COLUMBIA, S.C. — With more than 1.5 million votes already cast in early voting, election leaders are preparing for what they say could be a record breaking election day.
With that, voters who haven't cast a ballot yet should be prepared for long lines and wait times, if election day turns out to be as busy.
"[We're] looking at over a million votes to be cast, more than likely on election day," said TJ Lundeen with the State Election Commission. "So far through the early voting period and with those absentee ballots that have come in, we've seen about 46% of registered voters come in. So you're looking at making up that, that gap between 46% to 70% all in one day
Lundeen says that with expected high turnout—voters might see the longest lines when polls open at 7:00 am, again around lunch time, and after when many people leave work.
Clerks will be there well before 7 am to prepare the precincts—they’ll check to make sure there aren’t any campaign signs. County election staff bring in machines—poll workers then have to check them.
"We're asking people to pack their patience when they go to the polls as well," said Lundeen. "They're the poll workers. They're doing the absolute best job they can to make sure that we're all able to cast our votes."
The state’s population growth could have contributed to the record breaking 1.5 million early votes—but the numbers show even more growth in voter turnout than that, according to Chase Meyer, a political science professor with the University of South Carolina.
"These numbers are really good, even taking that into account here. So because we're seeing these large numbers of voters turnout, even in states outside of South Carolina, where population is not booming," said Meyer.
While he says it’s too early to make any predictions based on early voting for a party or candidate, early voters are typically a younger demographic—while older voters are more likely to wait for election day.
"This is just a sign that voters are overwhelmingly engaged. Voters feel their votes are important. They feel this is going to be a close election, and they feel their vote will matters," said Meyer.