8 runoffs to watch in the Midlands
Voters in the Midlands can cast ballots in more than a half-dozen runoffs Tuesday, including a high-profile race to elect a new solicitor in the 11th Circuit for the first time in 40 years.
Runoffs on Midlands ballots are:
11th Circuit
Republican runoff
Having won just shy of 50 percent of the vote in the June 14 GOP primary, Rick Hubbard faces second-place finished Candice Lively to succeed Donnie Myers in the judicial circuit that includes Lexington County.
House District 79
Democratic runoff
Having finished first — by 31 votes — in the June 14 primary, Ivory Thigpen faces Monica Elkins for the Democratic nomination for the open Northeast Richland seat in the S.C. House.
House District 89
Republican runoff
Assistant Solicitor Micah Caskey faces West Columbia Councilman Tem Miles for the GOP nomination for the S.C. House seat representing Cayce, Springdale and West Columbia. Caskey first finished in the June 14th primary.
Lexington Council Districts 3, 6
Republican runoffs
Darrell Hudson and Brad Matthews, who finished first and second in the June 14 GOP primary, respectively, are vying for the District 3 council seat. In District 6, Dino Teppara, who led voting in the GOP primary, meets Erin Bergeson in the runoff.
Richland Council District 10
Democratic runoff
Attorney Dalhi Myers and former longtime County Councilwoman Bernie Scott meet again for a four-year term representing the Lower Richland district. Myers finished first in the June 14 Democratic primary.
Lexington clerk, register of deeds
Republican runoff
Lisa Comer and second-place finisher Emily Hinson are in a runoff for clerk of court, and Tina Guerry faces second-place finisher Rich Bolen for register of deeds.
Runoffs set in 6 state Senate races
While there are no statewide offices on the ballot Tuesday, there are runoffs for six of 46 state Senate seats, including four seats where incumbents are seeking re-election.
District 2: Republican Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Larry Martin of Pickens faces former state Rep. Rex Rice
District 6: Republican Mike Fair of Greenville finds himself in a runoff against challenger William Timmons, who won just less than 50 percent of the vote in the June 14 primary
District 12: GOP Sen. Lee Bright of Roebuck meets former state Rep. Scott Talley after a four-way contest in the GOP primary
District 17: In the only Democratic Senate runoff, incumbent Creighton Coleman, who finished just below 50 percent in the June 14 primary, faces challenger Mike Fanning. The district includes Fairfield County in the Midlands.
Party nominations also will be decided for two other “open” state Senate seats.
District 34: State Rep. Stephen Goldfinch is in a GOP runoff for an open Senate seat that has attracted attention because Gov. Nikki Haley has endorsed his opponent, Reese Boyd.
District 41: Sandy Senn, who finished first in the June 14 GOP primary, faces Roy Maybank for the Charleston Senate seat being vacated by the retirement of Paul Thurmond.
What you need to know before Tuesday’s runoffs
Q. Where do I vote?
Your precinct and polling place are listed on your voter registration card. However, it’s possible your polling place might have changed since the card was issued. To be sure of the location of your polling place, visit scvotes.org and click "Find My Polling Place."
Q. What hours will the polls be open?
7 a.m. to 7 p.m. As long as you are in line by 7 p.m., you will be allowed to vote.
Q. Do I have to be a registered member of a party to vote in a runoff?
No. South Carolina does not have registration by party.
Q. If If I voted in one party’s June 14 primary, can I vote in the other party’s June 28 runoff?
No.
Q. If I didn’t vote in either primary, can I vote in a runoff?
Yes.
Q. What do I take with me to the polls to vote?
When voting in person, you will be asked to show one of the following photo IDs: S.C. driver’s license, S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles ID card, S.C. voter registration card with photo, U.S. passport or federal military ID.
Q: What if I don’t have one of these photo IDs?
You may vote a provisional ballot after signing an affidavit stating you have a reasonable impediment to obtaining a photo ID. A reasonable impediment is any valid reason, beyond your control, which created an obstacle to getting a photo ID. Some examples include a disability or illness, conflict with your work schedule, lack of transportation, lack of a birth certificate, family responsibilities, religious objection to being photographed, and any other obstacle you find reasonable. This ballot will count unless someone proves to the county board of voter registration and elections that you are lying about your identity or having the listed impediment.
Q. How is the winner determined in a runoff?
The candidate with the highest number of votes wins.
SOURCE: State Elections Commission
This story was originally published June 27, 2016 at 10:50 PM with the headline "8 runoffs to watch in the Midlands."