As always, it's best to double check with your state for any recent changes to election rules: South Carolina Election Website
South Carolina voter registration
- In Person: Due to the widespread impact of Hurricane Helene, the voter registration deadline has been extended to Monday, October 14. Normally, 30 days before Election Day.
- By Mail: Due to the widespread impact of Hurricane Helene, the voter registration deadline has been extended and mailed voter registration forms must be postmarked by Monday, October 14. Normally, postmarked 30 days before Election Day. The postmark deadline is extended to the next business day if this falls on a Sunday or holiday.
- Online: Due to the widespread impact of Hurricane Helene, the voter registration deadline has been extended to Monday, October 14. Normally, 30 days before Election Day. Normally, 30 days before Election Day.
N/A
To register in South Carolina you must:
- Be a citizen of the United States;
- Be at least 18 years old on or before the next election;
- Be a resident of South Carolina, and live in the county and precinct where you are registering;
- Not be confined in any public prison resulting from a conviction of a crime;
- Never have been convicted of a felony or offense against Election Day laws, or if previously convicted, have served your entire sentence, including probation or parole, or have received a pardon for the conviction;
- Not be under a court order declaring you mentally incompetent.
- Use our Register to Vote Tool to fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Sign and date your form. This is very important!
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed form to the address we provide.
- Make sure you register before the voter registration deadline.
- If you have been convicted of a felony and have questions about whether you can register to vote, visit Restore Your Vote to determine your eligibility.
South Carolina absentee ballots
- In Person: 5pm on the 11th day before Election Day.
- By Mail: Received by 5:00pm 4 days prior to the election. However, the state strongly recommends that voters' applications are received two weeks before Election Day to provide time for receiving and returning ballots by mail.
- Online: N/A
- Received by 7pm on Election Day.
You may vote by absentee ballot in South Carolina if:
- You have employment obligations which prevent you 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.
- You are attending a sick or physically disabled person which prevents you 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.
- You are confined to a jail or pretrial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial which prevents you 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.
- You will be absent from your county of residence during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open onElection Day.
- You have a physical disability.
- You are sixty-five years of age or older.
- You are a Member of the Armed Forces or the Merchant Marines of the United States, or a spouse or dependent residing with them.
- You are admitted to a hospital as an emergency patient on the day of the election or within a four-day period before the election.
- Use our Absentee Ballot Tool to prepare your application if your state allows.
- Sign and date the form. This is very important!
- Return your completed application to your Local Election Office as soon as possible. We'll provide the mailing address or contact information for you.
- All Local Election Offices will accept mailed or hand-delivered forms. Your Local Election Official will also let you fax or email the application.
- Double-check the deadlines and be sure to cast your voted ballot on time so that it is counted.
- Please contact your Local Election Office if you have any further questions about the exact process.
- Once you receive the ballot, carefully read and follow the instructions.
- Place your voted ballot in the accompanying "Ballot Herein" envelope, place that in the return envelope provided.
- Review and sign the oath printed on the return envelope. Also, please note that another individual must witness your signature and sign the return envelope as well.
- Mail your voted ballot back to the address indicated on the return envelope.
- Double-check the deadlines and be sure to cast your voted ballot on time to be sure it is counted.
South Carolina Early Voting
15 days before Election Day.
The Saturday before Election Day.
South Carolina voter ID
You must bring one of the following photo IDs with you to vote early in person or on Election Day:
- South Carolina driver's license
- South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles ID Card
- South Carolina voter registration ID card
- US military ID with a photo
- US passport
If you've voted in South Carolina before, registered in person, or provided ID at the time of registration, you don't need to provide ID to vote by mail
If you're voting in South Carolina for the first time, registered to vote by mail, and didn't provide ID when you registered, be sure to enclose a copy of your photo ID, or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and address when you return your ballot.
Offsite links
- State Election Website
- Local Election Office: This is the government office responsible for running elections in your region. These are the best people to contact if you have any questions at all about voting in your state.
- Find your polling place
- Absentee ballot tracker tool
- Learn more about absentee voting
- Learn more about early voting
- Learn more about voter ID
- State Election Code