While long lines will be a likely possibility on Election Day, the more you know, the faster you’ll go. That’s the advice being handed out by Berkeley County elections officials on efficiently making it in and out of the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Berkeley County voters will not only be casting ballots in the presidential race, but also for South Carolina’s representatives to the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. In addition, there will be several key referendum questions and amendments for voters to consider.

Berkeley County voters will first be asked whether or not they support changing the county’s current "supervisor" form of government, in which a supervisor is elected by county voters every four years, with a new "administrator" system that allows council to hire an individual for the position. Berkeley County Councilman and Daniel Island resident Tim Callanan voted to put the issue on the ballot, but doesn’t necessarily agree that a change is needed.

"During the previous supervisor election, it was a hot button issue," said Callanan. "People were told that they would be given the option of having that choice, and by putting it on the ballot, you give them that choice. …My opinion is that every four years, if the supervisor makes decisions that everyone disagrees with, he’s accountable for them in an election. I don’t think it’s going to do irreparable harm to switch that, but…I think it will work fine either way."

Voters will also be asked to consider whether or not an additional at-large council seat should be added if the administrator form of government is approved in the election. Currently, there are eight council members elected from single-member districts, and a supervisor elected countywide. The supervisor, according to Callanan, only votes when there is a tie.

"The last thing you want to do is get a council with an even number of members," added Callanan. "So the way around it, rather than redistricting, is to create an at-large seat."

Voters will also get to weigh in on whether or not a one penny sales tax is needed. If approved, the special sales and use tax will be imposed in Berkeley County for "not more than seven years, or until a total of $206 million in resulting revenue has been collected, whichever occurs first." The money collected would be used to fund a variety of road and infrastructure projects, including improvements to Clements Ferry Road.

"Once this piece of the funding is in place, we will then work with traffic engineers, residents and business owners to come up with a comprehensive plan to fix the problems plaguing all of Clements Ferry Road from I-526 to and including the Wando Bridge," said Callanan, who added that the project list could grow if matching federal funds are secured.  "This will include more than simply widening, but turn around lanes and bicycle and pedestrian access."

Callanan, who has previously voted against raising property taxes, hopes Daniel Island and Cainhoy voters cast ballots in favor of the penny sales tax referendum, citing the community’s sizeable contributions to the county tax base.

"If we are over reliant on property taxes we are constantly going to be paying a disproportionate amount for funding of county operations," he said. "The one penny sales tax is an equitable way to spread the burden around the county…If we cannot fund it through this one penny, I fear that there are enough votes on county council to fund these projects through raising taxes. Residents will be paying a lot more money than simply if they had approved this tax."

The final county referendum question on the ballot will ask voters whether or not they approve of the county obtaining general obligation bonds, payable from the sales tax proceeds, not to exceed $150 million. The funding would allow them to move forward on certain road and infrastructure improvements, instead of waiting for sales tax revenues to come in, said Callanan.

"Generally, the reason you want to do that is because if you don’t, then essentially you’re waiting for the money to trickle in to pay for everything," he added. "Part of all the transportation projects is acquisition of ‘right-of-way’. You’d be buying those ‘right-of-ways’ at today’s depressed real estate prices."

Those casting votes on Daniel Island on Nov. 4 will also help choose a solicitor, auditor, treasurer and soil and conservation director for Berkeley County. In addition, several state amendments will be included (see list on this spread).

Already, interest in the election has surged to record highs, said Wanda Farley, director of elections and voter registration for Berkeley County. Farley and her staff had processed about 6500 absentee ballots as of Thursday, Oct. 23.

"We have never seen anything like this before!" said Farley in an e-mail.

Approximately 1,937 out of 2,297 registered voters on Daniel Island turned out to cast their ballots in the last presidential election. The resulting 84.32 percent voter turnout rate exceeded both state and national averages. This year, the number of registered Daniel Island voters has more than doubled to 4,881. If the 2004 election turnout is any indication, more than 4,000 island residents could head to voting booths at the UBS Center, Daniel Island’s official polling site, on Nov. 4.

Farley said a printed version of the referendum and amendment questions will be available for voters to read prior to casting their ballots. Voters will need to bring a voter registration card, driver’s license, or state-issued identification card to their appropriate polling site. For additional voting information, visit the web site www.scvotes.org.