Early Voting in Myrtle Beach: Voters Show Up in Droves!
Hello, Myrtle Beach! It’s that exciting time of the year again when we get to make our voices heard in the upcoming elections. If you didn’t already know, South Carolina is one of those friendly states that offers early voting, and guess what? Starting today, October 25, we’ve got eight more fun days to cast our ballots before the big Election Day on November 5!
Long Lines at the Polls
Many folks around Horry County have been reporting some serious wait times at the polling stations this week. In fact, it’s been hours-long waits for some. But hey, that just means more people are excited to vote! Sandy Martin, the director of the Horry County Voter Registration and Elections Office, mentioned that by just before noon last Friday, a whopping 44,017 votes had already been cast. Can you believe it?
A Record Year for Early Voting
This year is kind of special, as it’s the first presidential election in South Carolina where we’ve had early voting without excuse. In 2020, we had 30 days of no-excuse voting, but this is the first time votes are being counted early along with the presidential race. Martin shared that the South Strand Recreation Center was buzzing with action, making it the busiest polling place this week, while Aynor Town Hall seemed to be taking things a bit slower.
If you want to know how things are shaping up statewide, early voting has set new records for voter turnout. In the first three days alone, approximately 125,900 votes were cast, beating out the previous record set on Election Day back in November 2022, which saw 70,100 votes in just a single day. Talk about enthusiasm!
A Little Patience Goes a Long Way
Now, with all this excitement comes a little bit of waiting. John Michael Catalano, a spokesperson for the South Carolina Election Commission, reminds us to have patience, especially with the poll managers working hard to keep things organized. “They’re your friends and neighbors,” he said. “They are doing a really important job for our community.”
Mark Your Calendars
Keep in mind, early voting is open through November 2, except for Sunday, October 27, when the polls will take a little break. So if you haven’t voted yet, make a plan! You still have plenty of time to swing by one of the many early voting locations in Horry County. Here’s a quick rundown of where you can go:
- Horry County Board of Voter Registration & Elections: 1515 4th Ave, Conway, SC 29526
- Loris Public Safety Center: 3909 Walnut St, Loris, SC 29569
- Aynor Town Hall: 600 S Main St, Aynor, SC 29511
- Carolina Forest Library: 2250 Carolina Forest Blvd, Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
- North Strand Recreation Center: 120 Hwy 57 S, Little River, SC 29566
- South Strand Recreation Center: 9650 Scipio Ln, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
- HCCOA Grand Strand Senior Center: 1268 21st Ave N, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
All these locations are open each day from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., making it super convenient for everyone. So grab your friends or family, and make a fun outing of it as you head out to vote!
Let’s Make Our Voices Heard!
Let’s keep the momentum going, Myrtle Beach! With just a little over a week to go for early voting, now is the time to get excited and participate. Your vote matters, and it’s our chance to shape the community and country we live in. Let’s do this!
