Aiken County election chief may be different, but voting rolls on as usual
AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - Early voting is now underway on both sides of the river with a major U.S. presidential election on the horizon.
“Well, I thought I was early,” said Bill Bruder, an Aiken County voter who went to cast his ballot Monday. “It looks like I’m a little late.”
The long lines are not keeping people from exercising their right to vote.
“Don’t turn around,” said James Lott, an Aiken County voter. “Make your voice heard. Vote.”
“It’s a beautiful day and the weather is great. Make your vote count,” said Angela Perry, an Aiken County voter.
In Aiken County, this election is especially notable since the former Board of Elections director, Cynthia Holland, was charged with embezzlement over the summer.
Will S.C. shatter early voting records like neighboring states?
South Carolina's early voting period kicked off Monday – and it goes through the next two weeks. In addition to the presidential race – every seat at the State House is up for election.
Holland served as the county’s election director for 12 years before retiring earlier this year.
She is accused of stealing at least $62,000 while in that position of power.
Aiken County’s new election director, Dana Burden, only had about a month to prepare before early voting started.
“We have a historic election, in the middle of a historic hurricane, in the middle of their fourth leadership change since May of this year,” said Burden.
She says that’s an adjustment, but after serving as election director for Saluda County, Burden says she’s familiar with running elections.
“If you walk into my office, you get nothing but professionalism,” said Burden. “You would never know that this team has been through anything like that.”
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She says she’s focused on moving forward and ensuring every vote counts.
“Anytime you have a change, especially a leadership change, it’s hard,” said Burden. “It’s hard on the staff, it’s hard on the new director, but this team has been so easy to work with and they know what they’re doing. Some of them have been here for many years. They know the people in the community and that just helps everything.”
She says her team has worked day in and day out to prepare.
“We’re just trying to make sure that that we have an open door policy in this office that people know they can come and talk to us if they have questions about elections,” said Burden. “Even if they have a complaint about an election, they can come and talk to us, and the staff has been really great about helping me do that.”
If you didn’t get a chance to vote on Monday, early voting continues all week and on Saturday as well.
Here’s everything you need to know as early voting begins on Monday in South Carolina.
Early voting will run from Oct. 21 until Nov. 2. from 8:30 in the morning until 6 p.m.
Georgians continue to set records with early voting
Early voting began last Tuesday with a state record for voter turnout during the start of the advance voting period. The records continued all week.
Aiken County voting centers
- Aiken County elections office, 1930 University Parkway Suite 1200, Aiken
- North Augusta Community Center, 495 Brookside Ave., North Augusta
- Aiken County Roy Warner Park, 4287 Festival Trail Road, Wagener
- O’Dell Weeks Recreational Center, 1700 Whiskey Road, Aiken
Vote early
- The early voting period starts on Monday, Oct. 21, and ends Saturday, Nov. 2 (closed Sunday, Oct. 27).
- Early voting centers are open 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the early voting period.
- Voters will be asked to present a photo ID when checking in to vote.
- Visit the early voting page on scVOTES.gov to find early voting locations in your county or your county voter registration office.
Vote absentee
- Qualified voters can vote absentee by mail. An example of a qualified voter could be a person with a physical disability or someone who is age 65 or older.
- To vote absentee by mail, request your application by ing 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.
- Visit the absentee voting page on scVOTES.gov to learn more.
“Every county will have an early voting center – at least one, up to seven, depending on how many they feel they need to staff and service the community,” said TJ Lundeen with the South Carolina State Election Commission.
Poll workers are still needed across South Carolina, including Aiken County.
Lundeen said having the appropriate amount of poll workers ensures all precincts can be opened and fewer locations will need to merge.
Naomi Popa of WIS contributed to this report.
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