Some Strand polling places have changed

By Tonya Root - The Sun News

Horry and Georgetown voters should double-check where they will be voting in the upcoming presidential primaries because some locations have changed, according to county election officials.

A few polling locations were temporarily moved for this month's primaries and new ones were added after reorganization, local officials said.

The Republican primary is Saturday, and the Democratic primary is Jan. 26. Polling place changes affect 12 sites in Horry County and one in Georgetown County, according to election officials, but all other voters should be able to vote at their normal polling site, officials said.

Statewide, one-fifth of regular state polling places will be closed as a result of a state law passed last year that gives control of the primaries to the S.C. State Election Commission. About 400 of 2,200 polling places will be merged, said State Election Commission spokesman Chris Whitmire.

Officials said the change was meant to ensure a professionally run election, using state resources and electronic voting machines.

And in an effort to limit costs, the legislature required local election officials to merge some precincts into one polling place.

In Georgetown County, officials moved one polling site because the previous location was no longer available for use, said Billy Altman, chairman of the county's Board of Election and Registration. The location of the Bethel precinct was moved to the Georgetown County Fire Station No. 5, 303 Georgetown Highway, Altman said.

But no sites had to be consolidated, he said.

Horry County officials said they also did not consolidate any polls for the primaries but did change four polling sites for the primaries.

"Last year we did some reorganization of precincts and so we've got several new places voters will be voting at because of that," said Sandy Martin, Horry County's Voters Registration and Election director.

In addition to four temporary sites, Martin said four new precincts were added and four were changed.

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POLLING PLACES
HORRY COUNTY

New precincts

Carolina Forest No. 2 at Carolina Forest High School, 700 Gardner Lacy Road, Myrtle Beach

Emerald Forest No. 2 at St. Mary's Missionary Baptist Church, 300 Ronald McNair Blvd., Myrtle Beach

Emerald Forest No. 3 at Ocean Bay Middle School, 905 International Drive, Myrtle Beach

Windy Hill No. 2 at North Myrtle Beach Fire Station No. 5, 4740 Barefoot Resort Blvd., North Myrtle Beach

Temporary voting precincts

Myrtlewood No. 3 at St. John Green Orthodox Church, 3301 U.S. 17 Bypass, Myrtle Beach

Ocean Drive No. 2 at North Myrtle Beach Primary School, 901 11th Ave. N., North Myrtle Beach

Ocean Forest No. 2 and No. 3, both at FUM Church Britton Center, 904 65th Ave. N. next to the YMCA, Myrtle Beach

New permanent voting location changes

Adrian at Academy of Technology and Academics, 5639 U.S. 701 N., Conway

Deerfield at Lakewood Conference Center, 5901 S. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach

Enterprise at Socastee Library, 141 U.S. 707 Connector Road, Myrtle Beach

Jet Port No. 2 at Myrtle Beach Recreation Center, 800 Gabreski Lane, Myrtle Beach

GEORGETOWN COUNTY

Temporary voting precinct

Bethel at Georgetown County Fire Station No. 5, 303 Georgetown Highway, Georgetown