SEC Reminds Voters of Absentee Deadlines

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:

1.       Get the application online at scVOTES.org.   Follow this link to get your application online.  You must be able to print your application.

2.       Request an application from your county voter registration office by phone, mail, email, or fax.   You will be mailed an application. 

Step 2:  Complete and sign the application and return it to your county voter registration office by mail, fax, or email as soon as possible and no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 31.

Step 3:  Receive your absentee ballot in the mail and vote the ballot following the instructions.

Step 4:  Return the ballot to your county voter registration office in person or by mail no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day (November 4).

Total ABS Ballots issued statewide as of today:  100,625

Total ABS Ballots issued as of one week prior to 2010 General Election: 101,185 

Total ABS Ballots cast in 2010 General Election: 153,702

2010 GE ABS Turnout: 11.3% (of total ballots cast)

Total Ballots cast in 2010 General Election: 1,358,548 (51.6% of registered voters)

Some common qualifications for voting absentee (visit scVOTES.org for complete list):

• Persons sixty-five years of age or older
• Physically disabled persons
• Persons attending sick or physically disabled persons
• Students attending school outside their county
• Members of the Armed Forces serving outside their county
• Persons who, for reasons of employment, will not be able to vote on election day
• Government employees serving outside their county of residence
• Persons with a death or funeral in the family within three days before the election
• Persons who plan to be on vacation outside their county of residence on Election Day
• Overseas Citizens
• Persons serving as a juror in state or federal court on Election Day

Find more information on absentee voting, check your absentee ballot status, check your voter registration, and get a sample ballot at scVOTES.org.

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