Combined precincts, other issues cause headaches for Horry County voters

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) - Some changes in Horry County for this month’s presidential preference primaries caused some headaches for voters on Saturday.

The county previously announced it would be combining some precincts for both the Democratic and Republican presidential preference primaries. Officials said it was based on guidance from both parties and the South Carolina Election Commission.

WMBF News received several complaints and messages from those heading to the polls. Some said they arrived at the wrong polling place due to the combined precincts or didn’t know where to go due to signage in the area.

“Almost an hour of driving in pure frustration,” said Donna Sennott.

Sennott said she wasn’t aware that her precinct, Burgess #3, had a different polling place for Saturday’s primary. That polling place was St. James Middle School, where pieces of paper taped to poles and other parts of the building showed voters were to go.

“I know the goal was the cut costs and I understand that. But paper signage...it shouldn’t be that way. There should’ve been clear directions for which precinct was to be voting in what building.”

In a statement provided to WMBF News, Horry County elections director Sandy Martin said their office “addressed each issue” as it came up throughout the day.

“There are signs at all locations that are closed instructing the voters where to go,” she said. “If we received a complaint, or our rover notified us of issues with signage, we have provided more at locations where needed. We are making notes of all these precincts so that extra signage will be sent for the Republican primary.”

The combined precincts are scheduled to remain in place for South Carolina’s Republican primary, which will take place Feb. 24. County officials have said they expect polling places to return to normal for the June primaries.

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