As the unprecedented lines for absentee voting already attest, Tuesday’s general election promises to be one for the record books.

Polls and voter registration offices will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Despite a handful of contested political races on the home front, it’s the McCain-Obama presidential campaign that’s drawing the crowds.

In Orangeburg County alone, there has been an influx of 3,243 new registered voters since June. Of those voters, 85 percent or 2,751 are nonwhite, compared to 492 white. County-wide, there are 56,133 registered voters, of whom 36,234 are nonwhite and 19,899 are white.

In Calhoun County, there are 437 new registered voters. Of those, 280 are nonwhite and 157 are white. There’s a total of 9,753 registered voters in the county, of which 5,410 are white and 4,343 are nonwhite.

Bamberg County has 540 new registered voters, of whom 445 are nonwhite and 95 are white. The county has a total of 8,912 registered voters. Of those, 5,567 are black and 3,345 are white.

SolicitorThe local race capturing the most attention is in the 1st Judicial Circuit, where Democratic Solicitor David Pascoe of Calhoun County is being challenged by Republican Benjy Lafond of Dorchester County. Pascoe is seeking a second four-year term. The circuit also includes Orangeburg County.

Senate and HouseTwo veteran Orangeburg County Democratic lawmakers are facing opposition. Sen. Brad Hutto, whose District 40 includes parts of Orangeburg and Bamberg counties as well as all of Allendale and Barnwell counties, is facing Republican newcomer John Strickland for a four-year term. District 66 Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, who is seeking a two-year term, is being challenged by Tim Hawkins in a repeat of the 2006 general election.

CommissionersWrite-in candidates will be elected in Orangeburg and Bamberg counties after no one filed statements of candidacy for seats on the nonpartisan Soil and Water Conservation District boards. The Orangeburg County board seat is vacant, while incumbent Commissioner Johney Haralson did not file for re-election to a four-year term on the Bamberg County board.

Write-in candidates will also determine the three seats up on the nonpartisan Horse Range Watershed District in Orangeburg County. The three incumbents on the Holly Hill-area board whose four-year terms are expiring are Lawton Brown, Milton Gaines and Timothy Prezzy.

Calhoun CountyTwo nonpartisan school board races are attracting the most attention in Calhoun County. Four candidates have filed for the District 1 seat – incumbent Trustee Gary Porth and challengers Tommie Glover, Melody Inabinet Pedings and Scott Segars. In District 4, incumbent Trustee Michael Drake is being challenged by former principal Joyce Jones Parrish and former superintendent Dr. Ernest “Bucky” Stokes. The terms are for four-years.

Also, Calhoun County Sheriff Thomas Summers, a Republican-turned-Democrat seeking his third four-year term, is being challenged by A.J. Logan, a Democrat-turned-Republican making his second bid for the seat.

Dorchester raceIn a hard-fought race in neighboring Dorchester County, first term District 97 Rep. Patsy Knight, the former Democratic treasurer, is facing Republican George Bailey, the long-time state lawmaker she upset two years ago.

Congress

The two local U.S. congressional seats are both contested. District 2 Rep. Joe Wilson, a veteran Republican, is being challenged by Democrat Rob Miller while District 6 Rep. James Clyburn, a Democrat, is facing Republican Nancy Harrelson.

Statewide, Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham is being challenged by Democrat Bob Conley.

Presidential raceAlthough the presidential race pits Republican Arizona Sen. John McCain and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin against Democratic Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, candidates from four other political parties are also running. Cynthia McKinney/Rosa Clemente of the Green Party, Libertarian Bob Barr/Wayne A. Root, Constitution candidate Chuck Baldwin/Darrell Castle and petition candidate Ralph Nader/Matt Gonzalez will also be on the ballot.

The unopposedUnopposed candidates on the ballot, who will be elected barring write-in challenge, are:

Orangeburg County (all are Democrats):

* District 39 Sen. John Matthews

* District 95 Rep. Jerry Govan

* Sheriff Larry Williams

* Clerk of Court Winnifa Clark

* Coroner Samuetta Marshall

* District 2 County Councilman Johnny Ravenell

* District 3 County Councilman Harry Wimberly

* District 4 County Councilman Heyward Livingston

* District 5 County Councilwoman Janie Cooper

Calhoun County

* Sen. John Land (D)

* District 93 Rep. Harry Ott (D)

* Auditor Pamela Tabor (D)

* Treasurer Rebecca Furtick (D)

* Probate Judge Frederick Robinson (D)

* Clerk of Court Kenneth Hasty (D)

* Coroner Donnie Porth (R)

* District 1 County Councilman David Summers (R)

* District 2 County Councilwoman Helen Carson (D)

* District 3 School Trustee Sandra Tucker (nonpartisan)

* Soil and Water Conservation District Trustee Kendall Wannamaker (nonpartisan)

Bamberg County (all are Democrats except for the Republican Thurmond):* 2nd Circuit Solicitor –J. Strom Thurmond

* District 90 Rep. Bakari Sellers

* Sheriff Ed Darnell

* Clerk of Court James “Pedie” Hiers

* Coroner Willard “Billy” Duncan

* Probate Judge Nancy Green

* Treasurer Alice Johnson

* District 1 County Councilman Chris Wilson

* District 4 County Councilman Clair Guess

* District 5 County Councilman Isaiah Odom

* District 7 County Councilman Clint Carter

T&D Government Writer Tucker Lyon can be reached by e-mail at tlyon@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5545.

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