South Carolina Primary: Voting turnout at 13 percent, election results and winners

Many expected a lower voter turnout for the primary election but also estimated turnout would be higher in the congressional districts due to the competitive nature of the races. So far, SC Votes reports that voting turnout in South Carolina was at 13%.

Anderson County saw 25,085 ballots cast, representing a 20% turnout. Greenville County brought 52,093 ballots cast, translating to a 15% turnout. Spartanburg saw the lowest turnout with 26,160 ballots cast and 12%.

Click here to read more about Tuesday's election results, winners and runoffs.

Savannah Moss

Counting votes in Anderson County

Counting votes at McAlister Square

According to reporter A.J. Jackson, who is at McAlister Square, where the Greenville Elections Office is counting votes, a scanner at the Thornblade precinct stopped working, so they're bringing them to McAlister Square to be counted. 434 total ballots were counted from Thornblade.

Conway Belangia is expecting vote counting to go another two to three hours.

'Voting to try to straighten it out'

Robert Cutler, 90, said he voted because he believes his generation “let everybody down.”“I don't know how the country's got in the shape it is, so I’m voting to try to straighten it out,” said Cutler, a Pennsylvania native who has lived in the Upstate for over 60 years.Cutler voted Republican and said he didn’t like incumbent House Rep. William Timmons, so he chose Adam Morgan. He said he wants to see stricter immigration policies and lower taxes and said this is an important election.“I just really am hopeful we’re going to get it straightened out,” he said.

Sarah Swetlik

Southwood Academy of the Arts in Anderson

Teresa Alexander, 63, of Anderson, said she voted Democrat, casting her vote at Southwood Academy of the Arts 5/B precinct in Anderson. "There was only a couple people (on the ballot). May the best man win," she said.

Jack Browning, 72, of Anderson, said he voted Republican during Primary Election Voting at the Southwood Academy of the Arts 5/B precinct in Anderson. "I always vote," Browning said. "A lot of them running I've known for years. I pretty much know their background."

Ken Ruinard

Mo Abusaft, 'I'm feeling excited'

Spartanburg County Council District 1 incumbent Mo Abusaft said the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church precinct is expected to see a little over 200 voters by the time polls close. He feels good about his chances at reelection.

“I'm feeling excellent,” Abusaft said around 5:37 p.m. “You win these races in the four years that you've been doing the job; you don't win it in the eight weeks that you're running for office, so I feel like my record is going to do more than carry the day for us.”

SC State Senate District 11 candidate Sevi Alvarez (D) said he’d been at the precinct for about an hour but had been visiting precincts around the county all day.

“It's been a little bit slow, but now that it’s five and work is out, it’s picked up a lot,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez wanted to get out and meet voters.

“I'm just trying to greet the voters where they are and thank them for doing their civic duty and voting,” Alvarez said. “You know, not a whole lot of people come out on primaries like this. So I'm very appreciative of everyone who takes the time to do that.”

Former Spartanburg Mayor James Talley said he voted early this morning. He’s helping voters who need a ride to the polls this afternoon.Around 5:43 p.m., Talley urged everyone to come out and vote today and in November.“Get out and vote,” Talley said from his car. “It's critical that they get out and vote simply because there are so many things that are at risk if you do not vote. So please, by all means, get out and vote.”

Samantha Swann

Anderson voters head out to the polls

"I want to bring accountability, fresh ideas, more businesses to the area, redevelop mill sites, create more medical facilities, and add a mental health center," said county council candidate Robert McCurry. "If I win, I will be ready to get to work on the council. If I lose, I will still be active in my community."

"If I win, I will continue to improve economic development and job training because we need to maintain a strong workforce," said county council candidate Tony Dunn. "I also aim to help maintain controlled growth in the area.

"If I lose, I have served on the county council for 16 years. It has been an honor to serve on the council, especially for District Five, and I will finish out the remainder of my six-month term."

Many Anderson County voters were showing support for Coroner Greg Shore.

Anderson native Yvette Ruzicka said, "I voted for Greg Shore. When you see someone doing things right, there’s nothing to change. Shore has the experience to make sure things are done correctly."

"I voted for Tony McCurry," said Anderson native Keith Busgy. "I live off Whitehall Road. This area has heavy traffic, so I hope McCurry can make some changes to the roadways around here.

"For county coroner, I voted for Greg Shore," Busgy said. "He's a good guy who's doing a great job as county coroner."

"I voted for Greg Shore," said Anderson native Nancy Strong. "My family suffered from a tragic accident years ago, and he helped us get through our situation."

Anderson native David Burrows said, "I voted for Greg Shore. He has done a good job since being in office. There’s no reason to replace him."

Travis Rose

Candidate David Britt shaking hands, greeting voters

Spartanburg County Council District 3 incumbent David Britt has been out shaking hands and thanking poll workers since 7 a.m.“This has been one of the busiest (precincts) that I've been to today,” Britt said at 4:50 p.m. at McCracken Middle School. He said he takes his opposition seriously.“I've been running for office since I was in the fifth grade. I'm an athlete. I have never had a game or an election that I wasn't nervous," he said. "And that's always kept me on my game. I never take anything for granted. I work hard from the time I have an opponent till the time it’s all over.”

Nan Dempsey, 74, and David Dempsey, 78, both Independents, were also at McCracken Middle School. They said no particular race brought them out today.“(It’s) just a privilege to vote. Just something we feel like we need to do, want to do,” Nan Dempsey said.

Jonathan Saul, 22, voted for the first time today.“Actually, it feels great. I feel like I should have registered a long time ago and kept people in place,” Soul said.

Samantha Swann

Democrat votes for incumbents

Emily Webb, 74, said she loves voting.“It gives us a chance to express what we all need and want here,” Webb said. “We want everybody to have everything that they need, like housing, education — gun violence, that’s what’s bringing me out.”Webb, a retired biology teacher who’s lived in Greenville for 37 years, is a Washington, D.C. native. She normally works the polls but decided to take a break for the primary.She voted in the Democratic primary in favor of incumbents in her district, including Rep. Wendell Jones, Sen. Karl Allen and County Council member Ennis Fant.“I voted for the ones that have already been in office, even though I'm looking forward to more young people to get out and run,” she said, adding that for this election, she believes the community needs consistency. “They are really for the community. They have already made quite a bit of changes.”

Sarah Swetlik

Voter switches from Timmons to Morgan

Darren Wells, who says he mostly votes Republican, said he voted today because he was doing his part.

“It’s important that we vote, whether it’s primaries or the general election; that’s the only way to get our voice heard,” Wells, 58, said around 3:30 p.m. at Heritage Elementary School.

For him, immigration and the economy are issues top of his mind. Wells also said that although he had voted for Congressman William Timmons before, he had voted for his challenger, Rep. Adam Morgan, today.

“Adam Morgan actually came to my house. He went knocking on doors and I respected that,” Wells said.

Savannah Mo ss

Low voter turnout at Welcome Elementary

At 3:08 p.m., only 80 of an anticipated 2,298 voters had voted at Welcome Elementary."I wanted to come vote because it’s my business to do so. I advise people to vote for the right person -- the one who will do the best job, and don’t vote for the party,” said John Gregory, 67, who had no party preference.

A.J. Jackson

Voter likes Timmons, Lewis

"He's a real nice guy.  I'd say his officers are over and above, respectful, good people, and I figured if they didn't have a sheriff like that, they wouldn't be this way,"  said John Easterling, 60, when talking about his vote for Sheriff Hobart Lewis at the Berea Elementry School precinct around 3:15 p.m.

"Timmons dropped the ball a few times, but I feel like he's still trying. I think I will give him the benefit of the doubt for one more term," Easterling said when discussing his vote for Timmons.

J.R. Straton, 45, said he was looking for a non-politician amongst politicians. "So imagine how I feel, and I think most Americans are so profoundly disappointed and upset and angry at how our country has been mismanaged into oblivion over the last few decades," Straton said. "This isn't just like a term or two thing. Even at the local level, right? I mean, look at our streets. We don't even have street sweepers here. We've got the biggest tax revenue collection we've had in the history of this county, and we can't even maintain infrastructure. I'm looking for someone who will actually do what they're supposed to do and look after their constituents."

Straton also had opinions about the 4th congressional district race.

"I'm going to vote for Adam Morgan. I don't even know that Adam Morgan's that great, but it's a vote against William Timmons. Timmons just comes for money. I don't know, really, what he's doing up there other than just helping himself to a degree," Straton said.

Terry Benjamin

Trinity Presbyterian Church sees low turnout

Trinity Presbyterian Church had seen around 166 voters and counting by 2:21 p.m. It’s been a slow but steady trickle of people. The clerk said few younger people were voting, but it’s been a steady day.

“It needs to be done!," said Jim Carter, 82, and a Republican. "We have too many people that aren’t knowledgeable about the situation our country is in. We need as many knowledgeable people as we can. It’s important younger generations take the time to know why they should vote.”

“It’s so important to me because it helps our community stay solid," said Wanda McCullough, 69, a Republican. "I believe in freedom of choice and law and order. I love everybody and want people to be safe and get along. We’ve been lost for four years and we need to get back on track. I want our justice to get back to normal, treating people the same as others.”

Joanna Johnson

Centerville, Pendleton Elementary voters

Centerville Elementary Precinct voter said it's her civic duty to vote.

"It's so easy; everybody needs to do it. This is the day," said Sherry Floyd of Anderson, who brought her daughter Claire, 4, who saw her through the whole process at the Centerville Precinct. "It helps them understand it's their responsibility."

"We came out to vote because we want to see Republicans win, and we like Republicans we stand for," said Linda Scarborough of Pendleton, who voted curbside in front of Pendleton Elementary School with her husband Sherrill Scarborough.

Ken Ruinard

Westview Elementary voters

Although there were few voters at West View Elementary Tuesday afternoon, they did have opinions about the importance of voting in the Primary.

“We came out to vote because it’s the primary voting time," Ray Orzechowski said. "We always vote and that’s why we’re here. It doesn’t look like a big turnout but we came here. The people running are trying to do something good for the community and in the office. We voted for Timmons and he served in the military, and I liked that about him. Don’t know much else about the other guys”“These are people running for the office and we hope they will do a good job,” said Phyllis Orzechowski.

“It’s about being an active citizen and learning about the issues and voting for the candidate who will support those issues," said David Peterson. "I stand for safety, limited government and education because they’re key facets of a thriving community.”“It’s our privilege as citizens to vote for our representative and we exercise it as citizens," said Tom Rickenbaker. "We need to make sure our elected representatives represent us and the values we hold dear. It’s a high expectation and sometimes we’re disappointed,  and it’s important to hold accountability. Who you vote for is between you and God, but if you don’t vote then you can’t complain. We vote for whoever we believe can do the most good for our country, our city and our people.”

Joanna Johnson

Can't find your polling place?

A reader called us early Tuesday to let us know she was turned away from her polling place at Roebuck Elementary. After checking with SCvotes.gov, we discovered that she was at the correct voting spot. After calling the Spartanburg voter registration office, she realized she needed to go to the back of the building to enter the voting site.

Upstate residents having problems finding where to vote can call their local Voter Registration Offices.

Spartanburg County Registration and Elections Office, call 864-596-2549.

Greenville County Voter Registration and Election, call 864-467-7250.

Anderson County Registration and Elections, call 864-260-4035.

Linda Conley

Voting in Anderson, Spartanburg

Voters were lined up minutes before doors opened to vote at the Centerville Precinct in Anderson County.

Voters were also out early at Gable Middle School in Spartanburg.

McMaster, Evette campaign for Timmons

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette were in Greenville on Monday to campaign for U.S. Rep. William Timmons.

McMaster and Evette met with voters at a campaign event at Stax's Original Restaurant.

Henry McMaster and Evette have endorsed Timmons in his re-election bid for the 4th congressional district.

"William is a great conservative ally in our fight against the Biden administration's efforts to impose their radical socialist agenda on the people of South Carolina," McMaster said in a statement published in the Greenville News. "He is a proven leader. As a former prosecutor and as a captain in the South Carolina Air National Guard, he is not afraid to stand up for our Palmetto State and work to get things done for the Upstate."

Timmons, backed by former President Donald Trump, faces state Rep. Adam Morgan, chairman of the ultra-conservative South Carolina Freedom Caucus, for the Republican nomination in the June 11 primary.

Click here to read more about the endorsement.

Today is Primary Day

South Carolina's primary election day is today, June 11.

Voters will cast ballots for candidates seeking congressional, state, and county offices.

Reporters Savannah Moss, Samantha Swann, AJ Jackson, Joanna Johnson, Travis Rose, Terry Benjamin, Sarah Swetlik and photographers Alex Hicks, McKenzie Lange, and Ken Ruinard will be covering races in Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson counties.

Follow along with our blog, and we will keep you updated if there are any issues or problems at precincts. We will also have all the latest election results once they start coming in after 7 p.m.

If you see a problem at a polling site, email us at jose.franco@shj.com or call 864-384-5150.

What times can I vote?

Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Anyone in line before closing time will be allowed to vote. Go to SC Votes to find your polling location.

Savannah Moss

How do I know what district I'm in?

You can find out your district on South Carolina's Statehouse website.

More: Seven candidates crowd the GOP primary for South Carolina's 3rd congressional district

Savannah Moss

What do I need to bring to the polls?

To vote in South Carolina, you must bring your photo identification, including your South Carolina driver's license or Department of Motor Vehicles identification card, a South Carolina voter registration card with a photo, a federal military ID, or a U.S. passport.

Savannah Moss

Who's on the ballot?

South Carolina is an open primary state, meaning registered voters can choose to vote in either the Democratic or Republican primaries but cannot vote in both.

Click here to see who is on the ballot today.

Savannah Moss

South Carolina primary predictions

South Carolina voters head to the polls for Tuesday's primary election. Experts expect a low overall turnout, with two congressional races at the top of the ballot as the area's largest draws.

In the Upstate, the 3 ^rd congressional district encompasses rural areas from Oconee to Saluda counties and is a GOP stronghold. Voters can choose between seven Republican candidates vying for the nomination or two Democratic candidates. After serving seven terms, the U.S. House district's longtime GOP Rep. Jeff Duncan decided against re-election.

In the 4 ^th congressional district, South Carolina’s Freedom Caucus Chairman and founder Adam Morgan seeks to unseat incumbent William Timmons for the Republican nomination.

Click here to read the story.

Savannah Moss

Timmons versus Morgan

With early voting underway and the June 11 primary approaching, candidates vying for the Republican nomination to represent South Carolina’s 4th congressional district continue to try to show voters who's more conservative.

State Rep. Adam Morgan (R-Greenville) seeks to unseat incumbent U.S. Rep. William Timmons. Both tout their conservative credentials.

Morgan, backed by U.S. Representative Ralph Norman, who represents South Carolina’s 5 ^th congressional district and the state’s Freedom Caucus, argues Timmons is not conservative enough and promises he will be a conservative warrior if elected to Congress.

Timmons, endorsed by former President Donald Trump, says his record shows he’s a dedicated conservative leader.

Click here to see where the candidates stand on some key issues.

Savannah Moss

7 candidates crowd GOP primary for 3rd congressional district

In January, U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, the Republican representing District 3, abruptly announced he would not seek re-election, leaving room for a crowded race.

District 3, a rural district stretching from Oconee County to Saluda County and encompassing more than 750,000 residents, is a conservative part of the state, with an overwhelming majority voting for former President Donald Trump in 2020.

Click here to see who is running in the Republican and Democratic primaries to fill Duncan's seat.

Savannah Moss

Fact-checking GOP candidates in Congressional District 4 race

South Carolina's 4th District Congressional Republican primary race is heating up as the candidates launch attacks against each other, muddling what is true and what is not.

U.S. Rep. William Timmons, an incumbent since 2019, faces challenger state Rep. Adam Morgan, an ultra-conservative backed by the state's Freedom Caucus, which he chairs.

Voters will choose between the candidates on primary election day, June 11, with early voting beginning on May 28.

The opponents have spouted untruths or distorted votes and records during debates or in posts on X, formerly Twitter.

Click here to read the fact check.

Savannah Moss

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: South Carolina Primary: Voting turnout at 13 percent, election results and winners