WALHALLA — Despite soaring temperatures into the 90s, voters picked up the pace Tuesday afternoon in the Republican and Democratic primaries for federal, state and local offices in Oconee County.

By 4:15 more than 340 voters had cast ballots at the Walhalla Fire Department where the District 2 seat on county council is up for a vote.

Incumbent Tommy Crumpton was joined by family members as they greeted voters outside the fire station which had all its bay doors open and fans going full speed.

Challenger Wayne McCall also joined the line of greeters.

In Seneca, air conditioning in the Shaver Recreation Complex went out and city recreation director Rick Lacey called in the fire department to hose down the metal building in an attempt to reduce the inside temperatures.

Fans and increasing the use of the air conditioning units that did work helped keep voters in a comfortable atmosphere.

At 3 p.m. more than 905 Republicans cast ballots while 83 Democratic ballots were punched into the voting machines.

Seneca voters cast ballots for U.S. Senate, South Carolina House District 2 and the Anderson-Oconee solicitor’s post.

Oconee County has roughly 37,485 registered voters and some are predicting a 30 to 40 percent turnout.

Polls at the 30 Oconee County precincts close at 7 p.m. and ballots will be counted in the Oconee County council’s meeting room at the Oconee County Administrative Offices, 415 South Pine Street, Walhalla.