Filing for Graham’s Senate Seat begins Tuesday; Special Election Aug. 11

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Anderson County is preparing for an unusually compressed and unusually consequential election calendar following the death of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., which will trigger a special Republican primary to choose a candidate for the general-election ballot. The primary is set for Aug. 11, with a runoff, if needed, on Aug. 25.

Election officials say the challenge is not only political but logistical, with the timetable coming together quickly, Anderson County Registration and Elections is combining polling places to avoid disrupting schools in session that day and to ensure there are enough workers to run the election smoothly. Final polling locations had not yet been announced, and officials said they were still working through arrangements before making them public.

Candidate filing opens at noon July 21 and closes at noon July 28. The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is July 31 at 5 p.m.

Early voting for the special primary will be held Aug. 5-Aug. 7, from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., at 301 N Main Street in Anderson. Officials said that will be the only early voting site for the election.

The statewide special primary is scheduled for Aug. 11, with polls open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. County certification is set for Aug. 13, at 9:30 a.m., followed by state certification on Aug. 14, at a time to be announced.

If a runoff is necessary, early voting will run Aug. 19, 20 and 21, followed by the statewide runoff on Aug. 25. County certification would take place Aug. 27, at 9:30 a.m., with state certification expected Aug. 28, at a time to be determined.

County election officials, already busy preparing for the general elections in November and the potential of a new city council election before then, are urging voters to rely on official sources for updates, including scvotes.gov, or to call 864-260-4035 for election information.