To register to vote in the State of South Carolina an individual must meet the following qualifications:
- Be a United States Citizen
- Be at least 18 years of age on or before the next election
- Be a resident of South Carolina
- Not be under a court order declaring you mentally incompetent
- Not be confined in any public prison resulting from a conviction of a crime
- 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
Must register to vote at least 30 days before the election.
Can select party affiliation at the polls.
Can select party affiliation at the polls.
Can register to vote in person or obtain a mail-in application from:
- County election office
- Division of motor vehicles
- Aid to families with dependent children (AFDC) offices
- Medicaid offices
- Food stamp offices
- Women, infants and children (WIC) benefits offices
- Agencies that provide services to people with disabilities
You can also request an application form online.
Absentee Voting:
Voters can begin applying as early as January 1 to vote absentee for any election held during that same year.
You can request an absentee ballot application form online.
If applying by mail, the county voter registration office must receive your application no later than four days prior to the election. If you wish, you may apply and vote in person up until 5:00 p.m. the day before the election.
You can apply for an absentee ballot in person, by phone (except authorized representatives), by mail, or by contacting your county voter registration office in the county in which you are registered.
Return the completed application to your county voter registration office by 5:00 p.m. on the 4th day prior to the election. You may return the application in person or by mail, email, or fax. You will then be mailed an absentee ballot.
In order to be counted, absentee ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
For more election and voter information you can contact the South Carolina State Election Commission.
