Frequently Asked Questions

In order to vote, South Carolina law requires you must register at least 30 days prior to the election. To be eligible you MUST:

• be United States citizen

• at least 18 years old on or before the next election

• be a resident in the county & precinct you’re registering

• not be under court order declaring you mentally incompetent

• not be confined in any public prison resulting from a conviction of crime

• never been convicted of a felony or offense against the election laws OR if previously convicted, have served entire sentence, including probation or parole, or have received a pardon for the conviction

There is no length of residency requirement to register; you can register at any time.

• There is no length of residency requirement to register; you can register at any time

• Must register at least 30 days prior to any election to vote in that election

• If you’re 17 years old and will be 18 years old on or before the next General Election (and meet all other requirements above), you can register today!

30 days before Election Day.

• Mail in registration forms must be postmarked at least 30 days before Election Day to be eligible to vote in that election. (If deadline falls on a Sunday or U.S. Postal Service holiday, postmark deadline extended to next day not a Sunday or holiday.)

2023 Registration & Election Dates:

Municipal General Election Registration Deadline: Tuesday, October 10th
Municipal General Election: Tuesday, November 7th

To register online, you must have a valid SC driver's license or identification card and your full Social Security Number.

If you do not have an ID, you can register using a paper registration form and attach a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government document that shows your name and address in the county you're registering. When registering by mail, you do not need to include your full Social Security Number, you only need to include the last 4 digits.

You can register in person at your county board of voter registration office, local Department of Motor Vehicles and other various agencies providing voter registration under the National Voter Registration Act.

No. South Carolina does not have voter registration by party.
If you vote in the primaries, you will be asked to vote in only one party’s primary but you will not be registered by party affiliation.

There are 4 ways to update your information:

• Submit online voter registration form. (Requires SC Driver's License or Department of Motor Vehicles ID Card). You must first update your information with DMV before submitting a voter registration form.

• Download a change of address form, print it, fill it out, and either:

  • mail to county voter registration office, or

  • fax form to county voter registration office, or

  • scan form & email as file attachment to county voter registration office

• Fill out back of your voter registration card and mail to county voter registration office

• Visit county voter registration office and fill out a change of address form

It is a good civic habit to check your voter registration before an upcoming voter registration deadline (suggested 30 days prior to a voter registration deadline).
It is recommended you check your voter registration at least once a quarter to make sure you do not need to make changes or confirm you have not been removed from the voter rolls.

• Students may register where they live while attending college. This could be at an address in college community (e.g., a dormitory) or an address you intend to return to while not in the college community (e.g., family home).

• For guidance in determining what residence to claim for voter registration purposes, see S.C. Code of Laws Section 7-1-25.

Many college students who live on campus receive their mail at a campus post office box. These students must register at the physical address of their dormitory or housing complex. A student’s P.O. Box can be provided for mailing and contact purposes.

Early In Person: During the early voting period, you can vote at a designated early vote location in your county (voting location tracker coming soon!)

Absentee Ballot: State law allows voters with qualifying reasons to vote absentee by mail. To find out if you qualify & to learn more click here.

In Person on Election Day: Vote in person at your assigned polling location between the hours of 7am and 7pm (find your polling location tracker coming soon!)

Per state law, county voter registration offices establish up to 7 early voting centers that must be open during the two-week early voting period (prior to General Election date).

Voters can visit any early voting center in their county during the early voting period, present their Photo ID , and vote safely and securely.

Early voting location tracker coming soon!

Yes. State law requires voters in South Carolina to present a valid photo ID to confirm their identity when they vote in person. Photo IDs accepted:

• 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 & Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Card)

If you don’t have an acceptable photo ID, there may be other ways you can confirm your identity.

If you need help getting an ID and for additional information click here.

We recommend visiting your state Secretary of State’s office website or your local County website or County Voter Registration website for specific and timely state registration and voting requirements and information.

To register & check your registration in another state click here.

For more information, click here.

Additional information and resources for voting with a disability coming soon.