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South Carolina voter guide

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The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.

This article includes the following information about voting policies in South Carolina:

Click here for more information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.

For information on elections happening this year, click here.

Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.

Voter registration

Eligibility and registration details

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.[1] 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.[1]



In-person voting

Poll times

See also: State poll opening and closing 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.[2]


Voter identification

See also: Voter identification laws by state

South Carolina requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[2][3]

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.[4] According to the South Carolina Election Commission's website, only the following types of voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail:[5]

“
  • 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.[6]
 ”

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.[5]

Early voting

See also: 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/mail-in voting

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

According to the South Carolina Election Commission's website, only the following types of voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail:[5]

“
  • 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.[6]
 ”

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.[5]

Local election officials

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Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool.

Voting rules for people convicted of a felony

See also: Voting rights for people convicted of a felony

In South Carolina, voting rights are restored to people convicted of a felony upon the completion of their sentence, including probation and parole.[1]

Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[7]


Election administration agencies

Election agencies

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission
See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in South Carolina can contact the following local, South Carolina, and federal agencies.

South Carolina Voter Registration and Elections Offices

Click here for a list

South Carolina State Election Commission

Physical Address: 1122 Lady Street, Suite 500
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5987
Columbia, South Carolina 29250-5987
Phone: 803-734-9060
Fax: 803-734-9366
Email: elections@elections.sc.gov
Website: https://scvotes.gov

South Carolina State Ethics Commission

201 Executive Center Drive, Suite 150
Columbia, South Carolina 29210
Phone: 803-253-4192
Fax: 803-253-7539
Email: https://ethics.sc.gov/about-us/contact-us
Website: https://ethics.sc.gov

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
Website: https://www.eac.gov


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See also

Elections in South Carolina


External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 South Carolina Election Commission, “Register to Vote,” accessed May 2, 2023
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 South Carolina Election Commission, "FAQs for the 2024 General Election," accessed August 20, 2024
  3. ↑ Justia, "SC Code § 7-13-710 (2022)," accessed May 2, 2023
  4. ↑ South Carolina Elections Commission, "FAQs for the 2024 General Election, accessed August 13, 2024
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 South Carolina State Election Commission, "Absentee Voting," accessed May 2, 2023
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  7. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," April 6, 2023
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