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Wednesday, November 4, 2026

South Carolina voters set a governor's-race turnout record

Plus, Dorchester County approves a one-cent school tax, and part of the West Ashley Greenway closes.

The 5AM North Charleston team1 story11 sources3 min read

ElectionTop story

South Carolina voters broke the record for ballots cast in a governor's race

Turnout hit 52.3% of voters by 4:30 p.m.

52.3%Registered voters who had cast ballots by 4:30 p.m. Tuesday

Sources: WCBD News 2, Live 5 News, WCIV

View as table
Value
Registered voters who had cast ballots by 4:30 p.m. Tuesday52.3%
Record for a governor's race, 200254.6%

If you voted Tuesday, you helped set a record. South Carolina passed its 2018 total for a governor's race with more than two hours left before polls closed, according to the .

  • Ballots cast by 4:30 p.m.: 1,797,335
  • Previous record: 1,726,527 ballots, set in 2018
  • Polls closed at 7 p.m.; anyone in line could vote

In Charleston County alone, more than 55,000 people had voted on Election Day by early evening. The largest rush of voters came shortly after polling locations opened Tuesday morning. Officials were watching to see whether turnout could also pass the 2002 percentage record.

Votes cast by 4:30 p.m. Tuesday topped the 2018 total

Sources: Live 5 News, WCIV

View as table
Value
2018 governor's race1.7M
2026, by 4:30 p.m.1.8M

Asked

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Asked

When do you usually cast your ballot?

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News Notes

Dorchester tax

Dorchester County voters approved a new one-cent education sales tax for school construction and renovations. With 59.96 percent approval, it starts April 1, 2027, runs 15 years and brings the county's sales tax to 8 percent. Districts Two and Four agreed to an 85/15 split of the projected $688.2 million. WTMA-AMPost and Courier

Charleston tax

In early results, Charleston County's measure to extend the 1-cent school sales tax had nearly 69 percent approval with about 52 percent of precincts reporting. Post and Courier

Greenway

If you use the , part of it closes today between Coburg Road and Farmfield Avenue so Charleston Water System can fix Tuesday's sewer main break. The utility asks you to avoid marshes and waterways on its map until testing shows bacteria levels are back to normal. WCBD News 2

Early voting

South Carolina's early voting period set a state record with 1,043,810 voters. Charleston County led the state with 99,275 early ballots. WCBD News 2

Charleston County led the state in early voting

Source: WCBD News 2

View as table
Value
Charleston99,275
Berkeley49,969
Dorchester36,862
Georgetown17,921
Colleton7,017
Williamsburg5,966

CSU loss

Charleston Southern University confirmed that student Rachel Apa died after collapsing at mile 24 of Sunday's New York City Marathon. The school said she died of rhabdomyolysis; she began her master's degree in August and ran in memory of her grandfather. WCIV

Home

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Asked

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Asked

How often do you walk, run or bike the West Ashley Greenway?

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Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Quoted

You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.

— Jack London

Things to Do

Things to Do

North Charleston, SC

Wednesday, Nov. 4

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Around the Block

Around the Block

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Neighbors

Hello I live in mendelwood drive in Forest hills North Charleston sc.

“Someone Killed my dog about 2 weeks ago. If you live on my street you knew Roman aka Romeo. He jumped the fence occasionally, just to visit the other dogs on our street. This day he did not come back the same. Bet says he was hit in head with a bat or something, causing his eye to almost completely out of there…”

— A neighbor, Forest Hills
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The Wrap

Six years ago, the Daniel Island Holiday Market started with 16 vendors in the small gym at the Daniel Island Recreation Center. The sixth annual market is Saturday, Nov. 14, and it now has 47 vendors, with 15 more on the waitlist. That's a lot of hopeful makers. Time to start the gift list.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Polls are open until 7 p.m. after record early voting in South Carolina

Read yesterday’s edition

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Every source in this edition11 links · 7 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. WCBD News 2counton2.com
  3. Live 5 Newslive5news.com
  4. WCIVabcnews4.com
  5. WTMA-AMwtma.com
  6. Post and Courierpostandcourier.com
  7. Post and Courierpostandcourier.com
  8. WCBD News 2counton2.com
  9. WCBD News 2counton2.com
  10. WCIVabcnews4.com
  11. North Charleston events calendar5amnorthcharlestonsc.com

Past issues

  1. Sat., Nov. 7Literary Festival kicks off and Ben Sawyer Bridge closes Sunday night
  2. Fri., Nov. 6West Ashley Greenway set to reopen after second sewer break
  3. Thurs., Nov. 5Charleston County voters extend the half-cent transportation tax
  4. Tues., Nov. 3Polls are open until 7 p.m. after record early voting in South Carolina
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5AM North Charlestonto me · Wed., Nov. 46:00 a.m.

South Carolina voters set a governor's-race turnout record

Plus, Dorchester County approves a one-cent school tax, and part of the West Ashley Greenway closes.

The TLDR

  1. South Carolina set a record for ballots in a governor's race
  2. Dorchester County approves a one-cent school sales tax
  3. Part of the West Ashley Greenway closes Wednesday
Read this edition

More stories this week

From 5AM North Charleston’s other editions

All the news
Things to DoThe Charleston Literary Festival kicks off its 10th year with 52 events through Nov. 15If you like a good book talk, the Charleston Literary Festival officially began Friday and runs through Nov. 15 at the Dock Street Theatre. Organizers say more than 100 authors, thinkers, performers and academics are in town. Communications manager Ann Biondi named Salman Rushdie, Barbara Kingsolver, Terry Jones and Ferdia Lennon among the biggest names.Saturday’s editionRead TrafficThe Ben Sawyer Bridge will close to vehicles overnight Sunday as repairs near completionIf you're headed to Sullivan's Island or Mount Pleasant Sunday night, plan around the Ben Sawyer Bridge. The S.C. Department of Transportation announced the overnight closure for Nov. 8 and asks drivers to find alternate routes.Saturday’s editionRead West AshleyThe West Ashley Greenway is expected to reopen today after a second sewer break in weeksIf you run, walk or bike the West Ashley Greenway, the stretch between Coburg Road and Farmfield Avenue is expected to reopen by this afternoon. The sewer main break on Tuesday, Nov. 3 closed that stretch and sent sewage toward the nearby marsh.Friday’s editionRead

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