Early voting across the country has reached record levels as the presidential campaign enters its final week.
Workers at the Florence County voter registration office tell us absentee votes have been pouring in.
Because they're short-staffed this year and have double the number of absentee voters since 2004, the voter registration office has become chaotic.
An overflow of people packed an auditorium at the voter registration office Monday.
Workers said absentee voting has reached an all-time high this year, which means long lines and angry voters.
"We've got an auditorium full of people with an hour and a half wait. Something's wrong between the beginning of the line and the end of the line, and I am very concerned that people have to walk out without casting their vote," Elaine Chandler, absentee voter, said.
Some people tried to vote on their lunch breaks, but after waiting for over an hour, they left.
"It's a 3-hour wait to vote, but I'm coming back early in the morning to make sure I'll be closer in line to vote," said Angela Drake, who left before voting.
One man waited for three hours to make sure his vote counts, and hopes others will wait as long as it takes.
"I got here at 9:30, ended up leaving at 12:30, but you just got to be patient," Shannon King said.
Voter registration office workers said they're putting in their extra time, too.
"We're working very late hours. I'm working myself, usually from 7-12 at night. We're working Saturdays and Sundays to 11 and 12 at night," Elaine Pilot, at the Voter Registration Office.
Extra hours are one thing, but one upset voter said they should've hired more help for this election.
"Total pandemonium, we have got voters standing in the hall, directing traffic because there are no personnel."
Election officials knew there was heavy interest in this election, but they weren't prepared for the record turnout.
Election day, polls will be open from 7am to 7pm. You should give yourself at least two hours to vote.
In South Carolina, 11 reasons qualify you to vote absentee.
-Persons who will be outside their county of residence on Election Day
-Members of the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine, and their spouses and dependents residing with them
-Persons who, for reasons of employment, will not be able to vote on election day
-Physically disabled persons
-Persons sixty-five years of age or older
-Persons serving as a juror in state or federal court on Election Day
-Persons admitted to the hospital as emergency patients on day of election or within a four-day period before the election
-Persons with a death or funeral in the family within three days before the election
-Persons confined to a jail or pre-trial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial
-Persons attending sick or physically disabled persons
-Certified poll watchers, poll managers, and county election officials working on Election Day
If you must vote absentee by mail, you should begin the process as soon as possible to ensure your ballot is returned prior to the deadline. The voter must first request an application from your county voter registration office. The application is mailed to the voter. The voter returns the completed application. The county voter registration office mails the ballot to the voter. The voter returns the completed ballot.
Deadline to return absentee by mail application: 5:00 p.m., Friday, Oct. 31st (Again, voters should apply as early as possible to ensure their ballots are returned on time.)
Deadline to return absentee ballot: 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 4th
Absentee in Person: Voters may vote absentee in person at their county voter registration office.
Deadline to vote absentee in person: 5:00 p.m., Monday, Nov. 3rd
Contact information for your county voter registration office can be found at the website link below.
