Early Voting Underway in Newberry, SC Amid Redistricting Ballot Confusion

Early Voting Begins in Newberry, SC Amid Ballot Confusion

NEWBERRY, S.C. — Early voting has officially kicked off in the City of Newberry, but it’s not all smooth sailing. As South Carolina gears up for the crucial 2023 municipal elections, which will feature over 200 races across the state, residents of Newberry have encountered some unexpected bumps on the road to casting their votes.

The current mayor is seeking re-election amidst some competition, while two council members are running again with no challengers. Additionally, a District 5 candidate is up for re-election with some opponents in the mix. However, some early voters have been left scratching their heads over what’s been appearing on their ballots.

“We’re trying to find answers,” said voter Chris Elliott. “We want to make sure that there is no question of legitimacy cast on this because it’s a local election. It’s very important.” Chris was among the first to vote when early voting opened. He mentioned that while his ballot was correct, a number of his friends experienced glitches—specifically, they weren’t seeing the right races.

“Lo and behold, there were people on the ballot who were supposed to be in a different district,” he added, expressing the widespread confusion regarding voting districts in Newberry.

Seeking clarity, we reached out to the South Carolina Election Commission, which revealed that Newberry had recently passed a redistricting map back in July 2023. Unfortunately, this change hasn’t yet been put into effect, leading to the confusion. “From what we know…” stated John Michael Catalano, Public Information Officer for the commission. “The new lines were passed in the middle of July, and the county learned about it in August, but those new lines weren’t implemented.” And why exactly? Well, that question remains unanswered.

We also contacted the City of Newberry regarding the matter, only to be directed to the county for further information. Newberry County Voter Registration and Elections issued the following statement: “Newberry County Voter Registration and Elections is in the process of addressing the redistricting for the City of Newberry. Currently, it involves approximately 500 residents of the City…” They assured that the process will be completed by October 30, 2023, close of business. As of now, 132 residents have cast their ballots, with three of those potentially impacted. State law stipulates that once a ballot is cast, there’s no way to correct it. So, what can voters do? They’re encouraged to confirm their election details by calling Newberry County Voter Registration and Elections or visiting the South Carolina Election Commission website.

As Catalano explained, voters won’t be receiving new registration cards unless they change precincts, resulting in a lack of updated information for some. “It’s basically because we’re all voting by secret ballot,” he said. “Once that ballot is dropped into the ballot box and cast, there is no getting it out.”

This issue is affecting voters in each of the county’s six districts, which has raised serious concerns among local officials. Republican State House Representative Joe White decried the situation, stating, “There is one thing, in my opinion, we should always get right, and that is making sure that every voter gets to vote correctly and that every vote is counted.”

Despite the hiccups, early voting is expected to continue from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until November 3. Mark your calendars, as Election Day is set for November 7. It’s important for voters in Newberry to stay informed and check their voter registration status to avoid any future complications.