Runoffs Tuesday in SC, only about half of counties voting

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Polls will open again Tuesday in South Carolina for runoffs from the primaries two weeks before, but only in about half the state.

There are no statewide runoffs and the nominations for all seven of the state's U.S. House seats have been decided.

Only three of the 46 state Senate seats have runoffs and just seven of the 124 South Carolina House seats.

Just three incumbents, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Luke Rankin of Horry County and state Reps. Neal Collins of Pickens County and Bill Chumley of Spartanburg County have their seats on the line Tuesday. All are Republicans.

In all, there are races in 24 of South Carolina's 46 counties with many of the runoffs for sheriff, county council or other locals races. Just two counties — Berkeley and Charleston — have races both both the Democratic and Republicans parties.

Anyone who cast a ballot in the June 9 primaries must vote in the same party's runoff on Tuesday. Anyone who didn't vote two weeks ago can vote in either party.

The same polling places open on June 9 will be open on Tuesday. Election officials closed and consolidated dozens of voting locations because of a lack of poll workers because of COVID-19.

Some people in Richland County waited nearly five hours to vote and other counties reported long waits and poll workers who gave out incorrect ballots or bad information.

Turnout for the 2020 primaries was 23%, where the only statewide race was U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham winning the Republican nomination. In 2018, with contested primaries for both parties for governor, the turnout was about 20%.