COLUMBIA, S.C. — As we approach the June statewide primaries, voters are getting ready to cast their ballots. Republicans and Democrats will choose their candidates for the general election in November.
“There’s a lot at stake on the ballot in June,” said John Michael Catalano, public information officer with the South Carolina Election Commission. He says the primaries typically have less voter turnout.
“Voter participation and voter turnout are all on the lower side for statewide primaries and really for any election that's not the statewide election in November," Catalano said. "Turnout does tend to be a struggle for primaries, so we don't expect a massive turnout for these primaries. Turnouts tended to be between 16 to 20%. Sometimes, it's gotten a little bit higher than 20%.”
The election will take place on June 11, with several races to keep an eye on, especially at our State House, where new faces will try to win seats from incumbents.
Dave Wilson is a Republican political strategist. He says if voters want to see changes to leadership at the State House, now is the time.
“Every single state House seat and state Senate seat is up for grabs this year. That’s 170 elections that are going to be taking place in South Carolina this year," Wilson said. "Almost half of those are going to be elected by the primaries, but you also have other important races like Lexington County that's got a big sheriff's race that's going to be going on. You've got other races that are going on all throughout the area. This primary process is really to help determine who's going to be the candidate for a particular party once we get to the November election.”
“When you take a look at the South Carolina Senate, 41% of the senate is going to be elected by the end of the primary. 53% of the house is going to be elected by the end of the primary,” Wilson said.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the aisle, Democratic political strategist Antjuan Seawright says South Carolina voters have a tendency to sit the primaries out.
“In South Carolina, we have a history of participating in the big election but leaving out the "not so big elections" or the smaller elections," Seawright said. "I like to remind people the closer your government is to you, the more important it is for you. Arguably, your vote at the local level is just as or even more important as your vote for the 'national or bigger offices,'" Seawright said.
On the Democratic side, there are races Seawright says voters should look out for.
“I think the Ott vs. Harpootlian race for the South Carolina state senate on the democratic side is important. I think the Sumter, Kershaw, Richland, Lee County senate seat that will be vacated because of the retirement of State Senator Thomas McElveen will be important. There is a pivotal sheriff's race over in Lexington County. There's some down ballot local races in Orangeburg Countys. Throughout the Midlands, they're very much so important races on the ballot,” Seawright said.
Early voting for the primary starts on May 28th and will end on June 7th.