Early voting numbers in primary runoffs solid across the Upstate

Early voting numbers in primary runoffs solid across the Upstate The statewide runoff following the June 9 primary election has brought a quick turnaround for candidates, voters and elections officials and only two days — June 17 and 18 — for early voting. The main day of voting in the runoff election will be June 23. Top billing among runoff elections is the Republican gubernatorial primary between Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson. Both were scheduled for campaign appearances in the Upstate on June 18. Evette held a rally at Park View at Hollingsworth in Greenville. Wilson made stops in Spartanburg, including the Beacon Drive-In, before heading to Greenville for meet and greet event at Hotel Hartness. Each candidate has Upstate campaign events on the schedule for June 19. The winner will take on Democrat Jermaine Johnson in the general election. As Evette, Wilson and other state and local candidates were making their late pitch, voters were at the polls early in solid numbers, according to lelections officials. By about 2 p.m. on June 18, 7,218 Greenville County residents had voted early, said Patty Roach, interim director of voter registration and elections. In Anderson County, more than 3,300 had voted early, according to an elections staffer. Spartanburg County had seen 4,606 early voters by about 4 p.m., said John Baucom, county director of voter registration and elections. "That's great turnout," he said. Beyond race for governor: Voters weighing other state and local primaries In addition to the contest for governor, Spartanburg Republicans are choosing between William Crawford and Mike Stacy for Spartanburg County Council chair. The winner will replace Manning Lynch, who decided not to seek another term. Meanwhile, there is a GOP runoff between Jack Mabry and Jason Seay for District 2. Jessica Coker faces Alex Turner in District 6. Thanks in large part to controversy over data centers, these races have drawn considerable interest. In Greenville, Republicans Joe Dill and Travis Forrester are in a runoff for Greenville County Council District 17. There's a Democratic Party runoff between Angela Aiken and David Mitchell for District 23. Anderson County voters living in South Carolina House District 8 have a choice in the Republican primary runoff between Don Chapman and Sherry Hodges. The GOP primary for governor isn't the only statewide race on the runoff slate. In the primary for attorney general, Republicans David Stumbo and Stephen Goldfinch are in a runoff, while Danny Ford and Cody Simpson face off in the GOP primary for agriculture commissioner. A reminder for voters Voters who cast a ballot in a party primary on June 9 (or on days of early voting before June 9) may vote in that party's primary for the runoff. If you have not voted in the primary, you may vote in either party's runoff on June 23. But if you voted in a party primary on June 9, you may not vote on June 23 in the other party's runoff. For example, if you voted in the June 9 Democratic primary, you are not permitted to vote in the GOP runoff. This article originally appeared on Greenville News: SC officials report solid turnout in runoff early voting