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Republican Party primaries in South Carolina, 2022

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2024
2020

Republican Party primaries, 2022

South Carolina Republican Party.jpg

Primary Date
June 14, 2022

Federal elections
Republican primaries for U.S. House

State party
Republican Party of South Carolina
State political party revenue

This page focuses on the Republican primaries that took place in South Carolina on June 14, 2022.

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. South Carolina utilizes an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary. Voters must take an oath affirming that they have not voted in another party's primary.[1][2]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Federal elections

U.S. Senate

See also: United States Senate election in South Carolina, 2022 (June 14 Republican primary)

The 2022 U.S. Senate elections in South Carolina took place on November 8, 2022. Voters elected one candidate to serve in the U.S. Senate.

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:


Did not make the ballot:

U.S. House

See also: United States House elections in South Carolina, 2022 (June 14 Republican primaries)
The U.S. House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were on November 8, 2022. Voters elected seven candidates to serve in the U.S. House from each of the state's seven U.S. House districts. To see a full list of candidates in the primary in each district, click "Show more" below.
Show more

District 1

Republican Party Republican primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 2

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:


Did not make the ballot:

District 3

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:

District 4

Republican Party Republican primary candidates


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 5

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:

District 6

Republican Party Republican primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 7

Republican Party Republican primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

State elections

House of Representatives

See also: South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2022
The South Carolina House of Representatives was one of 88 state legislative chambers with elections in 2022. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2020, 86 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections. To see a full list of state House candidates in the Republican primaries, click "Show more" below.
Show more

South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2022

  • Incumbents are marked with an (i) after their name.
  • Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
  • * = The primary was canceled and the candidate advanced.
Office Democratic Party Democratic Republican Party Republican Other
District 1

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngBill Whitmire (i)
Wally Sparks

District 2

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngBill Sandifer III* (i)

District 3

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngJerry Carter* (i)

District 4

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngDavey Hiott (i)
Matthew Kutilek  Candidate Connection

District 5

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngNeal Collins (i)
Clay Hamlett
Dennis Bo Roberts

District 6

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Brian White (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngApril Cromer

District 7

Green check mark transparent.pngChris Salley*  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngJay West (i)
Alex Foppoli  Candidate Connection

District 8

Green check mark transparent.pngErnest Mackins*  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngDon Chapman*  Candidate Connection

District 9

Green check mark transparent.pngJudith Polson*

Green check mark transparent.pngAnne Thayer* (i)

District 10

The Democratic primary was canceled.


West Cox (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngThomas Beach  Candidate Connection
Mark Durham

District 11

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngCraig Gagnon* (i)

District 12

Green check mark transparent.pngJ. Anne Parks* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngDaniel Gibson*

District 13

Green check mark transparent.pngBill Kimler*  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngJohn McCravy* (i)

District 14

Green check mark transparent.pngDaniel Duncan*  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngStewart Jones (i)
Joe Benson
Cole Kazmarski  Candidate Connection

District 15

Green check mark transparent.pngJA Moore* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngLatrecia Pond*

District 16

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngMark Willis* (i)

District 17

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngMike Burns* (i)

District 18

Green check mark transparent.pngMichael Reitz*  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngAlan Morgan (i)
Keith Jones

Did not make the ballot:
Wyatt Miler 

District 19

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngPatrick Haddon* (i)

District 20

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngAdam Morgan* (i)

Did not make the ballot:
Peter Buttram 

District 21

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngBobby Cox* (i)

District 22

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngJason Elliott (i)
Brett Brocato

District 23

Green check mark transparent.pngChandra Dillard* (i)

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 24

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngBruce Bannister* (i)

District 25

Adriene Atkinson  Candidate Connection
Justin Bennett
Runoff Arrow.jpgWendell Jones  Candidate Connection
Runoff Arrow.jpgDerrick Quarles
Bruce Wilson

Green check mark transparent.pngYvonne Julian*  Candidate Connection

District 26

Green check mark transparent.pngMatt Vilardebo*  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngR. Raye Felder* (i)

District 27

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Cynthia Horner
Laird Minor
Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Vaughan
Ira Williams

District 28

Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Fritz Wiebel*

Green check mark transparent.pngAshley Trantham* (i)

District 29

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngDennis Moss* (i)

District 30

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Dean Cook
Runoff Arrow.jpgBrian Lawson  Candidate Connection
Runoff Arrow.jpgJimbo Martin
Stephanie Smith
Dennis Stroupe
Shannon Tyler

District 31

Green check mark transparent.pngRosalyn Henderson Myers* (i)

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 32

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngMax Hyde* (i)

District 33

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngTravis Moore (i)
Bill DeVore

District 34

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngRoger Nutt* (i)

District 35

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngBill Chumley* (i)

Did not make the ballot:
Joseph H. Pellegrino 

District 36

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Merita Ann Allison (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngRobert Harris

District 37

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngSteven Long* (i)

District 38

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngJosiah Magnuson* (i)

District 39

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngCal Forrest (i)
Katie Hall

District 40

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Richard Martin (i)
Runoff Arrow.jpgTammy Johns
Runoff Arrow.jpgJoe White  Candidate Connection

District 41

Green check mark transparent.pngAnnie McDaniel* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngJennifer Brecheisen*

District 42

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngDoug Gilliam (i)
Melinda Butler

District 43

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngRandy Ligon (i)
Mark Corral

District 44

Green check mark transparent.pngKatie Crosby*  Candidate Connection

Solomon Goldiamond
Green check mark transparent.pngMike Neese

District 45

Green check mark transparent.pngKeith Grey*  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngBrandon Newton* (i)

District 46

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Barry Baker
Green check mark transparent.pngHeath Sessions

District 47

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngTommy Pope* (i)

District 48

Green check mark transparent.pngAndrew Russell*  Candidate Connection

Runoff Arrow.jpgElizabeth Enns
Runoff Arrow.jpgBrandon Guffey  Candidate Connection
Jamie Michelle Henrickson

District 49

Green check mark transparent.pngJohn King* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngThomas Hardin*

District 50

Green check mark transparent.pngWill Wheeler* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngMarvin Jones*

District 51

Green check mark transparent.pngJ. David Weeks* (i)

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 52

Green check mark transparent.pngEve Carlin*

Vic Dabney (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngBen Connell

District 53

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngRichie Yow* (i)

District 54

Green check mark transparent.pngPatricia Henegan* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngSterling McDiarmid*

District 55

Green check mark transparent.pngJackie Hayes (i)
Jamal Campbell

Green check mark transparent.pngRobert Norton  Candidate Connection
Tracy Pelt

District 56

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngTim McGinnis* (i)

District 57

Green check mark transparent.pngLucas Atkinson* (i)

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 58

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Did not make the ballot:
John Ward 

Green check mark transparent.pngJeff Johnson* (i)

District 59

Green check mark transparent.pngTerry Alexander* (i)

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 60

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngPhillip Lowe* (i)

District 61

Green check mark transparent.pngAshlyn Preaux*  Candidate Connection

John Cassidy
Green check mark transparent.pngCarla Schuessler

District 62

Green check mark transparent.pngRobert Williams (i)
Bryson Caldwell

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 63

Green check mark transparent.pngVincent Coe*  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngJay Jordan* (i)

District 64

Green check mark transparent.pngKimberly Johnson* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngFawn Pedalino*

District 65

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngCody Mitchell*

District 66

Green check mark transparent.pngCarla Litrenta*  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngDavid O'Neal*  Candidate Connection

District 67

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngG. Murrell Smith Jr.* (i)

District 68

Green check mark transparent.pngErnest Carson*  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngHeather Ammons Crawford* (i)

District 69

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngChris Wooten* (i)

District 70

Wendy Brawley (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngJermaine Johnson (i)
Bridgette Jones Larry  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngVincent Wilson*

District 71

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngNathan Ballentine (i)
Paul Erickson

District 72

Green check mark transparent.pngSeth Rose* (i)

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 73

Green check mark transparent.pngChristopher Hart (i)
Touami Pride

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 74

Green check mark transparent.pngJames Rutherford* (i)

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 75

Green check mark transparent.pngHeather Bauer*  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngKirkman Finlay III* (i)

District 76

Green check mark transparent.pngLeon Howard* (i)

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 77

Green check mark transparent.pngKambrell Garvin* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngKizzie Smalls  Candidate Connection
William Treadway Jr.

District 78

Green check mark transparent.pngBeth Bernstein* (i)

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 79

Green check mark transparent.pngIvory Thigpen* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngMelissa McFadden*

District 80

Green check mark transparent.pngDonna Newton*  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngKathy Landing
Chris Staubes

District 81

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngBart Blackwell (i)
Betsy Lamb  Candidate Connection

District 82

Green check mark transparent.pngWilliam Clyburn Sr.* (i)

Did not make the ballot:
Brian Doyle 

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 83

Green check mark transparent.pngJerico McCoy*  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngBill Hixon* (i)

District 84

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngMelissa Oremus* (i)

District 85

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Rebecca Blackburn Hines
Catherine Huddle
Green check mark transparent.pngJay Kilmartin  Candidate Connection
Christian Stegmaier

District 86

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngBill Taylor* (i)

District 87

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngPaula Rawl Calhoon* (i)

District 88

Green check mark transparent.pngDaniel Shrief*  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngRJ May* (i)

District 89

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngMicah Caskey (i)
Melanie Shull

District 90

Green check mark transparent.pngJustin Bamberg (i)
Evert Comer Jr.

Green check mark transparent.pngSharon Carter*  Candidate Connection

District 91

Green check mark transparent.pngLonnie Hosey (i)
Kevin Ray

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 92

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngBrandon Cox*  Candidate Connection

District 93

Green check mark transparent.pngRussell L. Ott* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngJim Ulmer*

District 94

Green check mark transparent.pngIlene Davis*  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngGil Gatch* (i)

District 95

Green check mark transparent.pngGilda Cobb-Hunter* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngJeffrey Cila*  Candidate Connection

District 96

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngD. Ryan McCabe* (i)

District 97

Damian Daly
Green check mark transparent.pngReZsaun Lewis  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngRobby Robbins (i)
Candace Jennings  (unofficially withdrew)
Glenn Posey

District 98

Green check mark transparent.pngSydney Clinton*  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngChris Murphy (i)
Greg Ford

District 99

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngMark Smith* (i)

District 100

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngSylleste Davis* (i)

District 101

Runoff Arrow.jpgRoger Kirby (i)
Runoff Arrow.jpgCezar McKnight (i)
William Terry Wallace

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 102

Green check mark transparent.pngJoseph Jefferson Jr. (i)
Collin Holloway

Green check mark transparent.pngRalph Elsey*

District 103

Green check mark transparent.pngCarl Anderson* (i)

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 104

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngWilliam Bailey* (i)

District 105

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngKevin J. Hardee* (i)

District 106

Green check mark transparent.pngRyan Thompson*  Candidate Connection

Bruce Bailey
Howard Barnard
Runoff Arrow.jpgVal Guest
Runoff Arrow.jpgBrian Sweeney  Candidate Connection

District 107

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngCase Brittain* (i)

District 108

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngLee Hewitt* (i)

District 109

Green check mark transparent.pngDeon Tedder* (i)

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 110

Green check mark transparent.pngEllis Roberts*  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngTom Hartnett*

District 111

Green check mark transparent.pngWendell Gilliard* (i)

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 112

Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Artushin  Candidate Connection
Stephen Hilton  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngJoe Bustos (i)
Jackie LaPan Edgerton
Ross Ward

District 113

Green check mark transparent.pngMarvin Pendarvis* (i)

The Republican primary was canceled.


District 114

Green check mark transparent.pngMichelle Brandt*  Candidate Connection

Lin Bennett (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngGary Brewer

District 115

Green check mark transparent.pngSpencer Wetmore* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngCarroll O'Neal*

District 116

Green check mark transparent.pngChardale Murray* (i)

Dixie Button  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngMatthew Leber  Candidate Connection

District 117

Green check mark transparent.pngKrystle Matthews* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngJordan Pace*

District 118

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngBill Herbkersman* (i)

District 119

Green check mark transparent.pngLeonidas Stavrinakis* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngKen Fipps*  Candidate Connection

District 120

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngWeston Newton* (i)

District 121

Green check mark transparent.pngMichael Rivers (i)
Marvin Lamar Bowens

Green check mark transparent.pngEric Erickson
Timothy Swain

District 122

Green check mark transparent.pngShedron Williams* (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngBill Hager*

District 123

The Democratic primary was canceled.


Green check mark transparent.pngJeff Bradley* (i)

District 124

Green check mark transparent.pngBarb Nash*  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngShannon Erickson* (i)


State executive offices

See also: South Carolina state executive official elections, 2022

Eight state executive offices were up for election in South Carolina in 2022:

Governor
Lieutenant Governor
Attorney General
Secretary of State
Treasurer
Comptroller
Superintendent of Education
Agriculture Commissioner

To see a full list of candidates in the Republican primaries, click "Show more" below.
Show more

Governor

Republican Party Republican primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Lieutenant Governor

There are no official candidates yet for this election.

Attorney General

Republican Party Republican primary candidates


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Secretary of State

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

Treasurer

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Comptroller

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:

Superintendent of Education

Republican Party Republican primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Agriculture Commissioner

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

Primary election competitiveness

See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2022

This section contains information about the primary election competitiveness of election in South Carolina. For more information about this data, click here.


U.S. Senate competitiveness

U.S. House competitiveness

Post-filing deadline analysis

The following analysis covers all U.S. House districts up for election in South Carolina in 2022. Information below was calculated on May 10, 2022, and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.

Twenty-eight candidates filed to run for South Carolina’s seven U.S. House districts, including nine Democrats and 19 Republicans. That’s four candidates per district, more than the 2.86 candidates per district in 2020 and less than the 6.14 in 2018.

This was the first election to take place under new district lines following the 2020 census. South Carolina was apportioned seven districts, the same number it was apportioned after the 2010 census. All incumbents ran for re-election, meaning there were no open seats this year. The only years to feature open seats between 2012 and 2022 were 2018, when the 4th district was open, and 2012, when the newly-drawn 7th district was open.

There were two contested Democratic primaries this year, the lowest number since 2016, and four contested Republican primaries, the highest number since at least 2012.

Eight candidates - one Democrat and seven Republicans, including incumbent Rep. Tom Rice (R) - filed to run in the 7th district, more than in any other. That’s three less than the highest number of candidates who ran for a seat in 2020, when five candidates ran in the 1st district. There were three districts - the 2nd, the 3rd, and the 5th - where incumbents did not face primary challengers. One district - the 3rd - was guaranteed to Republicans because no Democrats filed. No districts were guaranteed to Democrats because no Republicans filed.

State executive competitiveness

State legislative competitiveness

Post-filing deadline analysis

The following analysis covers all state legislative districts up for election in South Carolina in 2022. Information below was calculated on May 25, 2022, and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.

The number of contested primaries in the South Carolina House of Representatives rose to 48 in 2022, the most since 2014. With 124 House districts holding elections, this represents 19% of the 248 possible primaries in the chamber.

Of those 44 contested primaries, 12 included Democrats and 36 included Republicans. For Democrats, this was down from 17 in 2020, a 29% decrease. For Republicans, the number increased 50% from 24 in the previous cycle

Ten of the contested primaries took place in open districts where no incumbents filed to run. The remaining 34 contested primaries included incumbents: 11 Democrats and 23 Republicans. That equals 30.6% of incumbents who filed for re-election, the largest percentage since 2018 in the chamber.

Context of the 2022 elections

South Carolina Party Control: 1992-2025
No Democratic trifectas  •  Twenty-three years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor R R R R R R R D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Senate D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
House D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

State party overview

Republican Party of South Carolina

See also: Republican Party of South Carolina

State political party revenue

See also: State political party revenue and State political party revenue per capita

State political parties typically deposit revenue in separate state and federal accounts in order to comply with state and federal campaign finance laws.

The Democratic Party and the Republican Party maintain state affiliates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and select U.S. territories. The following map displays total state political party revenue per capita for the Republican state party affiliates.


Voter information

How the primary works

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. South Carolina utilizes an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary. Voters must take an oath affirming that they have not voted in another party's primary.[1][3]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Poll times

In South Carolina, all polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[4]


Registration requirements

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in South Carolina, one must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of the county and precinct where he or she is registering, and at least 18 years old by Election Day. People who have been declared mentally incompetent by court order, are imprisoned, or are still serving a sentence for a felony conviction are ineligible to register to vote.[5] The deadline for registration is 30 days before the election. Prospective voters may register using one of the following methods:

  • Online,
  • In person at the county board of elections or one of the following locations:
    • Armed Forces Recruiting Stations
    • Commission for the Blind
    • Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services
    • Department of Disabilities and Special Needs
    • Department of Health and Environmental Control
    • Department of Health and Human Services
    • Department of Mental Health
    • Department of Motor Vehicles
    • Department of Social Services
    • Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities
    • Vocational Rehabilitation Department
  • Returning a voter registration form by email, fax, or mail to the county board of voter registration. Note that mailed applications must be postmarked by at least 30 days before the election.[5]


Automatic registration

South Carolina does not practice automatic voter registration.[1]

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

South Carolina has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

South Carolina does not allow same-day voter registration.[1]

Residency requirements

Prospective voters must be residents of the county and precinct in which they are registering to vote.[5]

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

South Carolina does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration.[5] An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[6] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The South Carolina Election Commission allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting the MyscVOTES website.


Voter ID requirements

South Carolina requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[4][7]

Voters can present the following forms of identification:

  • SC Driver’s License
  • SC Department of Motor Vehicles ID Card
    • includes SC Concealed Weapons Permit
  • SC Voter Registration Card with Photo
  • U.S. Passport
  • Federal Military ID
    • includes all Department of Defense Photo IDs and the Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Card

Voters can obtain a free photo ID from a local DMV office or a county elections office.[8]

Early voting

South Carolina permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.

Absentee voting

According to the South Carolina Election Commission's website, only the following types of voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail:[9]

  • Persons with employment obligations which prevent them from voting during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day.
  • Persons attending a sick or physically disabled person which prevents them from voting during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day.
  • Persons confined to a jail or pretrial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial which prevents them from voting during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day.
  • Persons who will be absent from their county of residence during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day.
  • Persons with physical disabilities.
  • Persons sixty-five years of age or older.
  • Members of the Armed Forces and Merchant Marines of the United States, their spouses, and dependents residing with them (Learn more about procedures related to Military and Overseas Citizens).
  • Persons admitted to a hospital as an emergency patient on the day of the election or within a four-day period before the election.[10]

To vote absentee, voters must first request an application for the absentee ballot. Application requests can be made in person, by phone, or by mail. The absentee ballot application must then be completed and returned to the voter's county voter registration office by 5:00 p.m. at least 11 days before Election Day. Once completed, the ballot must be received by the county voter registration office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.[9] According to the South Carolina Election Commission's website, only the following types of voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail:[9]

  • Persons with employment obligations which prevent them from voting during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day.
  • Persons attending a sick or physically disabled person which prevents them from voting during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day.
  • Persons confined to a jail or pretrial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial which prevents them from voting during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day.
  • Persons who will be absent from their county of residence during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day.
  • Persons with physical disabilities.
  • Persons sixty-five years of age or older.
  • Members of the Armed Forces and Merchant Marines of the United States, their spouses, and dependents residing with them (Learn more about procedures related to Military and Overseas Citizens).
  • Persons admitted to a hospital as an emergency patient on the day of the election or within a four-day period before the election.[10]

To vote absentee, voters must first request an application for the absentee ballot. Application requests can be made in person, by phone, or by mail. The absentee ballot application must then be completed and returned to the voter's county voter registration office by 5:00 p.m. at least 11 days before Election Day. Once completed, the ballot must be received by the county voter registration office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.[9]

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Five of 46 South Carolina counties—10.9 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
Barnwell County, South Carolina 5.16% 5.33% 1.65%
Calhoun County, South Carolina 2.83% 4.31% 3.55%
Chester County, South Carolina 4.83% 10.58% 8.30%
Colleton County, South Carolina 8.49% 0.19% 0.53%
McCormick County, South Carolina 3.32% 3.60% 6.08%

In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won South Carolina with 54.9 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 40.7 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, South Carolina cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 53.3 percent of the time. In that same time frame, South Carolina supported Democratic candidates for president more often than Republican candidates, 53.3 to 43.3 percent. South Carolina favored Republicans in every presidential election between 2000 and 2016.

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in South Carolina. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns show the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns show the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[11][12]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 39 out of 124 state House districts in South Carolina with an average margin of victory of 32.8 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 38 out of 124 state House districts in South Carolina with an average margin of victory of 28.3 points. Clinton won one district controlled by a Republican heading into the 2018 elections.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 85 out of 124 state House districts in South Carolina with an average margin of victory of 28.7 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 86 out of 124 state House districts in South Carolina with an average margin of victory of 30.1 points. Trump won seven districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.


See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 NCSL,"State Primary Election Types," accessed September 24, 2024 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "ncsl" defined multiple times with different content
  2. South Carolina Legislature,"South Carolina Code of Laws Unannotated § 7-9-10," accessed September 24, 2024
  3. South Carolina Legislature,"South Carolina Code of Laws Unannotated § 7-9-10," accessed September 24, 2024
  4. 4.0 4.1 South Carolina Election Commission, "FAQs for the 2024 General Election," accessed August 20, 2024
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 South Carolina Election Commission, “Register to Vote,” accessed May 2, 2023
  6. Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
  7. Justia, "SC Code § 7-13-710 (2022)," accessed May 2, 2023
  8. South Carolina Elections Commission, "FAQs for the 2024 General Election, accessed August 13, 2024
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 South Carolina State Election Commission, "Absentee Voting," accessed May 2, 2023
  10. 10.0 10.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  11. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  12. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017