You do NOT need a South Carolina driver’s license to vote. You do need to show one of the forms of photo ID South Carolina accepts when voting in person. You can use:

• South Carolina Driver’s License or a SC DMV ID Card 

• South Carolina Voter Registration Card with a photo 

• South Carolina Concealed Weapons Permit

• U.S. Passport or Passport Card

• Federal Military ID

Important for college students: Your student ID (even a South Carolina college or university ID) cannot be used as your photo ID to vote. An out-of-state driver’s license is also not on South Carolina’s list of accepted IDs for voting in person.

If you don’t have one of the accepted IDs, you can get a free photo voter registration card from your County Voter Registration & Elections Office.

If you need support or assistance getting an ID, please TEXT our nonpartisan hotline number ASAP and we can help you: 843-252-0579

Yes. Your photo ID is used to verify your identity — the address printed on it does not have to match your voter registration address.

When you vote, what matters is the address where you are currently registered to vote. If you registered using your college address, check your voter registration before voting to make sure the update went through and to find your early voting location or correct polling place if voting on Election Day.

Remember: If your driver’s license is from another state, it is not an accepted form of photo ID for voting in person in South Carolina.

Think of it as a useful backup.

You do not need your voter registration card (the paper card that was mailed to you) or your number to vote, but having it handy can make it easier to identify your voter record if there is ever confusion about your registration. If you did not receive a card in the mail or have misplaced it, look up your voter registration number by clicking here.

We recommend saving it in your contacts or notes before Election Day.

Yes! “Inactive” does NOT automatically mean you are no longer registered or eligible to vote.

Election officials regularly conduct voter list maintenance to help keep voter registration records accurate and up to date. This is a normal part of election administration.

Your registration may be marked “inactive” if election officials have tried to confirm that you still live at your registered address but have not received a response. Being marked inactive does not automatically cancel your voter registration or mean that you cannot vote.

If your registration says “inactive,” we recommend contacting your County Voter Registration & Elections Office before you vote to confirm that your information is correct and your address is up to date.

Didn't get a chance to do that before Election Day? You can still go vote! When you check in, you may be asked to confirm or update your address and voter registration information with the Poll Clerk. 

And remember: “Inactive” does not mean “ineligible.” If you have questions or run into any problems when you go to vote, ask to speak with the Poll Clerk or call the Nonpartisan Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) for help.

Give them the address where you are currently registered to vote.

For example, if you changed your voter registration from your family home to your college address, give the poll worker your college voter registration address — even if the address printed on your driver’s license is different.

Not sure what address is on your registration? Check it before you vote by clicking here.

Don’t panic, and don’t leave without asking for help.

First, make sure you are at the correct polling location. Ask the poll worker to double-check your name and registration information. 

If you saved your voter registration number or have a screenshot of your registration, have it ready and give the number to the poll worker. Didn’t save it? That’s okay! You can look up your registration on your phone at scvotes.gov using “Check My Voter Registration” and give them your voter registration number.

Still not showing up? Ask to speak with the POLL CLERK. The Poll Clerk is the person in charge at the polling location. Explain that you’re registered but they are having trouble finding your registration. They can check the voter registration records and, if needed, contact your County Voter Registration & Elections Office for additional help.

If the issue still isn’t resolved, don’t leave! Call the SC Nonpartisan Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) while you are still at the polling location. Depending on the situation, you may be able to cast a provisional ballot. A trained Election Protection volunteer can help you understand what is happening, what your options are, and what to do next.

The address on your photo ID does NOT have to match the address where you are registered to vote. 

In South Carolina, your photo ID is used to confirm who you are — not where you live. The South Carolina Election Commission’s instructions for poll workers specifically state that the address printed on your photo ID does not affect your eligibility to vote and does not have to be current or updated (but your ID cannot be expired!).

This can be especially important for college students! For example, you may have updated your voter registration to your college address while your South Carolina driver’s license still shows your home address. That alone does not mean you are at the wrong polling location or that you cannot vote.

When you check in, confirm the address where you are currently registered to vote. Your Election Day polling location is based on that voter registration address — not the address printed on your photo ID.

If a poll worker tells you that the addresses must match, don’t leave. Ask to speak with the Poll Clerk and explain that your voter registration is at your college address. You can also pull up your voter registration information on scvotes.gov to show your current registration and polling location.

If the issue is not resolved, call the Nonpartisan Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) while you are still at the polling location. A trained volunteer can help you understand your rights and navigate the situation.

Remember: Your voter registration address determines where you vote. The address printed on your photo ID does not.

Do not leave the polling place.

Ask to speak with the Poll Clerk (basically the boss of the polling location) and ask them to check your registration again using your voter registration number. If you have your voter registration number, confirmation, or a screenshot showing your registration, pull it up and show them. 

If the issue still isn’t resolved, call the SC nonpartisan Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) while you are still at the polling location. Election Protection can help you figure out what is happening and what options you have.

Depending on the circumstances, you may be eligible to vote a provisional ballot. If you cast one, make sure you understand whether you need to take any additional steps afterward and how to check whether your ballot was counted (ask the Poll Clerk). 

Ask for help!

Start by asking to speak with the Poll Clerk (basically the boss of your polling location) at your voting location. Explain the situation and issue you are having. If they are unable to resolve the issue, ask them to call the County Election Commission office for assistance. 

You should also call the Nonpartisan Election Protection Hotline:

866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)

Election Protection is independent and nonpartisan. Their trained volunteers can answer voting questions, help you understand your rights, and help troubleshoot problems while you’re trying to vote.

If you are having trouble voting, call while you are still at the polling location whenever possible.

Yes! And we recommend it.

You can bring a paper with your choices, notes, voter guide, or a marked sample ballot into the voting booth for your own use. That means you do not have to memorize everything on your ballot.

Before voting, look at your sample ballot, research your choices, and write down what you want to remember.

Make it paper, though! South Carolina prohibits using your phone inside the voting booth as well as taking photos or recordings inside your polling place, so don't rely on pulling up your notes or sample ballot on your phone once you're inside.

On a General Election ballot, you may see an option to vote for a “Straight Party” ticket. This is completely optional.

If you choose a political party under “Straight Party,” the ballot will automatically select all of that party’s candidates in partisan races.

But pay attention: Straight-party voting does not automatically vote every contest on your ballot. Nonpartisan races and ballot questions are not included, and there may be races where your selected party does not have a candidate.

You can also select a straight-party option and then change your choice in an individual race.

Always review your entire ballot before you cast it.

Do not put it in the mail at the last minute and hope it gets there. Your completed absentee ballot must be received by your County Voter Registration & Elections Office by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day (November 3rd) to be counted.

If you receive your ballot too late to confidently return it by mail, you can personally deliver your completed ballot to your county voter registration office. South Carolina requires photo ID when you return an absentee ballot in person.

If you have not received your absentee ballot at all and Election Day is approaching, contact your County Voter Registration & Elections Office immediately for instructions. You can also call 866-OUR-VOTE for help understanding your options and for further support. 

NO. Your ballot is secret.

Election records can show whether you participated in an election, but they do not show which candidates you voted for or how you answered ballot questions.

Your parents, friends, professors, employer, political campaigns — cannot look up who you voted for.

Who you vote for is your business. Period.

As an eligible South Carolina voter, you have important rights when you go to vote. A few big ones to remember:

If you are in line by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, stay in line. You are allowed to vote even if you don’t reach the front of the line until after 7:00 p.m.

You have the right to vote privately. Your ballot is secret.

You can ask for instructions. Poll managers can explain how to use the voting system.

You may be entitled to assistance. Voters who are blind, have a disability, or are unable to read or write can receive assistance with voting.

You have the right to vote free from intimidation or harassment.

And if someone tells you that you cannot vote and you believe you are eligible, don’t just leave. Ask for the Poll Manager and call 866-OUR-VOTE for help.

You can call 866-OUR-VOTE with a question or whenever something doesn’t seem right.

For example:

• Your registration can’t be found.

• You’re told you aren’t eligible to vote and you think that’s incorrect.

• You’re told your ID isn’t acceptable.

• You’re unsure whether you’re at the correct polling place.

• You’re being told you cannot vote.

• You experience or witness intimidation or harassment.

• You have an accessibility issue.

• Someone is interfering with your ability to vote.

• You’re offered a provisional ballot and don’t understand why.

• You simply have a voting question and need help figuring out what to do.

You do not need to know whether something is actually “wrong” before calling. That’s what the hotline is there to help you figure out.