Preparing for the June primary election in the Upstate

SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – Spartanburg County is reminding voters about the upcoming primary election on June 11th, and why now is the time to prepare for it. Despite the signs placed next to yards and traffic lights throughout the county, many residents said they are not aware that there’s an election coming up.

It’s a primary for the Democratic and Republican parties to select their nominees for the general election in November. Officials said it’s even more significant for South Carolina.

“South Carolina is largely a primary state, many offices don’t have opposition from other parties so the nominee that advances to the general election ballot will be the only candidate on the ballot in many instances,” said John Baucom, Spartanburg County elections director. “The decision is really made for many offices in the June primary.”

But still, leaders said the June primary is notorious for its light turnout, usually just 20 percent of voters or lower. Alongside the low number of voters, is the low number of poll workers.

The county said for the presidential primary a few months ago, Spartanburg had under 500 poll workers for 83 precincts.

“Without those hundreds of poll workers we need for every county wide election the voters wouldn’t be able to vote at their polling place,” said Baucom. “That’s how we make our voice heard, the easiest way to make our voice heard is to go vote.”

Early voting will open after Memorial Day, and voters will be deciding on final candidates for local partisan offices like sheriff and county council, as well as the state senate and state house on their ballots.

The county said the voter registration deadline is coming up on May 12 for any online or electronic submissions, while May 15 is the deadline for mail-in submissions.

Those who would like to drop off voter registrations in person have until Friday, May 10.

“We have a county wide republican ballot because sheriff is on the ballot, but the democratic ballot is only a couple of offices so many voters in Spartanburg County will not have a democratic primary ballot available to them,” said Baucom. “Voters should always expect in a primary to be asked which party’s primary do you wish to vote in today, that’s not because we care what party you identify with but South Carolina does not register voters by party, so we have to ask the question to know which ballot to give the voter.”

The county said they need poll workers and if you’d like more information, click here.

If you wish to request an absentee ballot, the deadline is May 31st.

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