Charleston County Ballot — November 3, 2026

County half-cent sales tax. Up to 25 years, or until $4.25 billion is collected, whichever comes first.

What it does on Johns Island Maybank Highway Southern Pitchfork and roundabouts. Maybank at Riverland Drive. Main Road at Mary Ann Point roundabout. US 17 South widening to SC-162.

The change from 2024: the I-526 Mark Clark Extension is not on this list. That was the project every Johns Island precinct voted against last time.

Question 2

Lets the county borrow against that revenue and build sooner instead of pay-as-you-go. It is attached to Question 1 and does nothing on its own.

School District Penny

Extends the existing one percent education tax. Up to six years, beginning when the current tax ends December 31, 2028.

Also district-wide school safety and security upgrades, a new Orange Grove Middle School and Montessori Community School on the former St. Andrews campus, and a replacement Meeting Street School at Brentwood.

What Each Side Says

Vote Yes

Lowcountry Land Trust, Charleston Trident Association of Realtors, Charleston Climate Coalition. The 2026 version drops I-526, keeps CARTA running, and funds land conservation. Commuters and visitors pay at least 30 percent of it.

Vote No

Fred Palm, Charleston City Paper. The road list came from a public suggestion contest rather than the regional traffic model. Flood-prone roads are not addressed. Transit is bundled instead of voted separately. The school district gave up roughly $345 million in deferred Union Pier tax revenue in 2024 and is now asking for more.

Statewide and Federal

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

Alan Wilson with Mike Reichenbach (R) · Jermaine Johnson with Sam Skardon (D) · Walid Hakim with Arnold Karr (Green) · Michael Addison with Candace Brewer (United Citizens)

Attorney General David Stumbo (R) · Richard Hricik (D)

Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver (R) · Sylvia Wright (D) · Baba Amin Ojuok (UC)

State Treasurer Curtis Loftis (R) · Vincent Coe (D)

Comptroller General Mike Burkhold (R) · Tiffany Boozer (D)

Secretary of State Mark Hammond (R) · Jason Belton (D)

Commissioner of Agriculture Cody Simpson (R) · DeShawn Blanding (D) · Michael Sullens (Lib) · Chris Nelums (UC)

Countywide

Probate Judge Irv Condon (R) · Tamara Cunningham Curry (D)

Register of Deeds Karen Lesser Hollings (D), unopposed

Soil and Water Commission Vote for two. Only Thomas Legare filed.

Your District Races

Johns Island is split across districts. School Board 9 is confirmed yours — that district covers James Island, Folly Beach, Kiawah, Seabrook and Johns Island. The other two are the likely ones; confirm them at the poll book or on your sample ballot.

S.C. House 115 Johnnie Garmon (R) · Nick Uricchio (D)

County Council 8 Joe Boykin (R) · Charles Glover (D) · Brian Cooke (Green)

School Board 9 Karen Luhrs · Carol Tempel. Nonpartisan, no party label on the ballot.

Luhrs Challenger. Citadel adjunct professor, retired CCSD educator and counselor. Runs against the politicization of the board. Endorsed by the Charleston County Republican Party and the Post and Courier.

Tempel Incumbent since 2022. Former Academic Magnet principal, district math and science curriculum specialist. Runs on steadying the board and student outcomes. Endorsed by the South Carolina Education Association.

Note Neither candidate has said anything on the record about the education penny. That question is yours alone.

Only school board districts 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 are up this year. If you are in school board district 8, you have no school board race.

Your Ballot

The Three Money Questions

Question 1