It’s time to vote. Here’s what you need to know before you head to the polls in Beaufort County
The midterm elections are here.
Election Day is Nov. 8. The polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Early voting begins Oct. 24. and runs until Nov. 5 at four designated early voting sites in the county from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
On this page you will find sample ballots, news stories, candidate questionnaires and other information to help you make informed choices when you vote. Simply click on the links for candidates in your districts. Information will be added to this page as it becomes available, so come back often.
This page does not include information on candidates in uncontested races.
If you need to know where to vote but don’t know your precinct or polling place, visit here.
If you would like more about statewide races and ballot issues, go to scvotes.gov for more information.
Here’s when candidate profiles will appear in the print editions of The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette.
Here’s what’s on the ballot:
FEDERAL RACES
U.S. Senate
Tim Scott (R) (i)
Kyrstle Matthews (D)
U.S. House of Representatives, SC District 1
Read more: Andrews claims Mace’s plan would reduce Social Security spending
Joseph Oddo (Alliance Party)
STATE RACES
Governor
Read more: McMaster praises people of the Lowcountry during GOP campaign stops in Bluffton, Beaufort
Bruce Reeves (Libertarian)
Secretary of State
Mark Hammond (R) (i)
Rosemounda Peggy Butler (D)
State Treasurer
Curtis Loftis (R) (i)
Sarah E Work (Alliance)
Attorney General
Alan Wilson (R) (i)
Comptroller General
Richard Eckstrom (R) (i)
State Superintendent of Education
Ellen Weaver (R) (i)
Lisa Ellis (D)
Patricia M Mickel (Green)
Commissioner of Agriculture
Hugh Weathers (R) (i)
David Edmond (Green)
Chris Nelums
State House of Representatives, District 118
Bill Herbkersman (R) (i)
State House of Representatives, District 120
Weston Newton (R) (i)
State House of Representatives, District 121
Michael F Rivers Sr. (D) (i)
State House of Representatives, District 122
Bill Hager (R)
Shedron Hook Williams (D) (i)
State House of Representatives, District 123
Lisette Cifaldi (D) — write-in candidate
State House of Representatives, District 124
BEAUFORT COUNTY RACES
Sheriff
PJ Tanner (R) (i)
Probate Judge
Heather Galvin (R)
Auditor
David Cadd (R)
County Treasurer
Maria Wells (R) (i)
BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL
Read more: Election will create a less-experienced Beaufort County Council, regardless of the winners
District 2
District 4
Alice G Howard (R) (i)
District 5
Joseph Passiment (R) (i)
District 6
Alphonso Small Jr. (D)
District 8
Paula Brown (R)
District 9
Mark Lawson (R) (i)
District 10
Larry McElynn (R) (i)
District 11
BEAUFORT SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
Luke H Inabinett
Daniel Lesesne Jr
BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
District 2
Chloe Gordon
District 3
William Smith (i)
District 4
Richard Geier
District 5
No candidates on the ballot:
Cynthia Hayes, write-in
Gwyneth Saunders, write-in
District 7
Rachel Wisnefski (i)
District 8
Carlton Dallas
District 10
BEAUFORT CITY COUNCIL
Two seats open, vote for two
HILTON HEAD MAYOR
Read more: Hilton Head mayoral candidate’s mailer causes buzz. She says she may consider legal action
HILTON HEAD TOWN COUNCIL
Read more: Hilton Head’s Ward 4, not mayoral seat, drawing the most contributions
Ward 2
Ward 4
Ward 5
Chuck Dowd (Withdrawn from race)
HILTON HEAD PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT
District 1
Ibrahim Abdul-Malik
District 3
Frank Turano
District 4
Michael J Marks
FRIPP ISLAND PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT
Commissioner
*Two seats open, vote for two
Mike Murphy
John L Newman
Gary M Nizzi
Mike Wilt (i)
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JASPER COUNTY RACES
U.S. House of Representatives, District 06
James E Jim Clyburn (D) (i)
Duke Buckner (R)
State House of Representatives, District 120
Weston Newton (R) (i)
State House of Representatives, District 122
Bill Hager (R)
Shedron Hook Williams (D) (i)
State House of Representatives, District 123
Jeff Bradley (R) (i)
Probate Judge
Buster Albert L Kleckley Jr. (D) (i)
Auditor
Moncia Brooks-Wilson (D) (i)
Megan Carroll Horton (R)
County Treasurer
Verna L Garvin (D) (i)
Micheal Skinner (R)
County Council-Robertville Township
Curtis Brantley (D) (i)
Coy Garbade (R)
County Council-Coosawhatchie Township
Martin Sauls IV (R) (i)
Samuel Gregory (D)
Soil and Water District Commission
Mike Davis (i)
Stan Wells
JASPER COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
District 2
Joyce Gerald (i)
Kamaloni Chisholm
Mack McCaffrey
District 4
Carolyn Bolden (i)
Lawrence HelmsJoyce R Travis
District 8
E Tedd Moyd (i)
Chinwe Robinson
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REFERENDUMS
Statewide
Question 1: Should the S.C. constitution be amended so that the General Reserve Fund, which is currently 5% of the state’s revenue from the previous fiscal year, is increased by half a percent each year until it reaches 7%? The General Reserve Fund is S.C.’s “rainy day fund.”
A “Yes” vote means you are in favor of increasing the required amount of money in the state’s General Reserve Fund from 5-7% of the previous fiscal year’s revenue after four years.
Question 2: Should the S.C. constitution be amended so that the Capital reserve fund, which is currently 2% of the General Revenue Fund from the previous fiscal year, be increased to 3%.
A “Yes” vote will increase the state’s Capital Reserve Fund from 2% of the previous fiscal year’s revenue to 3%.
Beaufort County
Question 1A. Should Beaufort County levy a 1% sales tax for two years or until $100 million is raised? The funds will be used to acquire and preserve green space in or outside of Beaufort County.
A “Yes” vote will increase sales taxes (excluding groceries, gas and medicine) by 1 cent per dollar for two years or until $100 million is raised for the county to acquire and protect green space.
Question 1B. Should Beaufort County issue bonds to contribute to the $100 million for greenspace?
A “Yes” vote will allow the county to issue bonds as a way to raise $100 million for the green space. Bonds would give the county the money quicker, leaving the tax money raised to be used to pay back the bonds.
Jasper County
Question 1A. Should Jasper County levy a 1% sales tax for 15 years to raise money to build Hardeeville and Ridgeland early learning facilities, renovate athletic facilities at Hardeeville Junior and Senior High School, construct and expand athletic facilities at the Ridgeland
Secondary Academy of Excellence and renovate and expand existing administrative facilities?
A “Yes” vote will allow Jasper County to increase sales taxes by one cent per dollar for 15 years to fund the improvements to education facilities in the county.
Question 1B. Should the Jasper County Board of Education issue bonds, amounting up to $100 million, to raise money for the education facilities improvements from the previous question?
A “Yes” vote allows the Jasper County Board of Education to issue bonds amounting up to $100 million total, to raise money for the education facility improvements from the previous question.
