South Carolina

Election Day: Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST on Election Day, November 3, 2026, or until the last person in line at 7 p.m. has voted. 

Absentee voters may vote by mail prior to Election Day. Absentee ballots must be received by the county elections office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day. Military and overseas voters casting their ballot by mail must mail their ballot by 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Election Day. 

Early voters may vote at an early voting location for two weeks prior to Election Day.

How to Find your Polling Place: Visit the South Carolina Election Commission’s polling place locator webpage to determine where you vote.

Registration Deadlines

• For registration deadlines, see How to Register below.

How to Check Your Registration: Voters can determine whether they are registered to vote at the following link: Am I Registered?.

You are eligible to vote in South Carolina if you:

• Are a resident of South Carolina
• Are at least 18 years old by Election Day
• Live in the precinct in which you want to vote
• Are a U.S. citizen

You are NOT eligible to vote in South Carolina if:

• You were disqualified from voting due to a court order
• You are in prison or jail for a conviction of any kind. (Does not include pre-trial detention.)
• You were convicted of an offense against state election laws and have not served the entire sentence, including probation or parole, or have not received a pardon

Restorative Requirements

• If you have completed a felony sentence, including any term of incarceration, parole, supervision, period of probation, or you have been pardoned, then you are immediately eligible to register to vote

You are able to pre-register if you:

• Are at least 18 years old by Election Day

How to register 

• South Carolina Congressional, State and Gubernatorial General Election
  • In-Person Request by Fri Oct 2, 2026
  • Email, Online or Fax by Sun Oct 4, 2026
  • Submit a Printed Application: Postmarked by Mon Oct 5, 2026

How to Register

South Carolina residents may register to vote online at the South Carolina Election Commission’s website, by mail, email or fax, or in person at your county board of voter registration.

Individuals can check the status of their registration here.

Registration Deadlines

Voters seeking to register prior to the election must do so at least 30 days prior to the date of election. In-person applications for the 2026 general election must be received by 5:00 p.m. on October 2, 2026, unless the county board holds weekend hours. Online, fax, and e-mail applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on October 4, 2026. Mail-in registrations must be postmarked by October 5, 2026.

You are eligible to vote in South Carolina if you: 

• Are a U.S. Citizen
• Are at least 18 years old by Election Day
• Are a resident of South Carolina in the county and precinct in which you are registering
• Are NOT under a court order declaring you mentally incompetent
• Are NOT confined in any public prison resulting from the 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

You are NOT eligible to vote in South Carolina if you: 

• Are incarcerated for a misdemeanor or felony conviction
• Were convicted of a felony offense and have not completed your sentence, including any period of incarceration, parole, or probation
• Were convicted of an election offense and have not fully completed your sentence, including any period of incarceration, parole, or probation; or have received a pardon for the conviction.

Restorative Requirements

The right to vote is automatically restored once a person has fully completed the terms of a sentence for a felony or election law conviction, they may register again to vote. A person incarcerated for a misdemeanor conviction regains the right to vote as soon as they are no longer incarcerated, even if they have not fully served parole or probation terms. Unpaid fines and fees should not impact a person’s right to vote. Individuals may be required to show proof of completion of their sentence to register to vote. 

Residency Requirements

South Carolina law does not define the period of residency for voter registration. A voter must be registered to vote 30 days before any election in South Carolina in order to vote in that election. 

If You Want to Vote Absentee, requests may be made:

• In-Person
• By Mail

Absentee Ballots may be returned:

• In-Person
• By Mail

South Carolina Congressional, State and Gubernatorial General Election

Ballot Request:

• Received by Fri Oct 23, 2026 5:00PM

Ballot Return:

• Received by Tue Nov 3, 2026

Early Voting: Any voter can visit an early-voting location in their county. Voting locations are open between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., starting Monday, October 19, 2026 (15 days prior to election day) to Saturday, October 31, 2026 (3 days prior to election day). Voting locations are closed on Sundays and state holidays.

A Photo ID is required to vote in-person. 

Absentee Voting:  

Requesting an Absentee Ballot Application

• Request an application by calling, visiting or mailing your  county voter registration office as early as January 1 of the election year (or as soon as possible). In order to vote absentee, a voter must fall into one of the following categories:
  • Have physical disabilities;
  • Be 65 or older;
  • Be a member of, spouse of, or dependent of someone in the U.S. Armed Forces;
  • Be admitted to a hospital as an emergency patient on Election Day (or within a 4-day period before the election); or
  • Be prevented from voting during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period and during polling hours on Election Day because of work obligations, caring for a sick or physically disabled person, being absent from their county of residence, or being confined to jail or pretrial facility awaiting arrest or trial.

Voters should return their completed application to their county voter registration office by 5 p.m. on the 11^th day prior to the election (by 5 p.m. on October 23, 2026). Voters will receive an absentee ballot by mail.

Completing and Returning the Absentee Ballot

All Absentee ballots must be received by the county voter registration office by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Ballots arriving after this deadline will NOT be counted.

• Military and Overseas Voters: Ballots by mail must be mailed by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Ballots by mail will be counted if received by close of business on the day prior to the certification of results (usually Thursday or Friday after Election Day).

Absentee ballots may be returned either:

• In Person: Bring the completed ballot and eligible Photo ID to their county voter registration office or to an early voting center. Eligible Photo IDs include:
  • Driver’s License or Photo ID issued by the DMV or its U.S. equivalent;
  • U.S. Passport;
  • Photo Military ID; or
  • South Carolina voter registration card with photograph

• By Mail: Mail the completed absentee ballot in the envelope provided to the voter’s county voter registration office (recommended at least one week before Election Day). 

Check the status of an absentee ballot application request or track an absentee ballot here.

Absentee Ballot Assistance

Voters requiring assistance may be permitted to have someone request and return an absentee ballot application or absentee ballot on their behalf. Contact the voter’s county voter registration offices for more information or learn more here. Note: Individuals may not assist more than five individuals with their absentee ballots. Help is also available at 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683).

Voter Registration

To register to vote in South Carolina you should provide:

• Your South Carolina Driver’s License or State ID Number (online applicants only)
• Your Social Security Number

If you are registering to vote for the first time by mail, you will need to provide a copy of a valid ID. Acceptable forms of ID include:

• Current and Valid Photo ID
• Government Issued Document that shows your current name and address
• Current Utility Bill or Pay Check or Bank Statement

ID is not required if you are 65 or older, have a temporary or permanent physical disability, are a member of the active uniformed services or merchant marine who is absent from the county for active duty, or a spouse or dependent thereof, or are currently living outside the U.S. but otherwise eligible to vote

Voting In-Person

In South Carolina, you need to show a valid photo ID to vote. You can use any ID from this list:

• Valid South Carolina Driver’s License
• Valid South Carolina Voter ID Card with Photo
• Valid ID Issued by the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, Transportation, Highway Safety, etc.
• Valid US Passport
• Valid Military ID

Identification Requirements for Registration:

If a voter is registering to vote online, they will need either a valid S.C. Driver’s License or DMV ID. If a voter has moved, they must first update their residence address with the DMV. If they are registering by email, mail, fax, or in person, they can also use a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government document that shows their name and address.

Getting an ID:

If a voter does not have one of the required documents, they can get a free Photo ID from their county voter registration office or their local DMV office. 

Identification Requirements for Voting In-Person:

When voting in person, voters will be asked to show one of the following Photo IDs at their polling place:

• SC Driver’s License
• SC Department of Motor Vehicles ID Card
• SC Voter Registration Card with Photo
• Federal Military ID
• U.S. Passport

If the Voter Forgets Their ID:

If a voter forgets to bring their Photo ID to a polling place, they may cast a provisional ballot and have the ballot counted after returning to the county voter registration office prior to the certification of the election (typically the Thursday or Friday after the election) to verify their identity. If possible, attend the ballot certification hearing at your county voter registration office on the day after the election. Ask a poll worker for more information including the time and location of the certification hearing. Help is also available at 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683).

If A Voter Cannot Get A Photo ID:

A voter can bring their non-photo voter registration card with them to the polling place. They should inform the poll managers that they do not have a Photo ID and could not get one. They may vote a provisional ballot after signing an affidavit stating they have a reasonable impediment to obtaining Photo ID.  A reasonable impediment is any valid reason, beyond their control, which created an obstacle to obtaining a Photo ID (such as a disability, illness, lack of transportation, religious objection to being photographed, or other obstacle they find reasonable). 

This ballot will count unless someone proves to the county board of voter registration and elections that they are lying about their identity or about having the listed impediment. If possible, attend the ballot certification hearing at your county voter registration office on the day after the election. Ask a poll worker for more information including the time and location of the certification hearing. Help is also available at 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683).

Absentee Voting ID Requirements:

No Photo ID is required to vote absentee by mail. However, if a voter returns an absentee ballot in person, a Photo ID is required:

• Driver’s License issued by a state within the United States;
• Photo ID issued by the DMV or its equivalent by a state within the United States;
• U.S. Passport;
• Photo Military ID issued by the federal government; or South Carolina voter registration card with photograph.

Updating A Voter Registration

Voters should update their voter registration with their new address as soon as possible. A voter can update their voter registration in one of four ways:

• A voter with a valid S.C. Driver’s License or DMV ID updated with their new address can update their voter registration by submitting an online voter registration form.
• If a voter moves within the same county they are currently registered in, they may also download a change of address form and return it by mail, fax, or email.
• If a voter moves within the same county they are currently registered in, they may also fill out the back of their voter registration card and mail it to their county voter registration office. 
• Voters can also visit their county voter registration office and fill out a change of address form in person.

Moving within the Same County

If a voter moves within the same county and the same precinct, they may complete this form and mail, scan or fax the form to their county board of voter registration. Voters who move within the same precinct may also update their address at the polls. 

If a voter moves within the same county, but to a different precinct, more than 30 days prior (before October 5, 2026) to the election and updates their voter registration with their new address more than 30 days prior (before October 5, 2026), to the election, they may vote a full ballot. If the voter does not update their address more than 30 days prior (by October 5, 2026) to the election, they will be eligible to vote using a failsafe ballot, described below.

If a voter moves within the same county, but to a different precinct within 30 days of the election (after October 5, 2026), they are eligible to vote using a failsafe ballot, described below. 

Moving Between Counties

If a voter moves to a different county more than 30 days prior to an election, they must register to vote in their new county 30 days before the next election (by October 5, 2026), or else they will not be permitted to vote. 

If a voter moves to a different county within 30 days of an election (after October 5, 2026), they may vote using a failsafe ballot, described below.

Failsafe Ballot

There are two options for voting with a failsafe ballot. 

• Vote at the polling place in your previous precinct using a limited, failsafe ballot including only federal, statewide, and countywide offices. 
• Go to the voter registration office in the new county in which you reside, update your address, and vote a full ballot there.

Voting Military

Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form (“FPCA”). You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

• Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

Your state does not require an ID to be provided in order to register your ballot.

Voting Overseas

U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

• Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number

Your state does not require an ID to be provided in order to register your ballot.

Military and other overseas citizens may use the standard procedure for absentee voting by mail, but there are also special provisions for members of the U.S. Armed Forces and merchant marine, commissioned corps of the American Red Cross or United Service Organization (USO) attached to and serving with the Armed Forces of the U.S. outside the person’s county of residence, members or employees of any department of the U.S. government serving overseas, along with family members of all these groups, and other citizens who reside outside of the United States (together these groups are called UOCAVA voters).

Registering and Requesting an Absentee Ballot

UOCAVA voters can use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to register to vote and to request an absentee ballot. Visit the South Carolina Election Commission’s Military & Overseas Citizens voting website or the South Carolina Federal Voting Assistance website for additional information. 

• The Electronic Voting Accessibility Tool will guide you through the process of completing and submitting your FPCA online.
• You can also get an FPCA from the Federal Voting Assistance Program website (FVAP.gov) and return it to your county elections office.

If you’re using the FPCA to register to vote, it must be submitted by the voter registration deadline to participate in any particular election. The deadline to submit a voter registration application is 30 days prior to an election. Email, online, or fax registration must be received by October 4, 2026. Mail registration must be postmarked by October 5, 2026. UOCAVA status will remain effective through December 31^st of the following year. 

Receiving an Absentee Ballot

The county election office will send any voter with UOCAVA status a ballot through their preferred choice of communication no later than 45 days prior to an election. 

Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot

The Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) is a back-up ballot that can be used by UOCAVA voters.  You can use this FWAB whether you are located inside or outside the United States (including APO and FPO addresses), provided you are away from your voting residence for service-related activities. An email or fax FWAB must be received by the county elections office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day (November 3, 2026). A mail FWAB must be sent by 7 p.m. EST on Election Day (November 3, 2026) but received by 5 p.m. EST the 2nd day after the election (November 5, 2026).

Returning an Absentee Ballot as a UOCAVA Voter

Return your ballot by email, mail, fax or return it in person. Your county elections office will send specific instructions with your ballot on how it should be returned. Email, fax, or personal delivery ballots must be returned to the county election office no later than 7 p.m. EST on the day of the election (November 3, 2026). Mail ballots must be postmarked no later than 7 p.m. EST on the day of the election (November 3, 2026) but received by 5 p.m. the 2nd day after the election (November 5, 2026).

South Carolina residents with felony convictions or who have been convicted of a misdemeanor violation of an election law may vote only if they completed their full sentence (including any terms of parole and/or probation) or if they were previously pardoned and are not incarcerated. Afterwards, they must re-register to vote. 

Individuals who CAN register to vote:

• A person awaiting trial
• A person who was adjudicated as a juvenile delinquent
• A person who is currently in a conditional discharge program for a controlled substance offense or a pre-trial intervention program
• A person convicted only of a misdemeanor offense who is not currently incarcerated
• A person convicted of a felony offense or election offense who has fully completed their sentence, including any period of incarceration, parole, and probation
• A person convicted of a felony offense or an election offense who has received a pardon

Individuals who CANNOT register to vote:

• A person incarcerated for a misdemeanor or felony conviction
• A person convicted of a felony offense who has not fully completed their sentence, including any period of incarceration, parole, or probation
• A person convicted of an election offense who has not fully completed their sentence, including any period of incarceration, parole, or probation

Restoration Requirements and Re-registering to Vote

The right to vote is automatically restored. Once a person has fully completed the terms of the sentence for a felony or election law conviction, they may register again to vote. A person incarcerated for a misdemeanor conviction gains the right to vote as soon as they are no longer incarcerated, even if they have not fully served parole or probation terms. Unpaid fines and fees should not impact a person’s right to vote.

To vote after a conviction, an eligible individual must register to vote, even if they were registered previously. County voter registration boards may request proof that a sentence has been completed. Individuals can obtain proof by contacting the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services (DPPPS) via email or in person and requesting a voter registration eligibility letter.

Individuals should contact their county voter registration board with questions or call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) for additional assistance.