South Carolina Early Voting Hits Record 671,314 Ballots

The South Carolina Election Commission reported that 671,314 votes have been cast in early voting for the 2026 midterm elections as of October 29. This figure surpasses the previous record set during the entire early voting window in 2022. The highest turnout has been concentrated in Greenville, Charleston, Richland, Horry, and York counties, representing approximately 17% of the state's 3.7 million registered voters.

The early voting period began on October 19 and concludes on October 31, leading up to the general election on November 3. Isaac Cramer, Executive Director of the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections, noted that early voting has been popular since its institution in 2022 and expects it to become the primary method for casting ballots due to its convenience.

The midterms include several high-profile contests, most notably the governor's office, as Henry McMaster is term-limited. Candidates for governor include Attorney General Alan Wilson and Democratic nominee Jermaine Johnson. Additionally, voters are contesting a U.S. Senate seat vacated by the death of Senator Lindsey Graham, with candidates including U.S. Senator Darline Graham Nordone and Democrat Annie Andrews.