Nearly 619,000 South Carolinians had cast early or mail-in ballots as of 5 p.m. Oct. 27, smashing the state's previous early voting record.

The prior record was set in 2022, when about 562,000 voters cast ballots ahead of Election Day during the entire early voting period, the Charleston City Paper reported. Early voting for the 2026 midterms began Oct. 19.

The early vote count as of Oct. 27 represented about 17% of South Carolina's 3.7 million registered voters, according to the Charleston City Paper.

Isaac Cramer, executive director of the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections, told the Charleston City Paper that early voting has been popular in Charleston County since the option was first available in 2022.

Where to vote early in North Charleston

Early voting runs through Saturday, Oct. 31. Voting centers are open 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Charleston County voters can cast early ballots at any of seven locations, including the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections office at 4340 Corporate Road in North Charleston. Other sites include the James Island Baxter-Patrick Library, Seacoast Church in Mount Pleasant, St. Paul's Hollywood Library, Greater Macedonia AME Church in West Ashley, Morris Brown AME Church downtown and St. John's Episcopal Church on Johns Island.

On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters must go to their assigned polling place. Polling locations are available at scvotes.gov.

What's on the ballot

Several statewide and local races will greet voters.

Governor: Gov. Henry McMaster is term-limited. Republican Alan Wilson, the current attorney general, leads Democrat Jermaine Johnson, a state House member, 51% to 41% among likely voters, according to a South Carolina Policy Council poll conducted Oct. 16-25 among 895 likely voters. The poll's margin of error is plus or minus 3.21 percentage points. Green Party candidate Walid Hakim and United Citizens Party candidate Michael Addison are also running.

U.S. Senate: Republican Sen. Darline Graham, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham's sister, faces Democrat Annie Andrews in a tight race. The same South Carolina Policy Council poll showed Graham leading 47% to 46%. Andrews has picked up endorsements from former governors David Beasley, a Republican, and Jim Hodges, a Democrat, the Charleston City Paper reported.

U.S. House District 1: Republican Jenny Honeycutt and Democrat Nancy Lacore are competing for the open seat after U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace opted not to seek reelection. Honeycutt has served on Charleston County Council since 2018, WSAV reported. Lacore served 35 years in the Navy, rising to three-star admiral and Chief of Navy Reserve before being released by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in 2025, according to WSAV.

School board: Fifteen candidates are vying for five Charleston County School Board seats, including Districts 3 and 5, which cover parts of North Charleston, the Post and Courier reported. District 3 candidates are Joseph Bennett, Stuart Day, Bethany Nemitz and Tressa Pankovits. In District 5, incumbent Carlotte Bailey faces Libby Tisdale. The board's current chairwoman, Pamela McKinney, is not seeking reelection.

Voters will also choose an attorney general, secretary of state, Charleston County Council members in several districts and other county offices.

Polls close at 7 p.m. Nov. 3.