Turnout was heavy in Abbeville County in last week's election
Abbeville County voter registration and elections director Kim London will probably long remember the election of 2020 as a time of superlatives.
Turnout was heavy, with 77.58 percent. A total of 12,521 voters turned out.
“We had a total of 6,320 absentees,” said London last week after the polls closed.
The election was noteworthy for other reasons as well.
According to unofficial vote totals, 62.24 percent of the Abbeville County voters who cast ballots voted “straight Republican,” while 37.34 percent voted a straight Democratic ticket.
Similarly, President Donald Trump carried Abbeville County with 66.13 percent, of the vote, while Joseph Biden had 32.93 percent.
A number of local candidates faced no opposition on the ballot.
Three City Council members were running unopposed--James JJ Jackson in District 5, Benji Greeson in District 7, and Faye Thomas in District 2.
City Council elections are nonpartisan.
Abbeville County Sheriff Ray Watson ran unopposed for reelection as a Republican, and Shandal Boggs ran unopposed as a Democrat for Abbeville County Clerk of Court.
State Rep. Craig Gagnon, a Republican, faced no opposition in his reelection effort for State House District 11.
Eighth Judicial Circuit Solicitor David Stumbo ran unopposed.
In County Council District Four, County Council member Billy Norris, a Republican, ran unopposed.
In County Council District Five, Republican James McCord ran unopposed.
In County Council District Six, Republican Rick Campbell ran unopposed.
Susie New ran for Soil and Water District Commission unopposed.
On the Abbeville County School District Board of Trustees elections, all the candidates were running unopposed on the ballot.
They included Joe Boochie Bryson in Area Two, and Marion Buster Taylor in Area Four.
David Brooks ran unopposed in Area Five, and Patricia Davis declared a write in candidacy.
Keith Dunn was unopposed in School District Area Eight.
School board elections are nonpartisan.