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Deadlines Approach for Absentee Voting in Primaries

COLUMBIA, SC (May 20, 2010) - The State Election Commission wants to remind voters of the procedures and upcoming deadlines for voting by absentee ballot in the June 8th State Primaries.

Persons qualified to vote by absentee ballot:

  • Persons who will be outside their county of residence on Election Day
  • Members of the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine, and their spouses and dependents residing with them
  • Persons who, for reasons of employment, will not be able to vote on election day
  • Physically disabled persons
  • Persons sixty-five years of age or older
  • Persons serving as a juror in state or federal court on Election Day
  • Persons admitted to the hospital as emergency patients on day of election or within a four-day period before the election
  • Persons with a death or funeral in the family within three days before the election
  • Persons confined to a jail or pre-trial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial
  • Persons attending sick or physically disabled persons
  • Certified poll watchers, poll managers, and county election officials working on Election Day
  • Persons who, for religious reasons, do not wish to take part in the electoral process on a Saturday

Qualified voters may vote absentee in person or by mail:

In Person - Visit your county voter registration office, complete an application, and cast your ballot.  You may vote absentee in person up until 5:00 p.m., Monday, June 7th.

By Mail - Step 1:  Contact your county voter registration office to request an absentee ballot application.  You may make the request in person or by phone, mail, email, or fax.  You must tell office staff the primary (Democratic or Republican) in which you wish to vote.  South Carolina does not have registration by party.  Registered voters may vote in either party's primary, but NOT both.  

Step 2:  You will be mailed an application.

Step 3:  Return the completed application to your county voter registration office by 5:00 p.m., Friday, June 4th.  You may return the application in person or by mail, email, or fax. 

Step 4:  You will be mailed an absentee ballot.

Step 5:  Vote the ballot following ballot instructions and return it to your county voter registration office by 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 8th.  You may return the ballot in person or by mail.

More information on absentee voting.

Check your absentee ballot status.

See a county-by-county list of candidates.

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