Early voting is officially underway across South Carolina, and voters are already turning out heavily in Fort Mill, Rock Hill and across the state.
The voting period began Monday, Oct. 19, and runs through Saturday, Oct. 31. Early voting centers are open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with no voting Sunday, Oct. 25.
The early rush comes as South Carolina faces one of its most closely watched U.S. Senate races in years.
Republican Darline Graham is facing Democrat Annie Andrews for the seat previously held by Lindsey Graham. Darline Graham was appointed after her brother’s death in July and later won the Republican nomination.
A new Trafalgar Group poll released Monday put Graham at 48.6% and Andrews at 45.6% among nearly 1,100 respondents. The three-point gap was roughly equal to the poll’s margin of error.
That is unusually close for South Carolina, where Democrats have not won a U.S. Senate seat in decades. Lindsey Graham won his last election in 2020 by about 10 percentage points.
York County Has Several High-Profile Races
Charlotte-area South Carolina voters also have several important local contests on the ballot.
In the 5th Congressional District, Republican State Sen. Wes Climer of Rock Hill faces Democrat Mallory Dittmer of Fort Mill. The open seat covers York, Lancaster, Chester and Chesterfield counties.
York County voters in State Senate District 15 will also choose a replacement for Climer. Democrat Chad Williams faces Republican James Burns in the special election.
The governor’s race features Republican Alan Wilson against Democrat Jermaine Johnson. Recent polling has shown Wilson with a wider lead than the Senate contest.
Early Voting Turnout Already Strong
Early voting has become increasingly popular in South Carolina.
About 1.4 million of the 2.5 million ballots cast statewide in 2024 were early votes, according to the State Election Commission. Election officials said early participation has continued climbing.
York County has six early voting locations, including two in Fort Mill and two in Rock Hill:
- Carolinas Cornerstone Church — 1790 Gardendale Road, Fort Mill
- Fort Mill YMCA at The Complex — 971 Tom Hall Street, Fort Mill
- Holiday Inn Rock Hill — 503 Galleria Boulevard
- Clinton College Library — 1029 Crawford Road, Rock Hill
- Imagine Church of the Carolinas — 5501 Highway 55 East, Clover
- York County Fire Training Center — 2500 McFarland Road, York
Registered voters can cast a ballot at any early voting center within their county. A valid photo ID is generally required.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
