Press Releases

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.

COLUMBIA, SC (May 31, 2016) - The State Board of Canvassers met Friday at 2:00 p.m. and ordered necessary Recounts and Runoffs for the 2016 Statewide Primaries.  Recounts were ordered to begin at 2:30 p.m.  The State Board of Canvassers will reconvene no earlier than noon on Saturday, June 18th to certify results of the Recounts.  Runoffs will be held on June 28, 2016.

2016 Primaries - Runoffs & Recounts

State-level Runoffs

Runoff - Senate 2 REP

Runoff - Senate 6 REP

Runoff - Senate 12 REP

Runoff - Senate 17 DEM

Runoff - Senate 34 REP

Runoff - Senate 41 REP

Runoff - State House 7 REP

Runoff - State House 50 DEM

Runoff - State House 79 DEM

Runoff - State House 81 REP

Runoff - State House 89 REP

Runoff - State House 110 REP

Runoff - State House 122 DEM (Recount ordered, Runoff to be officially ordered at 6:30 p.m.)

Runoff - Solicitor 10 REP

Runoff - Solicitor 11 REP

Runoffs by County

Abbeville

Runoff - State House 7 REP

Q.  What candidates and/or offices are on the ballot today?

A.   The candidates and offices on a particular ballot will differ depending on the county and districts in which you reside and the primary in which you're voting (Republican or Democratic).  To see the candidates that will appear on your ballot, visit scVOTES.org and click "Get My Sample Ballot" in the mySCVOTES section of the homepage.

Q.  Where do I vote?

A.   At the polling place in your precinct.  Your precinct and polling place are listed on your voter registration card.  However, it's possible your polling place may have changed since the card was issued.  To be sure of the location of your polling place:

• Visit scVOTES.org and click "Find My Polling Place" in the mySCVOTES section of the homepage.
• Call your county voter registration office.

Q.  What hours will the polls be open?

Get Registered by May 14 to Vote in State Primaries

COLUMBIA, S.C. (May 5, 2016) - South Carolina's voter registration rolls have grown to more than three million registered voters.  "It's never been easier to register to vote in South Carolina," said Marci Andino, Executive Director of the S.C. State Election Commission.  "With online voter registration, registration by mail, and registration at the Department of Motor Vehicles and other state agencies, South Carolinians have more opportunities than ever to get registered."  South Carolinians are also registering at higher rates than ever before.  More than three quarters (76.5%) of the state's voting age population is registered to vote.

Candidate Tracking System available at scVOTES.org

COLUMBIA, SC (March 16, 2016) - The 2016 March Filing Period opens at noon today throughout the state.  Any candidate seeking a political party's nomination for an office on the November 8, 2016, General Election ballot must file during the March Filing Period.  The filing period opens at noon today and closes at noon on March 30.  Filing deadlines for nonpartisan candidates are later this year.

See Who Has Filed

Beginning at noon today, check the Candidate Tracking System at scVOTES.org and select "2016 General Election."  Candidate names and copies of forms are posted online immediately as candidates file.

Where Candidates File

COLUMBIA, SC (February 23, 2016) - The S.C. State Election Commission (SEC) wants voters to be aware of what they need to bring to the polls to vote in the Democratic Presidential Primary on Saturday, February 27. 

While having a Photo ID, and bringing it to the polls, will make the voting process easier; no registered voter in the correct polling place should ever be denied a ballot, whether the voter has a Photo ID or not.

Poll Managers will ask voters for one of the following types of current and valid Photo ID:

• S.C. Driver's License
• S.C. DMV ID Card
• S.C. Voter Registration Card with a Photo
• Federal Military ID
• U.S. Passport

Voters who already have one of the IDs above are ready to vote.  They need to be sure to bring their ID with them to their polling place.

Download a Printable Copy of this FAQ

Q.  What is a Presidential Preference Primary (PPP)?

A.   A PPP, commonly referred to simply as a "Presidential Primary," is a publicly held election in which voters vote for their choice to be a particular party's nominee for President.  State political parties use the results of the PPP to assign state delegates to the national party convention.  At the national convention, delegates from all participating states choose the party's nominee.  The party's nominee goes on the General Election ballot in November.  For more on party nomination of Presidential candidates, contact the appropriate political party.

Q.  Do I have to be a registered member of a party to participate in a Presidential Primary?

A.   No, S.C. does not have registration by party.  The Presidential Primaries are open to all registered S.C. voters. 

Q.  Why are the Presidential Primaries on two separate dates?  Why are they being held on Saturdays?

COLUMBIA, SC (February 3, 2016) - The State Election Commission wants voters to be aware of the procedures for voting by absentee ballot in the 2016 Presidential Preference Primaries.

Voters may vote in only one party's Presidential Preference Primary. 

Qualified voters (reasons listed below) may vote absentee either in person or by mail:

IN PERSON -

Visit your county elections office , complete an application, and cast your ballot.  You may vote absentee in person up until 5:00 p.m. on the day before each primary.

• For the Republican Primary up until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 19
• For the Democratic Primary up until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 26

BY MAIL -

Step 1: Get an absentee application in one of two ways:

Register Online at scVOTES.org

COLUMBIA, S.C. (January 26, 2016) - To help ensure voters are prepared for the upcoming Presidential Preference Primaries (PPPs), the State Election Commission wants to remind everyone of the upcoming voter registration deadline for the Democratic PPP and urge those already registered to update their information.

TO VOTE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PPP, YOU MUST BE REGISTERED BY JANUARY 27. 

Register Online at scVOTES.org

COLUMBIA, S.C. (January 19, 2016) - To help ensure voters are prepared for the upcoming Presidential Preference Primaries (PPPs), the State Election Commission wants to remind everyone of the upcoming voter registration deadlines and urge those already registered to update their information.

TO VOTE IN THE REPUBLICAN PPP, YOU MUST BE REGISTERED BY JANUARY 20.

TO VOTE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PPP, YOU MUST BE REGISTERED BY JANUARY 27.  

COLUMBIA, SC (October 14, 2015) - The State Election Commission is moving to 1122 Lady Street, Suite 500, Columbia, SC, 29201.  Operations will begin at the new location on Monday, October 26.

Only the street address of the agency will change.  The mailing address, telephone numbers, fax number, and email addresses will remain the same.

Current contact information (through 10/23):

2221 Devine Street, Suite 105, Columbia, SC, 29205
P.O. Box 5987, Columbia, SC, 29250
Tel:  (803) 734-9060
Fax:  (803) 734-9366
elections@elections.sc.gov
www.scvotes.org

New contact information (beginning 10/26):

1122 Lady Street, Suite 500, Columbia, SC, 29201
P.O. Box 5987, Columbia, SC, 29250
Tel:  (803) 734-9060
Fax:  (803) 734-9366
elections@elections.sc.gov
www.scvotes.org

National Voter Registration Day 2015

Register Online at scVOTES.org

COLUMBIA, S.C. (September 18, 2015) - The South Carolina State Election Commission, along with Americans across the nation, will be celebrating National Voter Registration Day (NVRD) on Tuesday, September 22, 2015.  This is a nationwide effort to register voters before upcoming elections in November.  Celebrate democracy in America by encouraging individuals to exercise one of our most basic rights:  the right to vote!

COLUMBIA, SC (October 28, 2014) - The State Election Commission wants voters to be aware of fast approaching deadlines for voting absentee in the 2014 General Election. 

Qualified voters (reasons listed below) may vote absentee either 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. on Monday, November 3.

BY MAIL - WARNING: Voting absentee by mail at this late date should be done only if necessary.

Step 1: Get an absentee application in one of two ways: