After yesterday’s general elections, a few modest changes might make the process both more American and truer to the spirit of elections.

With a turnout of 72 percent, there were few surprises in the state and national voting in Anderson County Tuesday.

In the presidential election, the county cast 65,305 votes for Donald Trump and 23,910 for Kamala Harris.

It was a big night for the state Republican Party with wins in United States House Dist. 3, South Carolina State Senate Dist. 3, S.C. State Senate Dist. 4, and S.C. House Districts 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 all going to the GOP.

Anderson County voters rejected a referendum asking for a one-penny sales tax to repair/replace the county’s aging roads and bridges on Tuesday.

A total of 44,121 voted against the referendum which would have put a one-cent tax on all items except groceries for the next seven years. The move would have provided the county $350 million over that time, with an estimated $127 million coming from visitors to the county.

Two Anderson school districts will have new board members following Tuesday’s general election.

Anderson School Dist. 5 will see the biggest changes with the loss of three incumbents.

In Dist. 5, Area 1, Troy L. Haguewood will replace Julie Usherwood. In Dist. 5, Area 7, Tripp Dukes will replace John P. Griffith, and in Dist. 5’s At Large Seat, Bill Thompson will replace Andy Patrick.

Meanwhile, in School Dist. 2, Area 3, John J.C. Neel will replace incumbent Moochie Merritt. Neel took 9,211 votes, 51.25 percent, to Merritt’s 8,712 votes, 48.47 percent.

Anderson County Council on Tuesday approved a contract with Duke Energy to build a $4.8 million generator at the new Anderson County Detention Center.

The project will be paid for in payments of $26,835 per month for 180 months.

COLUMBIA – Over 1.5 million South Carolinians voted early this year for the general election, or more than 45% of all registered voters in the state.

“We are thrilled to see this record-breaking turnout during the early voting period as we head into a highly anticipated Election Day,” Howard Knapp, executive director of the State Election Communication, in a statement Monday. “If you haven’t cast your ballot yet, get to the polls tomorrow and exercise your right to vote.”

According to the commission, 1.47 million people voted early in person in the two-week window between Oct. 21 and Nov. 2, and about 100,000 people have voted absentee by mail so far.

A “Yes” vote tomorrow is crucial to the county’s future, including economic development (companies consider road conditions when scouting locations) as well as the safety of our citizens.

A “No” vote will mean more crumbling roads, higher vehicle maintenance costs and decreased safety for all drivers in our county.

Let’s hope Anderson County voters look to the future and approve the roads referendum in November.

Anderson County Council will vote on a proposed contract for Duke Energy to provide a backup generator at the Anderson County Detention Center which is currently under construction as part of their regular meeting Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the historic courthouse.

The total cost of the project is an estimated 4.8 million and will be paid for in payments of $26,835 per month for 180 months.

Council will also consider an agreement with the City of Belton to allow county code enforcement officers to respond to environmental and code violations in Belton.

Close to one-third of all registered Anderson Count voters cast their ballots for this year’s general election.

Since Oct. 25, 40,159 voters made their way to the four polling sights in the county, often facing long lines, especially in Anderson.

The number also represents just under half of the number of voters who cast ballots in the county in the 2020 general election when 96,792 of the county’s 130,000 registered voters voted.

Saturday is the final day for early in-person voting.

So far, 36,379 early ballots have been cast in Anderson County, which is 25 percent of all registered voters.

The Anderson County Museum’s 20th Annual Mistletoe Market kicked off Friday with local art, craft, vendors, food and more.

A South Carolina Board of Education subcommittee voted to ban seven of 11 challenged books from public high schools in the state.  Three others were approved and one was tabled for additional consideration.
The list of books under review by the Instructional Materials Review Committee (IMRC) include books  commonly taught in public schools such as "To Kill A Mockingbird," "1984" and "Romeo and Juliet."

Those three volumes survived the challenge and will remain on shelves in the state’s public high schools.

The choice for a better future for America is clear. A second Trump administration would be a disaster for America and its role as global leader. Harris at the very least offers a hope for a brighter future for the middle class and a return to historical sanity and leadership in American government which has been in chaos since Trump ran for president in 2016.

The Cancer Association of Anderson broke ground for a new facility on Tuesday, one which will help them expand their work and to meet a growing need in the community.

The new facility will feature more space for those suffering from cancer and their families, including additional wellness areas. The organization moved into its current temporary location after the 100-year-old house which originally housed the charity was deemed unsafe due to the deterioration of age.

With election day now one week away, Anderson voters still have a chance to vote early through Saturday. 

So far, 25,177 early ballots have been cast in Anderson County. Tuesday’s totals from polling places:

Downtown Anderson 1,205; Watkins Center in Honea 715

Jackson Lollis is a candidate for the Fire District Commission, Piedmont Public Service District.

Charlene Spelts is a candidate for the Fire District Commission, Piedmont Public Service District .

Anderson City Council on Monday approved funding for new body cameras for all police and detention officers, and passed an $11.5 million bond issue for a pair of park improvements.

During the eight days of early in-person voting 22,874 have cast ballots in Anderson County. This represents almost 20 percent of registered voters in the county.

On Monday 1,838 voted in Anderson, 773 in Honea Path, 997 in Pendleton and 1,067 in Powdersville.

Anderson City Council will consider a plan to purchase body-worn cameras for the City Police Department as part of Monday’s meeting in the council chambers downtown.

Most of the $260,000 cost for the cameras is covered by $179,174 in grant funding.

Council will also vote on approval of ATAX Funds for the year at the meeting. The city received 31 applications for grants and projects and is allocating $282,394.20. Full list of those receiving funds in the full agenda packet here.