Photo ID Requirements

Make your voting experience as fast and easy as possible by getting a free Photo ID from your county voter registration and elections office or your local DMV office.

• If you’re already registered to vote, go to your county office, provide your date of birth and the last four digits of your Social Security Number.  Then, have your photo taken. Click here for Attire & Appearance guidelines for photographs.
  • If you are not yet registered, you need to register to vote first.  You can register and have your photo taken on the same day.  Click here to learn more about registering to vote.
• To learn how to get a DMV ID card, call or visit your local DMV office or visit scdmvonline.com.

You may vote a provisional ballot that will count only if you show your Photo ID to the county voter registration and elections office prior to certification of the election (usually Thursday or Friday after the election).

Bring your non-photo voter registration card with you to the polling place.  You may vote a provisional ballot after signing an affidavit stating you have a reasonable impediment to obtaining Photo ID.  A reasonable impediment is any valid reason, beyond your control, which created an obstacle to obtaining a Photo ID. Some examples include:

• a disability or illness
• a conflict with your work schedule
• a lack of transportation
• a lack of a birth certificate
• family responsibilities
• a religious objection to being photographed
• any other obstacle you find reasonable

This ballot will count unless someone proves to the county board of voter registration and elections that you are lying about your identity or about having the listed impediment.

To vote under the reasonable impediment exception:

• Inform the poll managers that you do not have a photo ID and could not get one.
• Present your current, non-photo registration card.
• Sign the affidavit provided by the poll managers stating why you could not obtain a Photo ID.
• Cast a provisional ballot that will be counted unless the county board of voter registration and elections has reason to believe your affidavit is false.

Photo ID is required when returning an absentee ballot in person. Acceptable Photo IDs:

• Driver’s license issued by a state within the United States
• Another form of identification containing a photograph issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles or its equivalent by a state within the United States
• Passport
• Military identification containing a photograph issued by the federal government
• South Carolina voter registration card containing a photograph of the voter.