As we look ahead to November’s elections, Irmo Patch is devoted to bring you the information you need about every race in town. 

Here's our start on the candidates and issues we'll be covering as November draws near.

Bookmark this page for updates.

The Ballot Mess knocked hundreds of candidates off the June primary ballots and leaves dozens working on petition campaigns.

The Red Palmetto and Blue Palmetto surveys are weekly attempts to connect our readers to the influential Republicans and Democrats on the ground in South Carolina.

2012 Presidential Race

Barack Obama has some people wondering whether South Carolina is in play.

Mitt Romney becomes the first Republican candidate in three decades to not win the Palmetto State.

Local Elections

Democratic candidate Robert Rikard will face Republican incumbent Sen. John Courson for Senate District 20.

Republican incumbent Sen. Ronnie Cromer, of Prosperity, defeated challengers in the primary. Cromer faces no Democratic opposition in the general election in November.

Rep. Nathan Ballentine, R-Richland, and Rep. Chip Huggins, R-Lexington, are seeking re-election for District 71 and District 85, respectively. 

Lexington County Council 

In the Lexington County Council race, 11 candidates will be on the November ballot for five seats. More than half of the candidates are running as petition candidates after they were removed from the June primary ballot.

Lexington-Richland 5

There are six candidates running for Lexington-Richland 5 school board. 

Check out what they had to say during one of three public forums. Four of the six candidates also wrote letters talking about their qualifications and why they decided to run. 

Voters will vote to fill two seats in Lexington County and one seat in Richland County. Candidates were asked to fill out a questionnaire, which has been posted on the district's website. To view Lexington County candidate responses, click here. For Richland County, click here. 

Lexington County offices

Six Lexington County offices are up for election in November, with most running unopposed.

Amendment and Richland County penny sales tax

On Nov. 6, residents across the state will vote on a constitutional amendment. Richland County residents will also vote on a special sales and use tax also known as the transportation penny tax. 

The increase — a penny per dollar on most purchases for the next 22 years — is estimated to generate more than $1 billion to be used for the bus system, roadways, bike paths, and pedestrian greenway projects. 

A complete list of projects can be found here. 

Constitutional amendment

All voters in the state will decide on whether the lieutenant governor must be elected jointly with the governor beginning with the general election in 2018.

Sample questions

Click here to view a sample of the constitutional amendment question concerning the election of the Lieutenant Governor and transportation tax questions. 

Lexington County Clerk of Court

• Joan Waggoner Guy (D)
• Beth Carigg (R)

Uncontested races

Richland County

Coroner

• Gary Watts 

Sheriff

• Leon Lott

Clerk of Court

• Jeanette McBride

Lexington County

11th Circuit Solicitor

• Donnie Myers

Sheriff

• James R. Metts

Solid and Water District Commission

• John Green is running as a petition candidate

Lexington County Council District 6

• Johnny Jeffcoat

Treasurer 

• Jim Eckstrom (R)

Auditor

• Chris Harmon (R)

Coroner

• Harry Harman (R)

Register of Deeds

• Debbie Gunter (R)

Solid and Water District Commission

• Brent Weaver is running as a petition candidate

Polling locations

If you're unsure of where to vote, you can find your polling location here. 

Check out all the action from the June 12 primary here.