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South Carolina | Voting Guide
Voting Guide
South Carolina
Registration Deadlines and Election Dates
Voter Registration Deadline: 30 days before Election Day. Mail- in registration forms must postmarked no later than 30 days before Election Day.
2024 Election Information
Democratic Primary: February 3
Registration Deadline: January 4
Mail-in Ballot Application Deadline: January 23
Republican Primary: February 24
Registration Deadline: January 25
Mail-in Ballot Application Deadline: February 13
State Primary: June 11
Registration Deadline: May 13
Mail-in Ballot Application Deadline: May 31
General Election: November 5
Registration Deadline: October 7
Mail-in Ballot Application Deadline: October 25
For additional information on additional municipal special and general elections, please visit https://scvotes.gov/elections-statistics/upcoming-elections/.
Official Election Websites
More election information at: https://www.scvotes.gov
Online voter registration available at: https://vrems.scvotes.sc.gov/ovr/start
Mail-in PDF voter registration form available at: https://scvotes.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SEC-FRM-1301-202305-VR-by-Mail-web-1.pdf
Register at School or Home
Students have a decision about where to register to vote.
You have a right to register to vote at the address you consider the place where you live, whether that is your family's home or the place where you attend school. You should update your registration anytime this home address changes.
You may only be registered and vote in one location.
What Type of ID Do I Need to Register?
Online Registration: The online registration form requires a valid South Carolina driver's license or state ID number and your full Social Security Number.
Paper Voter Registration Application: South Carolina’s voter registration form asks for the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you are registering by mail and for the first time in your county, 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.
What Type of ID Do I Need to Vote?
South Carolina requires voters to present ID to vote. Approved IDs include:
A South Carolina driver’s license
A Photo ID issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles
South Carolina Concealed Weapons Permit
A U.S. Passport
A Military ID with a photo
A South Carolina voter registration card with a photo
If you do not have one of these forms of ID and are already registered to vote, you can go to your county voter registration or local DMV office, provide your date of birth and the last four digits of your Social Security number, and take a photo for a free photo ID.
Voters who have experienced a reasonable impediment in obtaining photo ID may vote a provisional ballot by (i) bringing their non-photo voter registration card to the polls and (ii) signing an affidavit identifying a reasonable impediment. A reasonable impediment is any valid reason, beyond the voter's control, which created an obstacle to obtaining a Photo ID. Some examples include:
Disability or illness
Work schedule conflict
Lack of transportation
Lack of a birth certificate
Family responsibilities
Religious objection to being photographed
Any other obstacle the voter believes is reasonable
For more information about Voter ID in South Carolina, please visit:
Where Do I Vote?
Make a plan. Check your voter registration and absentee ballot status, look up your voting site and hours at: scvotes.gov/
How Can I Vote?
By Mail: South Carolina requires an excuse to vote by mail. Registered voters who can vote absentee includethose who (1) have employment obligations preventing them from voting, (2) are attending to a sick or physically disabled person which prevents them from voting, (3) are confined pending disposition of arrest or trial which prevents them from voting,(4) are absent from their county of residence during voting hours for the duration of the early voting period and on election day, or (5) have physical disabilities.
Absentee Ballot Application Deadline: Voters must call, visit, or send a letter to their county voter registration office to request a mail ballot request form. Completed mail ballot request forms may be submitted by mail, email, fax, or personal delivery and must be returned to the county voter registration office by 5 p.m. on the 11th day before Election Day.
Completed Absentee Ballot Return Deadline: Completed mail ballots must be signed by a witness. They must be received by the county voter registration office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
A full list of qualifying reasons and the absentee ballot request form are available at: https://www.scvotes.gov/absentee-voting.
Early In-person: South Carolina’s early voting period takes place during the two weeks leading up to Election Day. The schedule and hours of early voting during the two-week period preceding election day varies by election, so please visit the following website for more information on locations and hours: https://scvotes.gov/voters/early-voting/.
Election Day: Voting sites will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. If you are in line by the closing time, then you have the right to vote.
Curbside voting is available for voters with disabilities. For more information, visit:
Common Questions/Concerns
Does Registering to Vote Affect my Federal Financial Aid?
Where you register to vote will not affect federal financial aid such as Pell Grants, Perkins or Stafford loans, or your dependency status for FAFSA.
Does Registering to Vote Affect my Status as a Dependent on My Parents’ Taxes?
Being registered to vote at a different address from your parents does not prevent them from claiming you as a dependent on their taxes.
Does Registering to Vote impact my Tuition Status?
Being deemed out-of-state for tuition purposes does not prevent you from choosing to register to vote in your campus community.
Will registering to vote in South Carolina affect my driver’s license or car registration?
As a new resident of South Carolina, you may be required to make changes to your driver's license or car registration, regardless of whether you register to vote there. You may wish to contact the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles.
Fair Elections Center and Campus Vote Project intend the information contained herein to be used only as a general guide. This document should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensed South Carolina legal professional.
Last updated January 2024