Polls Open in South Carolina for High-Stakes Midterms

South Carolina polling places opened at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, for a midterm election that features a tight U.S. Senate race and a gubernatorial contest ending a long tenure. Polls will remain open until 7 p.m., and voters standing in line at that hour are permitted to cast their ballots.

The state is electing a new governor for the first time since 2017. Outgoing Gov. Henry McMaster is term-limited and leaves office as the longest-serving governor in state history. He was first sworn in after Nikki Haley resigned to join the Trump administration and won re-election in 2018 and 2022. In the general election, Republican nominee Alan Wilson faces Democratic nominee Jermaine Johnson. Wilson holds a comfortable lead in current polling data.

The U.S. Senate race has drawn national attention after the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, who first won the seat in 2002. His sister, Darline Graham Nordone, was appointed to finish his term and secured the Republican nomination in a runoff. She is running against Democrat Dr. Annie Andrews. While Graham held a narrow lead earlier, the race is now considered a toss-up with Election Day arriving.

Republicans currently hold a 53-45 majority in the Senate. A shift in this balance would likely require Democrats to win the South Carolina seat. In the U.S. House, the 1st congressional district is a key battleground. Incumbent Nancy Mace chose not to run for re-election to pursue the governor's office. Republican Jenny Costa Honeycutt and Democrat Nancy Lacore are competing for the seat. Polls show Honeycutt with a narrow lead, though the district was won by a Democrat in 2018. The Cook Political Report lists the district as Lean Republican.

Voters must present specific photo identification at the polling place. Accepted forms include a South Carolina driver's license, DMV ID card, voter registration card with photo, federal military ID, concealed weapons permit, temporary identification certificate, or U.S. passport. Those who forget their photo ID may vote on a provisional ballot. This ballot counts only if the voter presents valid photo ID to the county elections office before the election certification on the following Friday.

Absentee ballots must be turned in by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Voters can drop off completed mail-in ballots at their county voter registration office by personal delivery or mail. The South Carolina Election Commission website provides sample ballots for voters to review before heading to the polls.

The results of these races could alter the balance of power in Congress. Republicans enter the election with a narrow 220-215 majority in the U.S. House, but expectations indicate they may lose that advantage. The outcome in South Carolina will be a factor in determining the final makeup of both chambers.