Precinct changes expected to alleviate wait times for Nov. 6 election

COUNTY — The Pickens County Registration and Elections Commission has mailed every registered voter in Pickens County a new voter registration card due to recent precinct changes.

This means residents may be voting at a different location than they have in the past for the Nov. 6 General Election.

According to county election commissioner Rodney Allen, it is extremely important that all registered voters look at their new card to see which precinct they are assigned to and where their voting location is. All voters must vote in their assigned precincts.

The commission is expecting a voter turnout between 70 and
80 percent for this year’s election.

During the last presidential General Election in 2008, voters at some county precincts experienced wait times of several hours. The precinct changes are designed to lower the number of registered voters at each precinct to below 1,500 (which will reduce lines on election day) and minimize the number of ballot styles any precinct would have to deal with (which greatly reduces the possibility of poll managers providing voters with incorrect ballot styles). No precincts are split by county council or school board districts. Only one precinct is split by senate districts and only eight precincts are split by house districts.
Voters must vote at the precinct they are registered in on election day.

Registered voters who have not received a new voter registration card should call the Office of the Pickens County Registration and Elections Commission at (864) 898-5948 or (864) 898-5949 to request a new card be sent. Requests for replacement cards can also be sent to elections@co.pickens.sc.us. You can also check your voting location and districts online at PickensElections.org.