In order to vote, South Carolina law requires one must first register to vote at least 30 days prior to the election. To be eligible to register in South Carolina you MUST:
To use the online voter registration system you must have a current and valid driver’s license or DMV ID issued by the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Printable form - This form can be completed and returned to your county board of voter registration by mail, fax, or email.
Voters are not registered by political party in South Carolina.
Refer to the box below for information about ID requirements.
If you have an S.C. Driver's License or DMV ID card, you can update your address using the online voter registration application.
You can also download a change of address form and mail, fax, or scan the completed form to your County Board of Voter Registration.
The Board of Voter Registration in each county maintains the voter rolls. To remove someone from a voter roll, contact the local County Board of Voter Registration.
For online voter registration, an S.C. Driver's License or DMV ID is required.
An ID is not required for mail-in registration, but you must provide one of the documents listed on the form to verify residence:
If you do not provide the identification with the form, you will be required to provide this information when you vote. Voters who are age 65 and over, voters with disabilities, members of the U.S. Uniformed Services or Merchant Marines and their families, and U.S. citizens residing outside the U.S. are exempt from this requirement.
When voting in person, you will be asked to show one of the following Photo IDs at your polling place:
You may vote a provisional ballot that will count only if you show your Photo ID to the election commission prior to certification of the election (usually Thursday or Friday after the election).
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:
This ballot will count unless someone proves to the election commission that you are lying about your identity or about having the listed impediment.
To vote under the reasonable impediment exception:
Inform the poll managers that you do not have a photo ID and could not get one.
For more information, please see the Photo ID Requirements to vote in South Carolina.
County Board of Voter Registration
Registered voters can get a voter registration card with a photo from their County Board of Voter Registration with their name, date of birth and the last four digits of the Social Security Number.
Department of Motor Vehicles
Obtaining a Driver’s License
In order to apply for and receive an absentee ballot, you must meet one of the following requirements:
See Absentee Voting for more information.
For more information regarding Military & Overseas Citizens, please visit the South Carolina Election Committee.
Contact your local County Voter Registration Office for an application.
Many organizations offer free rides to polling places. Some of these include:
Any voter who, because of physical handicap or age (65 or older), cannot enter the polling place in which he is registered to vote, or is unable to stand in line to vote, may vote outside that polling place in the closest available parking area utilizing the vehicle in which he has driven or has been driven to the polls.
Assistance in marking a ballot is allowed only if the voter is blind, illiterate or physically handicapped. A voter entitled to receive assistance may choose anyone to assist except his employer, agent of his employer, or an officer or agent of his union.
For more information regarding Voters with Disabilities, please visit the South Carolina Election Committee.
Jurisdiction |
Offices/Measures That May Appear on the Ballot |
| Federal (even years) |
President/Vice-President (elected every four years) Senator (elected every six years for staggered terms) Representative (elected every two years) |
| State (even years) |
Governor/Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Comptroller, Attorney General, Judges of Probate (elected every four years) State Senator (elected every two years) State Representative (elected every two years) Statewide ballot measures |
| Municipal (odd years) |
School Board and other boards and commissions Mayor or First Selectman Town Clerk Registrar of Voters Tax Collector Treasurer Aldermen or Selectmen Constable Local ballot measures |
South Carolina does not have a Voter Bill of Rights
First address the issue to poll managers. If issue cannot be resolved at the polling place or if it regards an election complaint, contact your county election office.
The State Ethics Commission Online Public Disclosure and Accountability Reporting System can be accessed by the public to view disclosed candidate, non-candidate committees, political parties and caucuses financial reports.
Contact South Carolina Elected State Officials like the Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State.
Members of the Senate by district
Members of the House by district
1-866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)
1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682) (en Español)
1-888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683) (Asian multilingual assistance)
1-844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287) (Arabic)
Find useful voter information including:
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