It’s time to vote — again. Your guide to Tuesday’s Richland, Lexington county runoffs
It’s election day once more in Richland and Lexington counties.
Four Richland County Council races and one bid for the S.C. House of Representatives hang in the balance of Tuesday’s primary runoff election.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know about the runoffs, including who’s on the ballots, who is eligible to vote, and how to find your polling location.
What races are on the ballots?
Richland County Council District 7: Incumbent Councilwoman Gwen Kennedy faces challenger Gretchen Barron, an educator and consultant who finished second in the primary election on June 9.. The winner of the Democratic nomination effectively will take the seat, as there are no challengers on the November ballot.
Richland County Council District 8: Businessman Hamilton Grant and attorney Overture Walker are competing for the Democratic nomination. The runoff winner will face Republican Gary Dennis in the November general election in a bid to succeed retiring Councilman Jim Manning.
Richland County Council District 9: First-term incumbent councilman Calvin “Chip” Jackson faces challenger Jonnieka Farr, a business analyst who finished second in the primary. The runoff winner will effectively claim the seat, since the Democratic nominee faces no opposition in November.
Richland County Council District 10: Incumbent Richland County Councilwoman Dalhi Myers, an attorney, faces social worker and minister Cheryl English. Just 25 votes separated the two candidates in the June 9 Democratic primary, with English edging out Myers. There are no Republican candidates for District 10, so the runoff winner will effectively win the seat.
S.C. House District 88 (Lexington County): Republicans RJ May, head of Ivory Tusk Consulting, and Mike Sturkie, a general contractor and owner of S&T Grading, came out on top of the five-way primary election to face off in Tuesday’s runoff. The winner will succeed outgoing state Rep. Mac Toole in the district that covers part of Lexington County including parts of West Columbia, Pine Ridge and South Congaree areas. There are no challengers in the November general election.
Sturkie finished first in the June 9 primary, with about 35% of the votes; May finished second with about 25% of the votes.
Who can vote in the runoffs?
For the four Richland County Council races, anyone who lives within the appropriate districts and who voted in the Democratic primary election on June 9 is eligible to vote in Tuesday’s primary. Anyone who lives in those districts and did not vote in the primary is also eligible to cast a runoff ballot. However, anyone who voted in the Republican primary is not eligible to vote Tuesday, as there are no Republican races in the runoffs.
For the S.C. House District 88 race, Lexington County residents who live within the district and who voted in the Republican primary election on June 9 are eligible to vote in Tuesday’s primary. Anyone who lives in the district and did not vote in the primary also is eligible to vote in the runoff. Anyone who voted in the Democratic primary is not eligible to vote in this race Tuesday.
Where should you vote?
Many polling precincts were consolidated for the primary due to a shortage of poll workers. That resulted in many voters being sent to unfamiliar locations to cast their ballots.
Tuesday’s runoff voting sites will be identical to the voting locations for the primary. Wherever you were assigned to vote on June 9 — even if that location was not your normal voting spot — is where you should vote in the runoff.
To find your your accurate voting site assignment for the runoff, go to www.scvotes.org and, on the homepage, click “Find My Polling Place.” Then enter your registered voter information. Your runoff location information has been updated to reflect any polling places that have been moved from the regular location.
In addition, a complete list of consolidated runoff polling sites and addresses for Richland County is available at www.richlandcountysc.gov/Government/Departments/Voter-Registration-Elections.
Maayan Schechter contributed reporting.
