UPSTATE — Voters will have a chance to make their wills known next Tuesday as they go to the polls for the 2010 General Election.

With the growing faction of “tea party” voters, this could be one of the more interesting elections in years.

Locally, not many seats are up for grabs. S.C. House representatives B.R. Skelton, David Hiott and Phil Owens each are unopposed in the election.

Walt Wilkins is unopposed in his bid to replace Bob Arial as the solicitor for the 13th Circuit Court.

Kathy Patterson is unopposed in her bid for reelection as the county’s probate judge.

On the Pickens County School Board, Jim Shelton faces no opposition in his bid for re-election for District Six.

B.J. Skelton is being challenged by political newcomer Jimmy Gillespie for the District One seat on the school board.

Oscar Thorsland chose not to seek reelection to the board for his seat representing District Four. Former Pickens County Councilman Ben Trotter is facing Roy B. Costner for the right to succeed Thorsland.

For Pickens County Council, Republican Trey Whitehurst is unopposed for the District Two seat.

Republican Bill Reid will face Democrat Jeffery S. Martin to see who will succeed Dr. James London as the representative for District One Seat.

Republican Eric Bikas faces Democrat Judy Gilstrap for the S.C. House District 26 seat. The seat is currently held by Rex Rice, but Rice chose to attempt to earn his party’s nomination of the U.S. House seat held by Gresham Barrett.

Rice ran an unsuccessful bid for his party’s nomination, and was defeated by Jeff Duncan of Laurens. Duncan now faced Democratic challenge Jane Ballard Dyer for the seat in Tuesday’s election.

Ballard is actually on the ballot twice, once as the nominee of the Democratic Party and once as the nominee of the Working Families Party. John Dalen, representing the Constitution Party, is also seeking the seat.

The state has a full slate of political races. Republican Nikki Haley faces Democrat Vincent Sheheen for the office of South Carolina Governor. Also seeking the office is Morgan Bruce Reeves, who is on the ballot both as the nomanee of the Green Party and the United Citizens Party.

Republican Ken Ard faces Democrat Ashley Cooper for the office of Lt. Governor.

Republican Mark Hammond faces Democrat Marjorie L. Johnson in the race for S.C. Secretary of State.

The race for S.C. Attorney General features Democrat Matthew Richardson, Republican Alan Wilson and Green Party candidate Leslie Minerd.

Republican Richard Eckstrom faces Democrat Robert Barbar in the race for Comptroller General.

The race for Secretary of Education is a full one, with five candidates: Republican Mick Zais, Democrat Frank Hollemon, Liberterian Tim Moultrie, Green Party candidate Doretha A. Bull and Tony Tayyazi of the Independence Party.

S.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers, a Republican, is being challenged by Democrat Tom E. Elliott.

U.S. Senator Jim DeMint, a Republican, faces the challenge of Democrat Alvin Greene and Tom Clements of the Green Party.

Republican Bob Livingston has no opponent in his bid for the seat of Adjutant General.