ORANGEBURG, S.C. — The Orangeburg County Voter Registration and Elections Office has started testing ballot tabulators for the general elections.
On Friday, the election commission focused on absentee-by-mail ballot tabulators.
Aurora Smalls is the director of the county's voter registration and elections office. She says they double-check that the machines are working.
“When we are testing ballots, we test before, we test after to make sure that we have an accurate count of all ballots," said Smalls. "We make sure that everybody’s ballot is counted that is eligible to vote.”
Smalls says the process is necessary, and their test ballots help with accuracy.
“We’re testing our ballot scanner, and it scans the absentee ballots, and it will scan all the results and so we will get those results, and then we can give it to the public on election night," said Smalls. "So, we’re scanning a test set of ballots that we do, and once we’ve done that, we just make sure that what was selected is what came out as the results.”
On Monday, the Orangeburg Election Commission will continue with voting equipment preparation and testing. The testing will also be open to the public.
Residents of Orangeburg County said they are positive that this process will help record the correct results.
“I’m very confident. I’ve seen a lot of confusion after voting," said Orangeburg resident John Graves. "I’ve lived through a few elections, but I’m very confident, and I think they will do a wonderful job.”
“Very confident," said Eutawville resident Gracie Gathers. "I’m very confident. I’m ready to vote, and you just have to believe in the system.”
The last day to register to vote in South Carolina is Monday, Oct. 14.