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Deadlines Approach for Absentee Voting

COLUMBIA, SC (May 31, 2012) - Voters should be aware of upcoming deadlines and the procedures for voting by absentee ballot in the June 12th 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

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 11th.

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. 

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 8th.  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 12th.  You may return the ballot in person or by mail.

South Carolina does not have registration by party.  Voters may vote in either party's primary, but NOT both.  Voters should be prepared to tell election officials the primary (Democratic or Republican) in which they wish to vote. 

Voters can find more information on absentee voting, check their absentee ballot status, and see a county-by-county list of candidates at scVOTES.org.

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