COLUMBIA, S.C. — Polls across the South Carolina are open until 7 p.m. as municipal elections are taking place all across the area. Voters are choosing mayors and town councilmembers in cities, as well as a primary for a vacant SC House seat in Lexington County.

Polls closed at 7 p.m. Tuesday across South Carolina in local races that state election officials say have a direct impact on the day-to-day lives of people in the Lowcountry.

Election leaders say it’s a day when voter turnout tends to be low, but the stakes are high for many Upstate communities.

Municipal Election Day here, with local elections taking place across South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. Municipal elections decide who will lead your city or town, including positions like mayor, council, and other local offices that directly affect your community.

About Politics is a voter's guide to the action taken by South Carolina politicians, both at home and in Washington D.C.

HOUR AT 5 P.M., AND ELECTION DAY IS NEXT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER THE 4TH. POLLS IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND IN GEORGIA WILL BE OPEN FROM SEVEN IN THE MORNING UNTIL SEVEN IN THE EVENING. IN NORTH CAROLINA, THAT’S 630 IN THE MORNING UNTIL 730 IN THE EVENING.

Watch our live stream at 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4 in the video player up above. Our live election coverage will continue at 11 p.m. on WBTV News -- which you can continue watching in the video player above. Local municipal elections were held across counties in the Carolinas, and around the U.S., on Tuesday.

Voters across the Lowcountry will head to the polls on November 4 to cast their ballots in dozens of municipal elections, deciding who will lead their cities and

South Carolina's former elections director Howard Knapp has been arrested and charged with embezzlement and misconduct in office.

Educate yourself on the candidates and issues by checking your sample ballot at scVOTES.gov. Find your polling place address at scVOTES.gov. Since Election Day is not a federal holiday, U.S. post offices will be open and mail will be delivered on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Mary Beth Gray Hayward and Darryl Owens will serve another 4 years on the council in one of Beaufort County's few contested races on this election day. The incumbent candidates for the Port Royal Town council came out on top.