SC postpones local elections due to coronavirus concerns
Several local elections have been postponed in response to the spread of the coronavirus after an order from South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster on Sunday.
In all, 32 local elections that were originally scheduled for March or April were postponed, including the South Congaree general election in Lexington County.
The elections will be rescheduled for some time after May 1, according to a statement from the S.C. Election Commission. Specific dates have not yet been announced.
Candidate filing for statewide elections, which begins at noon Monday, will go forward as scheduled, according to the statement. Candidates running for a statewide office up for reelection in November 2020 have to file before March 30.
The State Election Commission is taking precautions to help slow the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, including encouraging candidates to schedule an appointment to file their candidate paperwork in order to reduce the number of people in the office, providing a new pen to each candidate for signing paperwork and informing candidates that they can send someone else to file their paperwork.
Election officials have also provided more hand sanitizer, vowed to frequently clean common surfaces and provided signs to remind visitors to practice good hygiene and social distancing.
Do you have questions about the coronavirus? The State will get the answers for you. Go to bit.ly/SCvirus and let us know what you need to know.
Postponed Canceled elections
The following local elections, previously scheduled for the following dates, have been postponed:
March 19
- Florence County School District 2 General Election
March 24
- Greater Gaffney Fire District Referendum (Cherokee County)
- Saluda County Council Chair Special Election
March 31
- Town of Due West Special Election (Abbeville County)
- City of New Ellenton General Election (Aiken County)
- Town of Pelzer Special Election (Anderson County)
- Town of Turbeville Special Election (Florence County)
- City of Mauldin Special Election (Greenville County)
- Town of Branchville Special Election (Orangeburg County)
- Rock Hill School District 3 Bond Referendum (York County)
April 7
- City of Anderson General Election
- City of Bamberg Special Election
- City of Folly Beach General Election (Charleston County)
- Town of Great Falls General Election (Chester County)
- Town of Chesterfield General Election
- City of Manning General Election (Clarendon County)
- Town of Summerton General Election (Clarendon County)
- Town of Edgefield General Election
- Town of Johnston General Election (Edgefield County)
- City of Ridgeway General Election (Fairfield County)
- Town of Pamplico Special Election (Florence County)
- Town of Hampton General Election
- Town of Varnville General Election (Hampton County)
- Town of Scotia General Election (Hampton County)
- Town of Furman Special Election (Hampton County)
- City of McCormick General Election
- City of Parksville General Election (McCormick County)
April 14
- Barnwell County School Board General Election
- Town of Ruby Special Election (Chesterfield County)
- Town of Williams General Election (Colleton County)
- Town of South Congaree General Election (Lexington County)
- City of Plum Branch General Election (McCormick County)
This story was originally published March 16, 2020 at 9:41 AM.
