FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – Next Tuesday is going to be a busy day for folks both working and going to the polls as its South Carolina primary day.
“It’s a long painstaking process to make sure all of the equipment is recording properly and to make sure everything is set-up properly,” said David Alford, Executive Director of the Florence County Voter Registration and Election Board.
No matter how large or how small the primary is we have to follow the same process,” he went on to say.
However, voter turnout was slim for a special election this past Tuesday in Florence for the District 2 city council seat.
The election was held to decide who will fill the District 2 Florence City Council seat held by the late councilman Ed Robinson.
While a runoff election now lies ahead, less than 10 percent of the 8,000 registered voters actually voted.
“For a special election that’s not atypical at all. It is pretty typical,” Alford explained.
He says that District 2 typically has a lower turnout in any election.
“What drives turnout is candidates. The candidates are responsible for getting people out to vote,” he mentioned.
Ahead of the upcoming primary election in Florence, that features a mayoral race, senate races and two at-large seats on Florence City Council up for grabs, Alford expects a bigger turnout.
“This is a county wide primary. The primary this past week was only 14 precincts. That’s going to drive turnout,” he stated.
He says he expects about 8,000 – 11,000 voters to turn out for Tuesday’s primaries in Florence County.
There will also be a run-off election for that District 2 Florence City Council seat on June 21.
For more information on the upcoming elections, click here.
