel is the better,” Jordan Stockton said.

There are 13 known types of Batten disease, and there is no cure. Researchers estimate the disease affects about two to four out of every 100,000 births in the United States.

The Stockton family says they have found support through the Batten Disease Support, Research and Advocacy Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families navigate the disease while providing resources.

More information and donation details are available at this link.



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Talent competition takes center stage at Miss South Carolina

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Talent competition takes center stage at Miss South Carolina


Contestants in the 2026 Miss South Carolina and Miss South Carolina’s Teen competitions will showcase their talents on Thursday at the Township Auditorium.

Miss South Carolina’s Teen’s Got Talent is set to begin at 5 p.m., followed by Miss South Carolina’s Got Talent at 7 p.m.

READ MORE | Miss South Carolina kicks off with preliminary rounds

The talent competitions are part of the weeklong Miss South Carolina Scholarship Organization competition, which brings delegates from across the state to Columbia to compete for scholarships and the opportunity to represent South Carolina on the national stage.

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READ MORE | Miss South Carolina’s Teen preliminary round begins

Contestants competed in fitness, evening wear, and onstage question preliminaries on Wednesday, while Miss South Carolina’s Teen contestants completed their preliminary competition on Tuesday.

Preliminary winners include:

Preliminary Fitness Award winners:

  1. Jenna Huggins, Miss Clemson
  2. Lindsay Jones, Miss Charleston
  3. Reagan McMahon, Miss Chapin

Preliminary Evening Gown Award winners:

  1. Mary Kimball Osborn, Miss Palmetto
  2. Chelby Drafts, Miss Golden Corner
  3. Reagan McMahon, Miss Chapin

Teen Preliminary Fitness Award winners:

  1. Alissa Claire Rhodes, Miss Fox Creek High School’s Teen
  2. Kamryn Mathis, Miss Greer High School’s Teen
  3. Logan Wells, Miss Palmetto’s Teen

Teen Preliminary Evening Gown Award winners:

  1. Logan Wells, Miss Palmetto’s Teen
  2. Cleo Floyd-Johnstone, Miss Ballentine’s Teen
  3. Kursten Long, Miss Newberry’s Teen

The Miss South Carolina’s Teen finals are set for Friday night, while the Miss South Carolina finals will take place Saturday.

Watch the 2026 Miss South Carolina Competition LIVE at 8:00 PM on Saturday, June 20. Tune in on WACH FOX 57 in Columbia, ABC 4 in Charleston, ABC 15 in Myrtle Beach/Florence, and My40 in the Upstate.



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