Lowcountry voters head to polls

Who will be Mount Pleasant's new mayor?

Joe Bustos, 58, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, flight instructor and tour business owner, has served on council since 2000.

Gary Santos, 50, a port manager with Inchcape Shipping Services, has served on council since 1996.

Billy Swails, 62, a State Farm Insurance agent, has served on council from 1976 to 1984 and since 2006.

Who will serve with the mayor?

Mount Pleasant Town Council also is undergoing a dramatic change with 19 candidates -- not a single incumbent among them -- seeking four open council seats. As with the mayor's race, whoever gets the most votes will win. There is no runoff.

What will happen in Awendaw?

Awendaw's longtime Mayor William A. Alston faces a challenge from Councilman Samuel Robinson, with both offering a different vision for how this town near Mount Pleasant and on the edge of the Francis Marion National Forest should grow. Each is running with an informal slate of Town Council candidates, too.

Will Moncks Corner voters OK Sunday beer and wine sales?

Moncks Corner voters not only will choose several Town Council members today, but they also will decide whether to allow Sunday sales.

What will Charleston do?

Voters in four of Charleston's 12 districts will choose a council member. These districts are 2, 8, 10 and 12, which mostly cover the city's West Ashley and James Island neighborhoods.

How you can vote

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters must bring their Voter Registration Card or a state-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license.

Where to vote

Most polling places are the same as in last year's election, but a few -- especially in small towns -- have changed for this election only. Click here for a complete list of polls, as well as the candidates and questions on the ballot. (PDF)

Problems or questions

In Charleston County, call 744-8683; in Berkeley County, call (843) 719-4056.

The national scene

Many will watch closely the results in the Virginia and New Jersey governor's races, partly to gauge the health of the Republican Party and President Barack Obama's political popularity one year after his win. Also on the political radar are mayoral elections in Atlanta and New York City.

Where to learn more

For more political coverage, including Q&As and video interviews with Mount Pleasant mayoral candidates, as well as profiles and biographical information, go to postandcourier.com/politics. Read about area council candidates at postandcourier.com/yourlowcountry. Sample ballots for Charleston County races can be found at charlestoncounty.org/departments/BEVR/D-Vote_ElectionList.htm

Keeping up today

For up-to-the-minute conversations and details about what's going on, check out PostandCourier on Twitter. If you want to share information, use the hash tag #chselections or send a tweet to @chselections. You also can call the newsroom at 937-5489 early in the day and 937-5549 after 4 p.m. to report election-related news. We love it when you talk to us!

Weather

Forecast calls for sunny skies and high temperatures in the 70s.