Truth Vs. Myth: 2012 General Election

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — As election day nears, myths and rumors are spreading quickly. To help you separate fact from fiction, ABC Columbia’s Monique Williams spoke with state election officials to get the real story. Repeated calls from concerned voters prompted the South Carolina State Election Commission to set up a special section on its scvotes.org website. It’s called ‘Truth Vs. Myth–2012 General Election. Commission spokesperson Chris Whitmire labels the top three. Number one: Voting hours will be extended due to anticipated long lines on election day. “Voting hours are never extended, not for a day or even the same day. In rare cases, it is extended but that requires a court order,” said Whitmire. Voting takes place between 7am-7pm on Election Day, November 6th.” Number two: You need a photo ID to vote in this election. “On November 6th, we’re under the same rules we’ve been under for a long time in South Carolina,” said Whitmire. “You need one of three items to vote: a driver’s license; a DMV ID card; or your standard voter registration card without a photograph on it.” Number three, he claims, is the biggest rumor on the street of them all…an erroneous email circulating about voting straight party. “This email says straight party doesn’t apply to president, and if you hit straight party it will light up all candidates for that party, except president, and if you don’t vote for president individually, that it won’t be voting for president and it won’t count,” explains Whitmire. “That is not the case.” In other words, voting straight party applies to all candidates of that particular party, no matter the order in which you press the keys on the voting machines. Election officials do warn, though, whatever you do, make sure to check your ballot before you hit ‘submit.’ For a complete list of myths and the corresponding explanations, go to www.scvotes.org.