Final Saturday, week for early voting

Only 38 people voted during last Saturday’s early voting, but one more Saturday and another week remain before voters will have to be cast at the various precincts. 

Advance voting for the general primary/non-partisan election will be held at the Laurens County Board of Elections and Registration Office at 117 E. Jackson St., Suite A, from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 9. The final week of early voting which will go from 8:30 a.m to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.   

As of Wednesday, 1,191 people have cast a ballot during early voting. Of those, 678 voted Republican, 503 were Democrats and 10 were non-partisan, said Susan Rooks, election supervisor of the Laurens County Board of Elections and Registration.

Her office has mailed out 135 Democratic absentee ballots, of which 62 have been returned. The office has mailed 110 Republican absentee ballots, of which 38 have returned.

“We expect to get busier next week,” Rooks said. “Last Saturday was slow, so I’m hoping this Saturday will be busier.” 

On the ballot will be the Laurens County Commissioner District 1 race between incumbent Brenda Chain and challenger Carolyn McCune in the Democratic primary. Only District 1 voters who select a Democratic ballot will be able to vote in this race.

The other contested local race will decide who fills the vacant term for Ricky Harrison on Dudley City Council. Jennifer “Jenny” Taylor and Jay Powell qualified for the position. Rooks said only those living in the city of Dudley will be able to vote in this race.

These two races will be decided in the primary, Rooks said. 

Matt Hatchett, incumbent state representative for District 155, will face challenger Cayce Cook in the Republican primary. Only those who select a Republican ballot can vote in this race. The winner will face Democratic challenger Joe Powers in November. 

County Commissioners Kevin Tanner (District 5) and Jimmy Rogers (District 4) will both be on the Republican ticket but face no opposition. Kevin Malone and Jennifer “J.” Stone will also be on the ballots for their respective Laurens County Board of Education seats. Malone (District 4) and Stone (District 1) had no opposition. Kathy Sweat, who is currently in the District 1 seat and served three terms on the board, announced earlier this year that she would not seek a fourth term.

Those who do not take advantage of early voting will have an opportunity to vote in the primary that will be held on Tuesday, May 19. If there is a runoff from these races, it will be held on June 16, Rooks said. 

For more information, call Rooks at the Laurens County Board of Elections & Registration Office at (478) 272-2841.