What we know about advisory questions on South Carolina’s GOP ballot

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WMBF) - If you’re voting in the South Carolina Republican Primary this weekend, expect to be asked more than just which presidential candidate you prefer.

Three advisory questions will also be on the ballot, which party leaders are using to gauge voters’ interest in certain policies.

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“These policy advisory questions are nothing new, just what’s new here is they’re happening at a different time than they normally would have,” said Justin Vaughn, a political science professor at Coastal Carolina University.

Vaughn explained that these types of questions usually appear on the statewide primary ballot in June, but the South Carolina Republican Party got a court injunction to include them now.

All three of the questions have been up for debate in the Statehouse.

“Usually parties will choose particular advisory questions because they want to get a handle on what the public thinks before they move forward with taking up a particular piece of legislation or going in a particular direction,” said Vaughn.

One question has to do with how judges are selected in South Carolina, asking if the state legislature should continue to select judges.

Another is about possible changes to lawsuits. The question poses whether votes would want to change state law to make a person’s responsibility for financial damage in a lawsuit based on their actual share of responsibility.

The remaining question asks whether South Carolina should become a closed primary state. This means voters would only be allowed to participate in the primary of the party they are registered with. This is something that both the South Carolina GOP and Horry County GOP are in favor of.

“You see a lot of people voting other than their chosen...I guess the party they affiliate with,” said Reese Boyd, Chair of the Horry County GOP. “For reasons that aren’t really picking the best candidate for your party, but trying to use your vote to harm the other party or weaken the other party or choose a lesser candidate.”

It’s become a key concern for some this primary season.

“In South Carolina, I think that’s driven by some concern by conservatives that Democrats might come into the primary ballot and support former governor Haley because she’s considered more moderate than [former] President Trump,” said Vaughn.

WMBF News also reached out to the Horry County Democratic Party for comment but did not hear back.

The final day to vote in South Carolina’s Republican Primary is Saturday.

Stay with WMBF News for updates.

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