South Carolina

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State of South Carolina Elections and Voting    

Election Day is November 8

  • October 11                  Deadline to register to vote (no same-day registration)
  • October 24                  First day of early voting
  • October 28                  Deadline to request an absentee ballot
  • November 5                Last day of early voting
  • November 8                Deadline for election authority to receive absentee ballot
  • November 8                Election Day

 

To register to vote in South Carolina, you must:

  • Be a United States citizen
  • Be 18 years old by election day
  • Be a resident of South Carolina in the county in which you are registering
  • Not be under a court order declaring you mentally incompetent
  • Not be confined in any public prison resulting from conviction of a crime
  • Never have never been 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.

 

How to register to vote:

If registering to vote by mail or in person, provide a copy of one of the following items:

  • Any current, valid Photo ID; or
  • A utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or government document showing your name and address in your county.

 

Voter ID Requirements

When voting in person, you will be asked to show one of the following Photo IDs:

  • A valid SC Driver’s License
  • SC Department of Motor Vehicles ID Card (includes SC Concealed Weapons Permit)
  • SC Voter Registration Card with Photo
  • US Passport
  • Federal Military ID (includes all Department of Defense Photo IDs and the Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Card)

If you do not have one of these Photo IDs, you can make your voting experience as fast and easy as possible by getting one before Election Day. If you are already registered to vote, you can go to your county elections office to get a SC Voter Registration Card with Photo. You will need to provide your date of birth and the last four digits of your Social Security Number.

If you cannot get a photo ID, bring your non-photo voter registration card with you to the polling place.  You may vote a provisional ballot after signing an affidavit stating you have a reasonable impediment to obtaining a photo ID.  A reasonable impediment is any valid reason, beyond your control, which created an obstacle to obtaining a photo ID.  Some examples include:  a disability or illness, a conflict with your work schedule, a lack of transportation, a lack of a birth certificate, family responsibilities, a religious objection to being photographed, and any other obstacle you find reasonable.  This ballot will count unless someone proves to the county board of voter registration and elections that you are lying about your identity or having the listed impediment.  To vote under the reasonable impediment exception:

  1. Inform the poll managers that you do not have a photo ID and could not get one.
  2. Present your current, non-photo registration card.
  3. Sign the affidavit provided by the poll managers stating why you could not obtain a photo ID.
  4. Cast a provisional ballot that will be counted unless the county board of voter registration and elections has reason to believe your affidavit is false.

 

Early Voting

Any voter can visit an early voting center in their county and vote. Voters will be asked to present Photo ID when checking in to vote. Click here to find an early voting center.

 

Absentee Voting

Voters must have an accepted excuse to vote absentee by mail. For information on who qualifies to vote absentee and how to request and submit an absentee ballot, click here. Be sure to sign the voter’s oath and have your signature witnessed. Anyone age 18 or older can witness your signature. A notary is not necessary.

 

Resources

 

Tribes in South Carolina

Federally recognized tribes

  • Catawba Indian Nation (aka Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina)

State recognized tribes

  • Beaver Creek Indians
  • Edisto Natchez Kusso Tribe of South Carolina
  • Pee Dee Indian Nation of Upper South Carolina
  • Pee Dee Indian Tribe
  • Piedmont American Indian Association
  • The Santee Indian Organization
  • Sumter Tribe of Cheraw Indians
  • The Waccamaw Indian People
  • The Wassamasaw Tribe of Varnertown Indians

Native Vote Coordinators

Sign up to be a local Native Vote coordinator today!

Major Party Contact Information

Democrat
Chair, Jamie Harrison
www.scdp.org

Republican
Chairman, Matt Moore
www.scgop.com

Posted in States.