Deadlines Approach for Absentee Voting in Primary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COLUMBIA, SC (May 20, 2008) - The State Election Commission wants to remind voters of the procedures and upcoming deadlines for voting absentee in the June 10 State Primaries.

Persons qualified to vote an absentee ballot in the State Primaries:

• 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

How to vote an absentee ballot:

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 9.

By Mail - Step 1: Contact your county voter registration office to request an absentee ballot application. Voters (or their immediate family members) may make the request in person or by phone, mail, e-mail, or fax. An authorized representative may also make the request, but only in person or by mail. An authorized representative is a registered voter who, with a voter's permission, can request an absentee ballot application on behalf of a voter who qualifies because of illness or disability. Candidates and paid campaign workers, who are not family, may not serve as authorized representatives.

Step 2: Return the application to your county voter registration office by 5:00 p.m., Friday, June 6.

Step 3: You will be mailed an absentee ballot. Vote the ballot following ballot instructions and return it to your county voter registration office by 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 10. The ballot may be mailed or hand-delivered. If hand delivered by someone other than the voter or post office, that person must complete an authorization form. Candidates and paid campaign workers, who are not family, may not hand deliver absentee ballots.

South Carolina does not have registration by party. Registered voters may vote in either party's primary, but NOT both. Absentee voters must indicate on their application which ballot they wish to receive. For further information, and to check your absentee ballot status, visit www.SCVotes.org.

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