Early Voting Breaks Records in Columbia and Lexington: The Community Shows Up!
Columbia, South Carolina – It’s a crisp, foggy morning here in Columbia, but that hasn’t stopped locals from getting out and making their voices heard in the upcoming general election! As of October 29, a whopping over 100,000 ballots have already been cast in Richland and Lexington counties during the early voting period. How incredible is that?
With the general election just around the corner, South Carolina is witnessing a record surge in early voters. Just picture this: by the end of October, more than 865,000 people across the state had already voted! Richland County has seen about 64,000 early voters, making it the fourth highest of any county in the state, while neighboring Lexington County is not far behind with over 47,000 voters.
Breaking Records Right from the Start
Mark your calendars because October 21 was a milestone day; it was the first day of early voting, and in a fantastic display of civic engagement, over 125,000 South Carolinians took to the polls! This accomplishment broke the previous record for the most ballots cast in a single day of early voting. Hats off to everyone making the effort to participate!
Why Vote Early?
If you’ve been considering whether or not to vote early, now’s your chance! With only a few days left until early voting wraps up on November 2, it’s the perfect time to beat the crowds and have your say before the big day. Polling locations are available every day from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., making it easy for everyone to find a time that fits their schedule.
Requirements for Voting
Just a gentle reminder: to cast your vote early, you’ll need to be registered—make sure you took care of that by the October 14 deadline. When you head to the polling location, don’t forget to bring one of the accepted forms of identification! Remember that having your ID handy can make the process a lot smoother.
Where to Vote Early
For your convenience, here are some of the early voting locations in Richland and Lexington counties:
Richland County:
- Richland County Voter Registration and Elections Office – 2020 Hampton St. Columbia, SC 29204
- Richland County Early Voting Center – 2011 Hampton St. Columbia, SC 29204
- University of South Carolina Blatt PE Center – 1300 Wheat St. Columbia, SC 29201
- Garners Ferry Soccer Complex – 8620 Garners Ferry Road Hopkins, SC 29061
- The Brook Church – 8328 Parklane Road Columbia, SC 29223
- Ballentine Park – 1009 Bickley Road Irmo, SC 29063
- Brookland Baptist Church Northeast – 1203 Summit Parkway Columbia, SC 29229
Lexington County:
- Lexington County Voter Registration Office – 605 W Main St. Lexington, SC 29072
- Midlands Technical College – Harbison Campus – 7300 College St. Irmo, SC 29063
- West Columbia Community Center – 754 B Avenue West Columbia, SC 29169
- Voorhees College – 423 College St. Leesville, SC 29070
- Gaston Town Hall – 131 North Carlisle St. Gaston, SC 29053
- Chapin Town Hall – 157 Columbia Avenue Chapin, SC 29036
Join the Movement
The excitement is palpable as community members come together to exercise their democratic rights. If you haven’t voted yet, consider making the trip to one of these early voting locations and join the wave of engaged citizens. Your voice matters, and every vote counts!
In a few short days, everyone will have the opportunity to make a difference. So why wait? Let’s keep the momentum going and head to the polls!
