S.C. tops 1 million ballots cast in the 2020 election

COLUMBIA (AP) - More than 1 million votes have already been cast in November's election in South Carolina.

The millionth vote - all by absentee ballot so far - was recorded sometime Wednesday, according to data from the South Carolina Election Commission.

About two-thirds of the absentee ballots have been cast in person. The General Assembly allowed absentee voting for anyone without an excuse this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

About 371,000 absentee ballots have been mailed in, with 100,000 ballots being issued as of Wednesday morning but not returned, the Election Commission said.

In Sumter County, 19,576 absentee ballots have been cast in person so far, according to the county election office.

Absentee voting in 2020 has obliterated records from the 2016 general election, when more than 500,000 people voted absentee.

All polling places in South Carolina will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The record for turnout in the state is 2.1 million voters in 2016.