Press Release

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (September 24, 2020) – South Carolinians voting absentee by mail must now have their signatures on ballot return envelopes witnessed after the United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals today issued an order reversing a lower court’s ruling.   On September 19th, the United States District Court ordered the witness requirement to be suspended for the 2020 General Election.  The Fourth Circuit order stays the District Court order.

The SEC will continue to the notify the public of any changes to the witness requirement through the media and at scvotes.gov.

COLUMBIA, SC (September 10, 2020) – A survey conducted in June 2020 showed a large majority of South Carolinians who voted in the June 9 Statewide Primaries were confident in the accuracy of South Carolina's elections and were comfortable with the state's new paper-based voting system.

Voter Registration

South Carolina voters say the process of registering to vote is easy, with 65% saying it is very easy and an additional 28% saying it is somewhat easy.

Voting System

More than four in five (85%) say they are very (44%) or somewhat (41%) confident in the accuracy of South Carolina elections. This compares to roughly three in four (74%) who say they are very (35%) or somewhat (39%) confident in the accuracy of national elections.

Most voters are comfortable using South Carolina’s paper-based voting system (48% say they are very comfortable, with an additional 34% saying they are somewhat comfortable). Further, voters are confident in the accuracy of South Carolina’s paper-based voting system (38% say they very confident, with an additional 42% saying they are somewhat confident).

August 11, 2020 - Charleston County

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Important Dates & Deadlines

Filing Opens:  Noon, Friday, April 17

Filing Closes:  Noon, Saturday, April 25

Click Here for Candidate Tracking - Get candidate names and information (available after filing opens).

May 10 - Voter Registration Deadline for Primary

June 9 - Primary

June 23 - Primary Runoff

July 12 - Voter Registration Deadline for Special Election

August 11 - Special Election

Candidate Filing Information

COLUMBIA, SC (June 30, 2020) – As of today, the State Election Commission’s voter education website has a new address:  scVOTES.gov.  The switch to the .gov domain name was made to help maintain the public’s trust in the information and services provided through the site.

Before the change, scVOTES.gov was scVOTES.org.  Having the .gov extension will help voters easily recognize the site as a trusted source of information.  Domain names using the .gov extension are regulated by the federal General Services Administration (GSA) meaning only verified federal, state and local governments can use a .gov address.  Voters will know when they see “scVOTES.gov,” they have arrived at the official website of the S.C. State Election Commission.

COLUMBIA, SC (June 17, 2020) – The State Election Commission wants to make sure voters understand the rules for voting in the Primary Runoffs on Tuesday, June 23. 

Barnwell 

Sheriff (Dem)

Berkeley

State Senate District 39 (Dem)

State House of Reps District 99 (Rep)

Calhoun

State Senate District 39 (Dem)

Charleston

State House of Reps District 99 (Rep)

State House of Reps District 109 (Dem)

State House of Reps District 115 (Dem)

State House of Reps District 115 Special (Dem)

County Council District 3 (Dem)

Colleton

State Senate District 39 (Dem)

Dillon

Sheriff (Dem)

County Council District 1 (Dem)

County Council District 3 (Dem)

Dorchester

State Senate District 39 (Dem)

State House of Reps District 109 (Dem)

Florence

City of Florence Mayor (Dem)

Greenville

State House of Reps District 35 (Rep)

County Council District 21 (Rep)

Hampton

County Council at Large (Dem)

Horry

State Senate District 33 (Rep)

The South Carolina State Election Commission (SEC) is disappointed with the conduct of yesterday’s primaries in Richland County. We know election officials and poll managers were faced with the extraordinarily difficult task of conducting an election in a pandemic. But yet again, voters were unnecessarily subjected to extreme wait times and confusion at polling places.

For the last several years, the SEC has worked to assist the Richland County Voter Registration and Elections Office (Richland Office) by providing training, guidance and recommendations aimed at improving outcomes. Unfortunately, those efforts have not produced the desired results. We, like the voters of Richland County, continue to be frustrated.

June 9, 2020

The South Carolina State Election Commission thanks our voters, poll managers and county election officials for the dedication shown today under extraordinary circumstances. 

“The passion and dedication of South Carolinians was on display at the polls today,” said Marci Andino, executive director of the South Carolina State Election Commission. “We’re grateful to voters for their patience as they waited to cast their ballots, and we want to thank the poll workers and election officials across the state for their tireless work in what has proved to be a long day under trying conditions.”

COLUMBIA, SC (June 3, 2020) – As Election Day approaches, the S.C. Election Commission wants voters to be aware of their options for voting in- the June 9th Statewide Primaries. 

If you have a mail-in absentee ballot: