Charleston, South Carolina — Some Charleston County voters will return to the polls in less than two weeks, after three mayoral contests advanced to a runoff following Tuesday’s municipal elections.
On November 4, the five-candidate field for Folly Beach mayor was down to two: real estate agent Elton Culppper and councilman Chris Bizzell. The two will compete in a runoff election to be the island’s first new mayor in over a decade.
On the Isle of Palms, incumbent Philip Pounds won by only 52 votes over challenger Scott Pierce, a city councilman.
In Lincolnville, incumbent Mayor Enoch Dickerson III and Councilman Tyrone Aiken will face battle in a runoff election.
The Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections (BVRE) said that a candidate must receive at least 50% of the votes plus one to win outright. No candidate surpassed that threshold in any of these elections, necessitating a runoff between the two candidates with the highest votes in each.
The runoff election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 18. Any qualified voter, including those who did not vote in the previous election, will be entitled to participate.
Early voting for all three runoff elections will be available from November 15 to November 17 at the BVRE offices (4340 Corporate Rd, North Charleston). Early voting hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Residents who voted absentee in the Nov. 7 municipal election and requested an absentee ballot in case of a runoff will receive a runoff ballot, according to BVRE authorities.
Absentee ballots must be completed and delivered to the elections office by November 18 at 7 p.m. to be counted.
On Election Day, voters can cast a ballot in the runoff elections by going to their designated polling site between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
