The total number of ballots cast ahead of South Carolina’s first presidential primary is down significantly, according to data published by the South Carolina State Election Commission.
Data published by the commission ahead of the Feb. 1 South Carolina Democratic presidential preference primary indicates about 48,200 early votes were cast ahead of the election. The Republican Party’s presidential preference primary will be held on Feb. 24.
Early voting, classified by the commission as in-person voting by registered voters prior to election day, began in 2022 in the Palmetto State.
The commission also shared data on the number of absentee ballots cast for the Democratic candidates. About 3,400 absentee ballots were returned ahead of election day. Absentee voting, according to the commission, is a process of qualified voters casting a ballot by mail prior to the election…
