Absentee Voting Up more than 20% over 2012

COLUMBIA, SC (October 26, 2016) - The S.C. State Election Commission wants to make sure voters who need to vote absentee by mail return their applications as soon as possible to ensure they are able to return their ballots prior to the election day deadline. 

According to the U.S. Postal Service, the transit time for first class mail is a minimum of two days and can be as many as five days.  Voters should be aware of these transit times when voting absentee by mail.

What this means for voters:

COLUMBIA, S.C. (October 21, 2016) - County voter registration and election offices throughout the state will be open additional hours for in-person absentee voting, and some counties are opening satellite offices to give absentee voters more in-person absentee voting options leading up to the 2016 General Election.

Statewide In-Person Absentee Hours and Locations

Regular Hours: In-person absentee voting is available during regular business hours at all county voter registration and elections offices.  In-person absentee voting ends at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 7.  

Saturday, November 5, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.:  Some county voter registration and elections offices will be open for in-person absentee voting.

Click here to find your county board of voter registration and elections office.

County Satellite Absentee Locations and Additional Hours

The following satellite locations and hours are in addition to the locations and hours listed above.

Beaufort 

Special election results for U.S. House, State Senate and State House.  Links to any primary results are included on each special election results.

State House of Representatives District 120 (Beaufort, Jasper) - August 28, 2018 - Special Democratic Party filing and primary held to replace withdrawn Democratic nominee with opposition in the 2018 General Election.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (October 10, 2016) - The S.C. State Election Commission wants to remind voters that they still have one last opportunity to get registered to vote before the 2016 General Election.  Anyone who mails their voter registration application by Tuesday, October 11, and is otherwise qualified, will be eligible to vote on November 8.

While there is still an opportunity to register to vote by mail, deadlines have passed to register online, by fax or email, and in-person.

Anyone who still needs to register should:

• Download an application from scVOTES.org
  Direct link: http://www.scvotes.org/files/VR_Blank_Form.pdf
• Print the application
• Complete the application
• Mail the application to your county board of voter registration and elections no later than Tuesday, October 11

Mailing addresses for county boards of voter registration and elections can be found at scVOTES.org.  Direct link: http://www.scvotes.org/how_to_register_absentee_voting

COLUMBIA, S.C. (October 6, 2016) - All South Carolina voters will now have more time to return voter registration applications for the 2016 General Election.  This will provide additional opportunity for citizens to register who are affected by voter registration office and post office closures related to Hurricane Matthew.  Post offices are also closed on Monday, October 10 due to a federal holiday. 

The following deadlines apply to all South Carolina voters:

Registration by Mail:  Any voter registration by mail application that is postmarked Tuesday, October 11 will be accepted.

Online Voter Registration: Any online voter registration application submitted by Sunday, October 9 will be accepted (application must be submitted by 11:59 p.m., October 9).

Applications submitted by fax or email:  Any faxed or emailed application received by county voter registration offices by Sunday, October 9 will be accepted (application must be received by 11:59 p.m., October 9).

Hurricane Forces Closure of Midlands, Coastal County Election Offices

COLUMBIA, S.C. (October 4, 2016) - To help ensure voters are prepared for the November 8 General Election, the State Election Commission wants to remind everyone of the upcoming voter registration deadline.  Also, citizens along South Carolina's coast need to make sure they are registered now in advance of the approaching storm and impending deadline.

TO VOTE IN THE 2016 GENERAL ELECTION, YOU MUST BE REGISTERED BY OCTOBER 8.

While Hurricane Matthew has forced 26 county offices to close (complete list below), voters still have various options to register before the deadline:

Governor Nikki Haley declares September 2016 as Voter Education Month

COLUMBIA, SC (September 21, 2016) - State and local voter registration and elections officials are using the month of September to encourage voters to prepare for the November 8 General Election.

"During the month of September, election officials across the State of South Carolina are focused on encouraging voters to register to vote or update their addresses, educating voters on what they need to bring with them to the polls, and helping voters learn more about what offices and candidates will be on their ballot before they get to the voting booth," said Marci Andino, Executive Director, S.C. State Election Commission.

August 30, 2016 - Lexington & Richland Counties

This special filing period and special primary are being held pursuant to S.C. Code of Laws Section 7-11-55 after the withdrawal of the Democratic nominee for State Senate District 20.  This special filing period is limited by law to only candidates seeking the Democratic Party's nomination since the withdrawn candidate was not unopposed.  The nominee resulting from this process will be a candidate on the November 8, 2016 General Election ballot.

Important Dates & Deadlines

June 18 - Voter Registration Deadline for Primary (if necessary)

Noon, August 9 - Filing Opens

Noon, August 16 - Filing Closes

Click Here for Candidate Tracking - Get candidate names and documents

August 30 - Primary (if necessary)

September 13 - Primary Runoff (if necessary)

November 8 - General Election

Candidate Filing Information

July 19, 2016 - Berkeley County

OFFICIAL RESULTS

This special primary was held pursuant to S.C. Code of Laws Section 7-11-55 after the withdrawal of the unopposed Republican nominee for State House of Representatives District 100.  The special filing period was open to candidates of all certified political parties.  Nominees resulting from this special filing and primary will be candidates on the November 8, 2016 General Election ballot.

Click here for more information on this special filing period.

July 19, 2016 - Berkeley County

This special filing period and special primary are being held pursuant to S.C. Code of Laws Section 7-11-55 after the withdrawal of the unopposed Republican nominee for State House of Representatives District 100.  This special filing period is open to candidates of all certified political parties.  Nominees resulting from this special filing and primary will be candidates on the November 8, 2016 General Election ballot.

Candidates

Tonia Aiken-Taylor, Democratic

Sylleste Davis, Republican

Republican Primary Results

Important Dates & Deadlines

June 18 - Voter Registration Deadline for Primary

Noon, June 28 - Filing Opens

Noon, July 5 - Filing Closes

Click Here for Candidate Tracking - Get candidate names and documents

July 19 - Primary (if necessary)

August 2 - Primary Runoff (if necessary)

November 8 - General Election