Both primaries have hotly contested races, but the National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat watch for the Pee Dee area for Tuesday and Wednesday.

The forecast calls for a maximum in Florence of 104 degrees, but it will look like it will exceed 110 degrees once you factor in the humidity.

Registered voters can go to the polls today from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters who line up before 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

Voters should be prepared for the heat and expect to wait outside in a line. Doctors recommend limiting exposure to excessive heat. To help beat the heat, wear light-colored clothing and stay hydrated.

When you arrive at the polling station, voters will be required to show photo ID.

Accepted photo IDs are a South Carolina driver’s license or REAL ID, a South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicle ID card, a South Carolina Voter Registration card that includes photo, Federal Military ID, or US Passport ID.

If you don’t have photo ID, a registered voter can still vote, but must present their current voter card, sign an affidavit provided by polling officials, who will issue them a provisional ballot . It will be counted unless the county school board determines that the affidavit is false.

South Carolina held its first-ever early voting period between May 31 and June 10.

The final totals for the early voting period were released by the state’s Election Commission. Statewide, 100,450 registered voters cast their ballots.

In Darlington County, 1,698 people voted between May 31 and June 10. In Florence County, 4,418 registered voters cast their ballots.

Voters who have requested an absentee ballot, but have not yet completed and returned it, will need to hand-deliver it to the county election office.

For the ballot to count, it must be received by 7 p.m. Tuesday. The voter’s oath must be signed and a witness must sign and provide their address before the ballot is returned. A third party is authorized to deliver the postal ballot. The third party must complete the Authorized Return Form and provide photo ID when returning the ballot in person.

Voters are only allowed to vote in one of the primaries – whether Republican or Democratic. Visit www.scvote.gov before you go to the polls to access your sample ballot and find your polling place.

Federal, state, county and city offices will be on Republican and Democratic ballots on Tuesday.

Here are the positions on the ballot. Some of the county and city positions will not appear on the ballot unless voters live in their district.

US Senate: Catherine Fleming Bruce, Angela Geter, Krystle Matthews

US House District 6: Michael Addison, James E. “Jim” Clyburn, Greg Marcel Dixon

Governor: Carlton Boyd; Joe Cunningham; Mia McLeod; Calvin CJ Mack McMillian, William H. Williams

State Superintendent of Education: Gary L. Burgess, Lisa Ellis, Jerry Govan

State House of Representatives District 101: Roger K. Kirby, Cezar McKnight, Willilam Terry Wallace

State House of Representatives District 62: Bryson Sparks Caldwell, Robert Williams

Florence County Council District 1: Jason Springs, Mattie Thomas

City Council District 1: Jonathan Briggs, James “Big Man” Kennedy, Darryl Witherspoon Mitchell, LeShonda NeSmith-Jackson, Isaac “Gin” Wilson.

District 2 City Council: Kermit Moore, Lawrence “Chipper” Smith

US House District 6: Duke Buckner, A. Sonia Morris

US House District 7: Barbara Arthur, Garrett Barton, Russell Fry, Mark McBride, Spencer A. Morris, Tom Rice, Ken Richardson

Governor: Henry McMaster, Harrison Musselwhite

Secretary of State: Keith Blandford, Mark Hammond

Attorney General: Lauren Martel, Alan Wilson

State Superintendent of Education: Travis Bedson, Bryan Chapman, Kizzi Gibson, Lynda Leventis-Wells, Kathy Maness and Ellen Weaver.

Committee on Agriculture: Bill Bledsoe, Bob Rozier, Hugh Weathers

Florence County Elections

County Council District 8: Frank J. “Buddy” Brand, William Schofield

The Florence County Republican Party will host a watch party Tuesday night at the McClenaghan Administrative Annex, 500 S. Dargan St., Florence. The watch party will be part of its regular monthly meeting. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. with food. A short program will start at 7:30 p.m.