South Carolina Election Commission Reports Record Early Voting Turnout in 2026 Primaries
South Carolina has witnessed a significant increase in early voting participation for its 2026 primary elections. According to the South Carolina Election Commission, 318,602 people voted early, marking a substantial rise from the 120,178 early voters in 2024 and 100,450 in 2022. This surge in early voting coincides with the state's gubernatorial race and reflects a growing trend since the introduction of true early voting in 2022. The Democratic primary saw higher participation, with 132,242 ballots cast compared to 74,809 in the Republican primary as of June 2. The state Democratic Party had encouraged early voting, aligning with the opening of polls on May 26, just before a Senate debate on congressional redistricting. The redistricting proposal, which could have affected the timing of U.S. House primaries, ultimately failed, ensuring the current election schedule remains unchanged.