Casting a ballot in Georgetown County is becoming a big problem for many voters because many of the precincts — especially on the Waccamaw Neck — are overcrowded.
That was a concern Georgetown County Republican Party Chairman Jim Jerow expressed to the County Board of Elections at a meeting Wednesday.
Jerow said the board made a wise decision when it moved Pawleys Island Precinct 2 to All Saints Church but other changes are needed.
He said there are 2,077 registered voters in Pawleys Island District 4 where votes are cast at St. Mary’s AME Church.
The church is located on Highway 17 and has limited parking which means many voters have to park beside the busy highway.
There is also nowhere inside for people to wait to vote. In the 2008 general election this precinct had a turnout of more than 84 percent and there was a line nearly to the highway most of the day.
Murrells Inlet 1
Jerow said another precinct that needs to be split is Murrells Inlet 1 where votes are cast at Heaven’s Gate church where 76 percent of the 2,264 registered voters participated in 2008.
He said that location has the same problems such as very little parking and no room inside for people in line.
Jerow said there are 11 precincts in the county with more than 1,500 registered voters. He cited a state law which states precincts are to be divided if they have more than 1,500 voters.
Board member Joyce Gunter, the only board member who replied to Jerow during the meeting, said the state law says the precincts are to be divided “when applicable.”
She said just because a precinct has more than 1,500 registered voters, it does not mean that many will cast a ballot.
“You have to divide based on turnout expected,” Gunter said.
Jerow also said there needs to be more laptop computers at each polling place for workers to use which would help speed up the process.
Chairman Dean Smith said the county has agreed to purchase more laptops in time for upcoming elections.
By Scott Harper
sharper@gtowntimes.com