Question 1

Absentee Ballot Process

Accepted Answer

Absentee voting is available if you meet any of the criteria below. The last day to request an absentee ballot is 4 days before the election. Voted ballots must be received by 7 pm on Election Day in order to be counted.    You may vote by absentee ballot if you are:  On vacation or outside the county on Election Day  A member of the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine, and your spouse and dependents who reside with you are also eligible  For reasons of employment, not able to vote on election day  Physically disabled  65 years of age or older  Serving as a juror in state or federal court on election day  Admitted to the hospital as an emergency patient on the day of the election or within a four-day period before the election  Confined to a jail or pre-trial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial  A certified poll watcher, poll manager, and county election official working on election day  A student attending school outside your county of residence or are a spouse or dependent of such a student  A person serving with the American Red Cross or with the United Service Organizations who are attached to and serving with the Armed Forces outside your county of residence or a spouse or dependent of such a person  A Government employee serving outside your county of residence on Election Day or a spouse or dependent of such a person  A person with a death or funeral in the family within three days before the election  An overseas voter  A person attending to a sick or physically disabled person  A person who for religious reasons does not want to vote on a Saturday (for Presidential Primaries only)   To request an absentee ballot by mail, request the application and either email, mail, or fax your county voter registration office. You will then be mailed an application. Complete the application, sign, and return the completed application to your county voter registration office by 5 pm on the 4th day before the election. You may return the application in person or by mail, email, or fax. You will then be mailed an absentee ballot.   Those who requested an absentee ballot but end up voting in person: The voter may return the ballot in person to the county election office where it will be canceled and the voter may then vote in person. The voter can also return the completed ballot in person at the county election office or satellite offices.  It does not have to be mailed.  To check the status of your absentee ballot, please use our state's tool.

Question 2

Campaign Finance Information

Accepted Answer

For information on federal campaign contributions, please visit Open Secrets. For information on state campaign contributions, please visit your state's resource.

Question 3

Candidate and Ballot Measure Information

Accepted Answer

Information on local, state, and federal candidates and ballot measures may be available here.  To see a list of available races, visit the race index.

Question 4

Drop Boxes

Accepted Answer

No drop boxes are available. Vote and return the ballot to your county voter registration office either by mail or personal delivery.  Place the ballot in the "ballot here-in" envelope and place the "ballot here-in" envelope in the return envelope.  Be sure to sign the voter's oath and have your signature witnessed.  Anyone can witness your signature.  A notary is not necessary.

Question 5

Early Voting

Accepted Answer

You can vote early in person by visiting your county voter registration office and completing an application for an absentee ballot. You may then vote absentee in person until 5 pm on the day before the election.

Question 6

Election Dates

Accepted Answer

To view, a list of ALL upcoming elections in South Carolina click here.   The next election dates can be found at https://www.vote411.org/south-carolina. Contact your local Board of Elections for more information.

Question 7

Eligibility Requirements

Accepted Answer

To be eligible to vote you must be: A United States citizen At least 18 years old on or before the election A resident of South Carolina Not under a court order declaring you mentally incompetent Not confined in any public prison resulting from a conviction of a crime Not convicted of a felony or offense against the election laws or if previously convicted, have served the entire sentence, including probation or parole, or have received a pardon for the conviction

Question 8

ID Needed for Voter Registration

Accepted Answer

If you are registering for the first time by mail, you must attach a copy of a current valid photo ID or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address in the county where you wish to vote.  If you do not provide this identification information by mail, you will be required to provide it when you vote.

Question 9

ID Needed for Voting?

Accepted Answer

You must show an acceptable form of photo ID in order to vote.  Acceptable forms of ID include: South Carolina Driver's License ID Card Issued by South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles South Carolina Voter Registration Card with Photo Federal Military ID U.S. Passport  If you do not have one of the above photo IDs, you can get one for free by: Registered voters can get a voter registration card with a photo from their county voter registration and elections office by providing their date of birth and the last four digits of their Social Security number. Get a DMV ID card at a local DMV office. To see what documentation is required click here.  If you do not have a photo ID on Election Day you may be able to vote a provisional ballot after showing your non-photo voter registration card. You must have a reasonable impediment to obtaining a photo ID in order to vote on the provisional ballot. Reasonable impediments include: Religious objection to being photographed Disability or illness Work schedule Lack of transportation Lack of birth certificate Family responsibilities Any other obstacle you find reasonable  To vote under the reasonable impediment exception: Present your current, non-photo registration card at the polling place Sign an affidavit stating why you cannot obtain a photo ID Cast a provisional ballot that will be counted unless the county election commission has reason to believe your affidavit is false.  If you do not have a photo ID and do not have a reasonable impediment to obtaining one, or you forgot to bring it with you to the polls, you may still vote a provisional ballot. However, for your vote to be counted you must provide one of the photo IDs to the county election commission prior to certification of the election (usually the Thursday or Friday after the election).  Voters can call or text 844-338-8743 at any time to reach VoteRiders Voter ID Helpline

Question 10

Official Results

Accepted Answer

Official results are never available on Election Day. Election officials are working around the clock to count an unprecedented number of ballots, and it’s essential that they take the time to make sure every vote is counted.  Absentee ballots begin being counted on Election Day. Provisional ballots are counted before the Friday after a General Election.  Official election results will be uploaded on South Carolina’s Election Commission website as they become available.

Question 11

Overseas and Military Voters

Accepted Answer

You are a Military or Overseas voter if you are in uniformed services, living overseas OR a spouse, or dependent of a uniformed services voter. To get registered and vote, you can utilize Overseas Vote Foundation.  If you have additional questions about elections and voting overseas you can use our state-specific elections official directory or contact the Overseas Vote Foundation.

Question 12

Poll Worker Information

Accepted Answer

Visit www.workelections.org to find localized information for becoming a poll worker in your area.  In order to be a poll worker in South Carolina, you must be: Registered to vote in South Carolina At least 18 years of age A resident of the county 30 days prior to the election Complete required training Students 16 years or older may serve as poll manager's assistant  You will be entitled to compensation. You can fill out the application to become a poll worker here! To sign up, contact your local board of elections.

Question 13

Polling Place Hours

Accepted Answer

The polls will be open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Question 14

Polling Place Locator

Accepted Answer

You can find your polling place by utilizing your state resource.  If you have further questions about your polling place location, please contact your county clerk.

Question 15

Provisional Voting

Accepted Answer

You may vote a provisional ballot if you meet specific conditions.  You can cast a provisional ballot if: A poll manager or any voter has reason to believe that you might be ineligible to vote Your name does not appear on the voter registration rolls You do not have your proper photo ID  All provisional ballots are kept separate and not counted on election night. You will be given written instructions on the time and place of the provisional ballot hearings and, if the voter registration office can determine you were registered, the provisional ballot will be counted.  Provisional Ballots are counted before the Friday after a General Election or the Thursday after a Primary or Runoff Election. You can check the status of your provisional ballot online.

Question 16

Provisions for Voters with Disabilities

Accepted Answer

Assistance in marking a ballot is allowed only if you are blind, illiterate, or physically handicapped. If you are entitled to receive the assistance you may choose anyone to assist except your employer, an agent of your employer, or an officer or agent of your union.  If you, because of physical handicap or age (65 or older,) cannot enter the polling place in which you are registered to vote, or are unable to stand in line to vote, you may vote outside that polling place in the closest available parking area utilizing the vehicle in which you have driven or have been driven to the polls.  Each precinct offers an accessible voting machine featuring an audio ballot, headphones, and braille.  For more information, you can utilize the American Association of People With Disabilities (AAPD) resource.

Question 17

Registration Deadline

Accepted Answer

You must be registered 30 days prior to Election Day.  You can now register to vote online! To register online you must: Have a South Carolina driver's license or DMV ID  First, update your residence address with the DMV if you have moved  You can register to vote any time online, however, you must complete the form before the 30-day deadline in order to vote in the next election. If you register online after 30 days before the election you'll be able to vote in the following election.  You may also download a voter registration form, complete it, and return it via mail, fax, email, or in-person to your county board of voter registration. Mail applications must be postmarked at least 30 days before the election to be eligible.  There is no length of residency requirement in South Carolina in order to register to vote.

Question 18

Time Off To Vote

Accepted Answer

Time off to vote is subject to the employer, there is no requirement for employers to grant time off to vote for employees.

Question 19

Voting Machines

Accepted Answer

The voting system used in South Carolina is a paper-based voting system.  Paper-Based Voting System: After signing in at your polling place, voters are given a blank ballot card to insert into the voting machine. Voters then make their selections by touching the screen on the voting machine. After completing the last page, hit the "next" button on the machine to review your selections. You can change a selection at this time, or move forward with the process by clicking "next."   Once you are done making your selections, print your ballot by pressing the PRINT CARD icon found at the bottom of the voting machine screen. Review the printed ballot card - if you need to make a change to the card you can contact a poll manager to ask for a replacement. When you're ready to cast your ballot, take the ballot card to the scanner and insert it face down on the green arrow. The scanner counts your vote and places the paper ballot into a locked ballot box.  For more information, please contact the South Carolina Election Commission.

Upcoming Election Dates & Registration Deadlines

Registration Deadlines