Election 2024 is right around the corner, and early voting started today, Monday, October 21st. Here’s the information you need to know to make the voting process more informed and easier.

IMPORTANT DATES
EARLY VOTING: MONDAY, OCTOBER 21 THROUGH SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2
The early voting period starts on Monday, October 21 and ends Saturday, November 2 (Closed Sunday, October 27). Early voting centers are open 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. during the early voting period. Voters will be asked to present a Photo ID when checking in to vote.

ABSENTEE VOTING
To vote absentee by mail, request your application by contacting your county voter registration office. The deadline to return the application is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 25. The deadline to return an absentee ballot is 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, November 5.

ELECTION DAY VOTING
Vote in person on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. at your designated polling precinct. The locations of the precincts are listed in this guide.

THE BALLOT
One has many options on the ballot. One can choose to vote a Straight Party ticket, one can choose a candidate on the ballot, and on every other office other than President, one can write in a candidate. Not all races appear on all ballots. Some races, such as Dillon County Council and the State House Seats, are determined by where you live.

STRAIGHT PARTY
Constitution
United Citizens
Green
Republican
Libertarian
Democratic
Workers

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Voting a Straight Party Ticket means that you will be voting for all the candidates in the party that you choose. For example, if you vote a straight Republican ticket, you will vote for all of the Republican candidates. If you vote a straight Democratic ticket, you will vote for all of the Democratic candidates ans so on.)

PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT
Randall A. Terry
Stephen E. Broden
Constitution

Cornel West
Melina Abdulla
United Citizens

Jill Stein
Rudolph Butch Ware
Green

Donald J. Trump
JD Vance
Republican

Chase Oliver
Mike Ter Meat
Libertarian

Kamala D. Harris
Tim Walz
Democratic

Claudia De La Cruz
Karina Garcia
Workers

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DISTRICT 7
Russell Fry
Republican

Mal Hyman
Democratic

Write-In

STATE SENATE
DISTRICT 30
Rodney Berry
Republican

Kent M. Williams
Democratic

Write-In

STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DISTRICT 54
Sterling McDiarmid
Republican

Jason Scott Luck
Democratic

Write-In

STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DISTRICT 55
Jackie E. Hayes
Democratic

Write-In

SOLICITOR
CIRCUIT 4
Mike Burch
Republican

Monty Bell
Democratic

Write-In

SHERIFF
Garrett Byrd
Republican

Jamie Hamilton
Democratic

Write-In

CLERK OF COURT
Marquita Britton
Democratic

Write-In

SOIL AND WATER DISTRICT COMMISSION
Daniel Baxley

Write-In

DILLON COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE
James Bobie Washington
Democratic

Write-In

DILLON COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO
Dennis Townsend
Republican

Mark Elliott
Democratic

Write-In

DILLON COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE
Detrice McCollum-Dawkins
Democratic

Write-In

DILLON COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR
Brad Coward
Democratic

Write-In

Amendment I
Must Section 4, Article II of the Constitution of this State, relating to voter qualifications, be amended so as to provide that only a citizen of the United States and of this State of the age of eighteen and upwards who is properly registered is entitled to vote as provided by law?
-Yes, ln Favor of the Question
-No, Opposed to the Question

Alcohol Sales
Shall the South Carolina Department of Revenue be authorized to issue temporary permits in the County of Dillon, South Carolina, for a period not to exceed twenty-four hours to allow the possession, sale and consumption of alcoholic liquors by the drink to bona fide nonprofit organizations and business establishments authorized to be licensed for consumption-on-premises sales and to allow the sale of beer and wine at permitted off-premises locations without regard to the days of hours of sales?
-Yes, ln Favor of the Question
-No, Opposed to the Question

EDITOR’S NOTE: It’s important to understand what the alcohol sales vote means. If one votes for the question, this will allow alcohol sales on Sunday in the UNINCORPORATED AREAS ONLY. If one votes against the question, this means that you want things to remain the same and with no alcohol sales allowed on Sunday in the UNINCORPORATED AREAS. This will not affect the municipalities/towns. The Towns of Latta and Lake View would have to vote and pass an ordinance to allow alcohol sales on Sunday in town limits. The City of Dillon has passed Sunday alcohol sales already.

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO DOWNLOAD THE SAMPLE BALLOTS:
SAMPLE BALLOTS NOV. 2024

POLLING PLACES
(EDITOR’S NOTE: PLEASE NOTE THAT THE POLLING LOCATIONS HAVE CHANGED FOR THE EAST DILLON, SOUTH DILLON, AND FORK PRECINCTS.

* East Dillon-Dillon Middle School, 1805 Joan Drive, Dillon
* West Dillon-Dillon County Fire Station One, 201 West Howard Street, Dillon
* South Dillon-City of Dillon Fire Department, 208 South 8th Avenue, Dillon
* Latta-Latta Art Center, 107 NW Railroad Avenue, Latta
* New Holly-Dillon County Fire Station Six, 3418 Highway 34 West, Latta
* Lake View-Lake View Community Center, 106 Richard Temple Boulevard, Lake View
* Pleasant Hill-Dillon County Fire Station Four, 1624 Gaddy’s Mill Road, Hamer
* Mt. Calvary-American Legion Hall, 2014 Highway 9 East, Dillon
* Bermuda-Lee Causey’s Store, 437 Bermuda Road, Dillon
* Hamer-Hamer Canaan School, 428 Elkins Road, Hamer
* Oakland-Oakland Community Center, 2034 Oakland Road, Hamer
* Carolina-Carolina Fellowship Building, 4114 McInnis Loop, Little Rock
* Little Rock-Whittaker Head Start (Little Rock School), 2326 Worship Street, Little Rock
* Minturn-Minturn Community Center, 1832 Minturn Road, Dillon
* Oak Grove-Dillon County Fire Station 9, 1723 highway 38 West, Latta
* Manning-New Memorial Temple Fellowship Hall, 2061 Highway 301 South, Dillon
* Floyd Dale-Floyd Dale Fire Department, 2944 Burke Road, Dillon
* Fork-Fork Baptist Church, 1923 Old River Road, Fork, S.C.
* Barrier Free-Voter Registration Office, 305 West Hampton Street, Dillon

CANDIDATES
Earlier this year, we asked local candidates to submit information about themselves and their platforms. Not all candidates chose to participate. We are listing all candidates in contested races below and a link to a more detailed article if they participated.

STATE SENATE
DISTRICT 30
Rodney Berry
Republican

Rodney Berry announces his run for SC District Senate 30. Berry has a litany of experience in many diverse areas that he believes will lift the traditionally distressed District 30 into a new era. The former businessman, Marine, Mayor, County Administrator, and Congressional Director intends to combine all his experiences to overcome the poverty levels that several of the counties experience within the district.
See the full article at:
https://dillonnews.org/former-mayor-berry-announces-sc-senate-30-run/

Kent M. Williams
Democratic

Senator Kent Williams is your voice in Columbia. He serves as the Deputy County Administrator in Marion County. His committee assignments include: Agriculture and Natural Resources, Banking and Insurance, Ethics, Finance, Fish, Game and Forestry,
Labor, Commerce and Industry, and Legislative Oversight.

SOLICITOR
CIRCUIT 4
Mike Burch
Republican

Mike Burch is running as a Republican for Solicitor in the Fourth Judicial Circuit.
He is a lifelong resident of Pageland, and currently serves as the Senior Assistant Solicitor in neighboring Lancaster County. In 2022, he was named the SC Young Lawyer of the Year by the South Carolina Bar. He aims to bring strong conservative leadership to the solicitor’s office.
See the full article here:
https://dillonnews.org/mike-burch-running-as-republican-for-fourth-circuit-solicitor/

Monty Bell
Democratic

Glenn “Monty” Bell knows South Carolina law better than most people. The Darlington County native should know the law. He’s worked not only as a criminal defense attorney, but also as magistrate judge and as a senior prosecutor in the Office of the Solicitor for the 4th Judicial Circuit. Now, Bell is seeking the top spot in the solicitor’s office.
See the full article here:
https://dillonnews.org/monty-bell-aims-to-use-experience-on-all-sides-of-law-to-fully-represent-residents-of-4th-judicial-circuit/

SHERIFF
Garrett Byrd
Republican

Garrett Byrd is the Republican candidate for Sheriff. He is a former State Trooper for the South Carolina Highway Patrol. His platform includes safer communities, more deputies on the streets; improved response times; more pay, equipment, and training for deputies; focusing upon gang prevention and protecting youth; targeting the links between drugs and violent crime; and improved partnerships with other agencies.

Jamie Hamilton
Democratic

Jamie Hamilton has been serving as Sheriff since the death of former Sheriff Douglas Pernell in August 2023. His focus for the upcoming term will include increased drug enforcement, violent crime eradication, prevention of crimes against children and vulnerable adults, domestic violence awareness programs, school safety best practices will continue, and increase of property crime enforcement.
Read more here:
https://dillonnews.org/jamie-hamilton-seeking-re-election-as-dillon-county-sheriff/

DILLON COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO
Dennis Townsend
Republican

Dennis Townsend is the current representative for Dillon County Council District Two. He is the first Republican to be elected to a county office. Read more about him and his platform here:
https://dillonnews.org/dennis-townsend-seeking-re-election-to-dillon-county-district-two-council-seat/

Mark Elliott
Democratic

Mark Elliott is a local businessman seeking election in Dillon County Council District Two. He operates Mark’s Body Shop & Towing. He is running as the Democratic candidate.

STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 54
(Editor’s Note: At the time of our request to candidates, we did not have contact information for either of the District 54 candidates. This is information that was found online. Only a small number of people near the Marlboro County line will be voting in this race.)

Sterling McDiarmid
Republican

Sterling McDiarmid is the Republican candidate for State House District 54. He will strive to bring business sense and common sense to District 54 and will offer a fresh leadership style.

Jason Scott Luck
Democratic

Jason Scott Luck is the Democratic candidate for State House District 54. He has been a lawyer since 2005 and opened a practice in Bennettsville in 2020.