Update: Voter Turnout Low at the Polls

Update, 5:55p.m.: Tuesday's primary election in Lexington County didn't draw many voters to the polls, election officials say. 

Voter turnout was low overall, said Dean Crepes, director of registration and elections in Lexington County, and even lower in some areas.

Many candidates blame the low turnout on the fact that 17 Lexington County candidates were booted off the ballot as the result of two S.C. Supreme Court decisions.

The court ordered county parties to disqualify candidates who didn't file a paper copy of their statment of economic interest form when they filed for candidacy. About 250 candidates statewide were kicked off the ballot. 

Some candidates who were decertified at the last minute still appeared on the ballot. The election office put up signs at polling places telling voters their votes wouldn't count if they cast their ballot for those candidates. 

If voters did vote for those candidates, their vote for that specific race won't count, Crepes said, however, their votes for other races will count.

Check back later for election results.

Original story, 9:15 a.m.: Lexington County residents are heading to the polls today to vote in a handful of county races and U.S. House and Senate races. 

Some voters came out early despite morning rain showers, but poll workers say turnout has been mostly slow so far. 

Saxe Gotha Presbyterian had a small rush early in the morning, a poll worker said.

At Faith Presbyterian, 34 people had voted as of 8:30 a.m. The poll manager said he expects voting to pick up around lunch time and in the evening.

No major problems have been reported to the county registration office, said Dean Crepes, director of registration and elections, but some voters called with questions about .

"Everything is rolling as we planned," Crepes said. 

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For complete election coverage, view the primary election guide.