Outrage over 2026 redistricting drives SC Democrats to first day of early vote

Fired up over the mid-election redistricting effort, thousands of voters cast their ballots Tuesday in South Carolina’s primaries without knowing whether their congressional vote would be counted.

Recent redistricting efforts “forsake everything that South Carolina holds dear historically, leading the way in state’s rights and not bending the knee for anyone, Washington included,” Republican primary voter Daniel Johnson said. Damion Brown, a pastor at New Laurel Church, said he was proud to be a part of the coalition of early voters who swayed the state Senate, which voted to adjourn without changing congressional districts Tuesday.

“For me, it makes me proud to see people come together,” +said Brown, who voted in the Democratic primary. “It doesn’t matter what side of the aisle you are, it showed me that democracy worked today, and I’m proud to be a part of that.”

Making Tuesday’s votes count

The Senate adjourned until June 10, the day after primary elections end. Not finishing the bill ensured that those who voted early, and members of the military who were sent ballots overseas, would not have to vote again.

Kristin Hill, a Hopkins nurse and early Democratic primary voter, said she would’ve appreciated the state holding a redistricting referendum like those in California and Virginia.

“I would have loved to have voted against redistricting,” Hill said. But that option was not given to South Carolinians, she said. South Carolina law only allows for referendums on changes to the state’s constitution.

About 55,000 voted early by 5 p.m. Tuesday, breaking the state’s previous early voting record, according to the state Election Commission.

“We’re getting used to craziness in this country, right?” said Hopkins voter Charles Coleman, who voted in the Democratic primary. “But it would be a travesty of justice. We work too hard.”

Voters reject the cost of redistricting

Rescheduling congressional primaries were expected to cost an estimated $5.3 to 6 million, the South Carolina Election Commission said.

Tori Vince, an early voter in Hopkins, said she thought the state GOP’s willingness to take on those costs was harmful and hypocritical.

“Shameful from a group of people that claim to be fiscally conservative,” said Vince, who voted in the Democratic primary.

Johnson also said he questioned the state’s financial priorities.

“We have six million to burn mid-primary, but we don’t have money for roads or education,” Johnson said.

Sharon Bruce, a voter in the Democratic primary, said timing was her biggest issue.

“If you want to redistrict, fine. Just don’t do it the day of early voting,” Bruce said. “That’s stupid and it costs too much money. If they redistrict, we’re going to pay millions more in our tax dollars for this, and I’m tired of paying for junk.”

A victory for Clyburn and supporters

Many Richland County voters said they were concerned about the toll redistricting could take on the power of Black voters. U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, who represents the state’s 6th district, has been South Carolina’s only Democratic Black representative elected to Congress since Reconstruction.

“I don’t want to see Black voters lose their voice when it comes to being in Congress,” said Estella Lesane, an early voter in the Democratic primary. “By redistricting, that only one voice we have there now, I feel it will be taken away.”

Potential disenfranchisement brought Raymond Mitchell, a longtime Clyburn supporter, out to the Columbia Place Mall voting location.

“We fought too hard for these elections and being able to vote,” said Mitchell, who is Black. “We have poor representation already, and once they move them away from us, we don’t have any representation. I hope a lot more people come out and vote.”

Many who said the new map would have been a step backward view the Senate’s vote as a cause for celebration.

“I’m glad that it was defeated,” Democratic primary voter George Johnson said. “Growing up in the height of the civil rights movement, my family coming from Greensboro, North Carolina, it was important for us to maintain progress, not regression.”