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Allen, who will be a poll worker today, had to drive to County Square last fall and look at maps to find that, although she never moved, new lines, put her in Scott Case's District 20, instead of Joe Dill's District 17.

The district lines were redrawn two years ago as a result of population shifts detected by the 2000 U.S. Census. But like many of her neighbors, she doesn't remember ever receiving a card in the mail or some other official notification.

She fears that some in her neighborhood could miss the chance to vote in the county's most hotly contested race, the Republican primary pitting Case against challenger Hayne Hipp.

"By the time my neighbors learn officially, they will be disenfranchised in this county council race," she said.

When some Greenville County voters head to the polls today, they will find themselves voting in a different council district than last time.

That's because thousands of county residents were moved from one county council district to another as part of reapportionment two years ago. As only half the Greenville County council seats are up for election every two years, and state Senate terms run four years, this will be the first election for some affected voters since the lines were redrawn.

Voters receive written notification when they are moved into a different precinct or their polling place changes, according to state law. There is no such notification requirement when they find themselves on the other side of a district line, whether it's county council, school board or state House and Senate seats.

Conway Belangia, Greenville County Election Commission director, said various political bodies should take responsibility for informing voters. "We have no money in our budget," he said.

Neither Belangia nor other state and local election officials could say how many might have changed council districts when the lines were re-drawn in 2002.

District lines must keep district populations within 5 percent of a target — this year that's between 30,000 and 33,000 residents in County Council districts.

Voters who live near the center of districts — like in the cities of Greer, Fountain Inn, Simpsonville or north of Travelers Rest probably haven't changed. But voters who live near district lines should check to see which races they'll be voting in.

In order to be sure, voters can ask workers at their local polling site today for a list of the candidates running in the Democratic and Republican primaries in their district.

This will help them figure out who their representatives are, too.

Belangia said the County Council's District 27, which includes Fountain Inn and most of Simpsonville, is in the largest growth area in the entire state and shrank geographically. This led to the Pliney precinct, which he said has about 7,000 voters in it, getting split with part of it going into County Council District 21. So, some voters once represented by Dozier Brooks will find they currently are represented by Phyllis Henderson.

Anna B. Brutzman can be reached at 298-4394. Jason Zacher can be reached at 298-4272. Paul Alongi contributed to this report.