Several thousand House District 24 voters are expected at the polls for today's Republican primary.

Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

GOP leaders expect it to be the first step in the process with none of the four candidates likely to emerge with a majority -- and the nomination outright.

A runoff, if necessary, will be Aug. 30.

The only Democrat in the race, Michelle Shain, has no primary opponent and won't appear on the ballot until the Oct. 4 special election.

Seeking their party's nomination for the seat vacated June 2 by 25-year Republican incumbent David Wilkins are four Republican lawyers: Bruce Bannister, Tom Ervin, William Herlong and Warren Mowry.

The winner in October will serve the remaining 15 months of Wilkins' two-year term.

Weather forecasts call for a typical mid-August day, with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s when the polls open to upper 80s when they close with a 90-degree high in between.

Scattered afternoon and evening thundershowers are predicted.

Conway Belangia, director of the Greenville County Election Commission, predicted a stronger-than-usual turnout for a special election, up to 30 percent of the district's 23,000 eligible voters.

The district includes Greenville's Augusta Road area, several Mauldin precincts and adjacent suburbs. Polling places