Government Structure & Elections
Bluffton uses a " Town Council-Manager " form of government. Here ' s how it works:
Town council sets policies and project priorities The town manager and staff implement these priorities The town manager works together with town staff to manage daily operations
Town Council
Bluffton Town Council includes the mayor and four council members. All serve four-year terms that overlap. This means not all seats are up for election at the same time.
Town council members are non-partisan and represent all residents. Representation is not divided by wards or districts. Residents vote for each seat on the council, not just for representatives from their neighborhood.
Tip: Think of the town council as the board of directors, and the town manager as the CEO.
Election Calendar
Elections happen every two years on oddnumbered years. They don ' t happen during national election years.
Town elections follow a regular schedule: Elections happen every two years Elections take place in odd-numbered years Elections are held in November
Council Compensation
Council members receive a salary for their service but do not work“ full-time” for the town. The town manager is the full-time employee who oversees daily operations. Salaries help to cover their time and expenses for attending meetings and serving the community.
VOTER REGISTRATION
County Oversight
Beaufort County runs all elections in the county, even for the Town of Bluffton. The Beaufort County Board of Voter Registration and Elections manages voter registration, polling locations and the voting process.
How to Register
Voter enrollment is not automatic. You must register with the County Board of Elections to vote in any local, state or federal election. Contact the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County at( 843) 255-6900 or beaufortcountysc. gov / vote
Reminder
Polling precincts( voting locations) change based on population changes in the area. It ' s always a good idea to check your registration and polling location at least two months before an election to ensure your information is up to date.
DID YOU KNOW?
South Carolina is an open primary state. This means you do not declare a political party when you register to vote. During primary elections( the process of selecting candidates), you choose in which party’ s primary to vote.
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WE’ RE HERE TO HELP( 843) 706-4500 townofbluffton. sc. gov