Lexington County, SC (WLTX) - Polls are now closed in South Carolina's state and local elections, but even after the results come in, that's not the end of the story for who will be on November's ballot.
This year the primary is surrounded by quite a bit of controversy after the State Supreme Court removed 248 candidates from the ballots citing improper paperwork being filed. That meant that more than 430,000 registered voters had no one to vote for.
Brian Duncan, ousted candidate for the Lexington County Council District 5 seat, spent the days preceding election day reorganizing his strategy.
"I was actually the last one to be taken off the ballot last Friday," Duncan said. "Five days before the election! You spend all this money, you spend all this time campaigning to learn right before the election that you're taken off. "
Ousted candidates can still get on the November ballot if they collect signatures from 5% of their precinct's voters. On Tuesday, Duncan visited several polling locations asking voters for their signatures.
"It's been an amazing turnout as far as petition people," said Duncan. "There have been a lot of precincts that I've been going to all day where the line was actually longer to sign the petitions than it was to go and vote. Several people have come up, signed their petitions and walked out... didn't even vote."
It was a similar story for Clay Burkett, hoping to be a Petition Candidate in Lexington County's Coroner race.
" The voters of Lexington County need choices," said Burkett. "They can look at the ballot, find out what's going on and make better informed choices."
The Chairman of the Lexington County Republican Party, Steve Isom, also made his rounds to polling precincts on Tuesday.
"There's no endorsement implied by signing a petition," explained Isom. "But it's important to get out and sign a petition to give people a chance to have a choice this fall. Give Lexington County and South Carolina citizens a choice."
Several voters stopped at petition tables in support of putting disqualified candidates back on the ballot.
" It disgusts me to think that people have given their lives, lost limbs for their democracy," said voter Pansy Buzhardt. "Get active and involved. Speak up, speak out and have a spine! This is America and if we don't speak up we will not have our country much longer."
Duncan needs 804 signatures in order to be placed back on November's ballot. The signatures must be turned in by noon on July 16th.
"We will be on the ballot November 6th which will give the people a choice," Duncan said. " If they choose me then, that will be great. If they choose my opponent, that's great too but at least we're going to give them a choice and that's what this petition drive is all about.
Voters who wish to sign a petition are encouraged get in touch with the desired ousted candidate.