Thursday Block 2

>> it's dorchester county's turn, and all this week we have been checking in with the officials on dates and deadlines to cast your ballot properly.

Joining us, todd, the executive leaks for dorchester county.

And it's good to see you, things have been heating up.

>> yes, ma'am.

>> we have been talking to different counties, and the rules slightly differ, and some deadlines slightly differ.

So maybe you can start out by telling us what those deadlines are for people wanting to cast their ballot early.

>> so the biggest thing that people need to be aware of is that in dorchester county, we have three locations that people can absentee vote.

And one location, since october 5th, it has been open and it will be open until november 2nd.

And that's our st.

George location, off at the kenny wagner building off of johnson street.

And the charleston locations will be open monday october 19th and going all the way until october 30th, and that's 8:30 to 5:00, and in all of these locations that are available to reme registered vos in dorchester county.

And they can do that by mail.

>> you took the words out of my mouth.

That's a state law change that every voter can vote absentee, and they select state of emergency because of covid and they can do that.

When someone wants to cast their ballot in person, they can certainly go and cast their ballot early in person, but if focus want to send it in through the mail, can you tell them the safety and what's required to do that?

>> in dorchester county, we have already made out 12,000 ballots.

Over 12,000 ballots to the registered voters of dorchester county.

And we have already received those back.

Close to 2,000 of those back.

We have had some issues with delays, and things taking a little bit longer.

Because think about the state of south carolina, they have sent out hundreds of thousands of vote-by-mail ballots.

And it has taken a little bit longer and we have seen since it progressed that the progress is working, and it's working well.

And we're very thankful that we have the united states postal service helping us do that.

And thankful that the voters can actually track their ballots online.

There's a feature called ballot scout.

They can go on our website at dorchester county sc.gov and you can track your own ballot and request it online and do a lot of things on that website.

>> oh, thank goodness.

You said you sent out over 12,000 ballots, and wait a second, i didn't get mine, and they can call and request their ballot.

>> absolutely.

>> voting day is novemb november 3rd, so when do those mail-in ballots need to get to you by?

>> that's correct, november 3rd before 7:00 p.m.

>> before 7:00 p.m.

And if you are mailing it n.

And this is required through the state of south carolina, you do need to have a witness signature on the interview and this goes for all of the other counties as well.

And this also protects the voter from the witness knowing how they voted.

>> right, it's very important that the absentee ballot is witnessed.

If it's not witnessed or the voter themselves didn't sign it, we can't count it.

So we want all voters to know that they need to follow all of the instructions on that envelope and if they do that and return it in time, their ballot is going to count.

>> now, poll workers, they're getting a sweet little deal if they want to work the polls on november 3rd and what are you offering them?

>> yes, so in dorchester county, we are typically able to offer the pay of $165 per day, and we were able to get a grant and we're passing that money on to the workserbs so they get another 100 a day.

So $265 to work, and honestly, for a long, 14 hour, 15 hour day, that's a start.

>> not too bad.

And todd, thank you so much.

And that's good information.

We'll share your website with all of the dates and information and everything that people need to cast their ballot.

November