Rainy Election Night in North Augusta
North Augusta, SC, woke up to a rather gloomy Tuesday morning, with a steady downpour soaking the streets and a forecast predicting rain to continue throughout the day. The highs reached a comfortable 73°F, accompanied by light easterly winds of 5 to 10 mph. As the day unfolded, residents were left wondering how inclement weather might affect the local elections.
By the time the polls closed on Tuesday night, the ballot boxes were making their way to the Aiken County Government Center, filled with votes registered under rainy conditions. Despite the weather, local citizens made their way to the polls, determined to make their voices heard.
A Unique Election Scenario
In a surprising turn of events, North Augusta’s race for the Aiken County school board took a twist that was anything but ordinary. With no names on the ballot for the school board’s District 4 seat due to former board member Patricia Hanks choosing not to seek re-election, the race transformed into a full-on write-in campaign. This meant that the 983 voters who participated in this race had to get a bit creative and write in their preferred candidates.
As of now, the results from this intriguing race have not declared a clear winner. Even though the vote count was shared just before 11 p.m. on Election Night, the individual breakdown of the write-in votes will not be available until the Aiken County Election Commission conducts a manual review. This thorough process is necessary to untangle the jumble of votes for the write-in candidates, who in this case are Evelyn Thonea “Tee” Grant and Colen Lindell.
Candidate Backgrounds
So who are these candidates that have stirred up interest? Tee Grant, a retired employee from the Savannah River Site, brings a solid background in both computer science and education to the table. On the other hand, Colen Lindell is a small business owner who possesses valuable experience in marketing. With both candidates formally declaring their write-in campaigns ahead of the election, it seems that the race has become a friendly face-off between two well-equipped contenders.
Early Voting Success
This year’s election saw an impressive turnout, particularly with early voting. Approximately 48% of registered voters in Aiken County took advantage of the early voting period, placing the county in the top 25% of all South Carolina counties for early participation. Some local precincts reported even more astonishing figures, with North Augusta’s Riverview Park Activities Center managing to engage about two-thirds of its nearly 1,300 registered voters before Election Day.
With such a high rate of early voting, it’s clear that the residents of North Augusta are not only enthusiastic but also deeply invested in the future of their local education system. As they await the complete results of the write-in votes, there’s a feeling of suspense in the air.
What’s Next?
As the rain continues to fall and the skies remain a bit drab, citizens of North Augusta will be watching closely for updates on the election results. The Aiken County Election Commission will be busy with the task of manually sorting through write-in votes, ensuring that every ballot is meticulously examined.
In a time of rain and uncertainty, the community’s spirit remains bright as residents prepare to welcome their new school board representative—whether through the long-haul of counting or during sunny days ahead.
So, to our fellow North Augustans, stay tuned for more updates! The future of our local education system is just around the corner, and we can’t wait to see who will be leading the charge!
