SC primary even quieter with fewer candidates

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — They are holding a primary in South Carolina on Tuesday, but a lot of folks can’t come.

As of Monday, 248 candidates for offices ranging from sheriff to Statehouse are disqualified from the primary because they failed to file statements of economic interest when they filed for their candidacy.

Signs in polling places will tell voters that ballots cast for those candidates won’t count.

Nearly 300 polling places in 14 counties won’t even open Tuesday because there is no one on the ballot. Chris Whitmire of the State Election Commission says that about 436,000 registered voters in those precincts won’t be able to participate.

In a year without statewide races, participation is generally low anyway. The last time that happened was in 2000, and turnout was only about 19 percent.