Tuesday primaries to whittle Republican, Democratic candidates for 1st Congressional District

info@islandpacket.comMarch 18, 2013 


Here's what you need to know as you head to the polls to vote in Tuesday's 1st Congressional District primaries:

Who is running?

On the Republican ticket, there are 16 candidates: Keith Blandford, Curtis Bostic, Ric Bryant, Larry Grooms, Jonathan Hoffman, Jeff King, John Kuhn, Tim Larkin, Chip Limehouse, Peter McCoy, Elizabeth Moffly, Ray Nash, Andy Patrick, Shawn Pinkston, Mark Sanford and Teddy Turner.

On the Democratic ticket, there are two candidates: Elizabeth Colbert Busch and Ben Fraiser.

Where do I vote?

Click here to find a list of polling places.

What should I bring?

Because of a new state law, all voters will be asked to provide one of the following types of photo ID at their polling place:

  • S.C. driver's license. Out-of-state licenses will not be accepted.
  • Another type of S.C. identification card issued by the S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles.
  • S.C. voter registration card with a photo.
  • A federal military ID.
  • U.S. passport.
Voters who forget their ID may cast a provisional ballot that will count only if they show their photo ID to their local county election commission prior to certification of the election Thursday.

Voters who do not have a photo ID can get one free from their local county voter registration office. They must provide their name, birth date and the last four digits of their Social Security number.

Voters who have extenuating circumstances that prevent them from getting a photo ID before the election can bring their non-photo voter registration card (the old card without photo) to the polls. They will be allowed to vote after signing an affidavit stating they have a reasonable impediment to obtaining photo ID. Allowable impediments include a religious objection to being photographed, a disability, illness, work schedule, lack of transportation, family responsibilities or any other obstacle the voter finds reasonable.

Details: www.scVOTES.org

What happens next?

Assuming no Republican candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote -- which is likely given there are 16 candidates -- the winner and runner-up will face off in an April 2 GOP runoff.

The general election will be May 7.

Why are we having this primary?

The primary is the first step in replacing the seat that was vacated when Tim Scott was appointed to fill former Sen. Jim DeMint's seat. DeMint announced in December he would leave the Senate to run the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank in Washington, D.C.

Want more?

Check out our election coverage at www.islandpacket.com/election-news for details on the candidates, forums they've participated in, who has endorsed them and more. We'll also be updating the website throughout the day with news from the polls, and tonight with results, so check back with The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette later today.


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