South Carolina Voter Registration Information

Primary Election
June 12, 2012

Primary Election Voter Registration Deadline
May 12, 2012

General Election
November 6, 2012

General Election Voter Registration Deadline
October 6, 2012

 Voter Registration and Eligibility

You must be registered at least 30 days prior to any election in order to vote in that election. Registration by mail applications must be postmarked at least 30 days prior to that particular election to be eligible.
Can select party affiliation at the polls.

QUALIFICATIONS

 To register to vote in the state of South Carolina, an individual must meet the following qualifications:

• Be a United States citizen
• Be at least eighteen years old on or before the next election
• Be a resident of South Carolina, this county and precinct
• Not be under a court order declaring you mentally incompetent
• Not be confined in any public prison resulting from a conviction of a crime
• Have never been convicted of a felony or offense against the election
  laws OR if previously convicted, have served the entire sentence,
  including probation or parole, or have received a pardon for the conviction

 OBTAINING A VOTER REGISTRATION FORM

You may register or obtain a mail-in form at the following locations:

• County election office (contact information)
• Division of Motor Vehicles
• Department of Social Services
• Department of Disabilities and Special Needs
• DHEC/WIC Program
• Department of Health and Human Services
• Department of Vocational Rehabilitation
• Commission for the Blind
• Department of Mental Health
• S.C. Protection and Advocacy System for the Handicapped
• Department of Alcohol and other Drug Abuse Services

Obtain a voter registration form online here.

SOUTH CAROLINA ABSENTEE BALLOTS

Who Can Absentee Vote in South Carolina?

Any registered voter who is eligible to vote an absentee ballot, if they meet one of the following criteria:

• Students, their spouses and dependents residing with them
• Members of the Armed Forces, Merchant Marines, Red Cross, USO, government employees, their spouses and dependents residing with them
• For reasons of employment will not be able to vote on Election Day
• Physically disabled persons
• Persons on vacation
• Persons age 65 or older
• Persons admitted to the hospital as emergency patients on day of election or at least four days prior to the election
• Electors with a death or funeral in the family within 3 days before the election
• Persons confined to a jail or pre-trial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial
• Persons attending to sick or physically disabled persons
• Certified poll watchers and poll managers

How Can I Acquire an Absentee Ballot?

Voters can begin applying as early as January 1st to vote absentee for any election held during that same year.

Requests for an absentee ballot application can be made in person, by phone (except authorized representatives), or in writing by contacting your county voter registration office in the county in which you are registered.

If applying by mail, the county voter registration office must receive your application no later than 5 p.m., four days prior to the election. For Tuesday elections, this deadline falls on Friday.

Voters admitted to the hospital as an emergency patient on the day of the election or within four days of the election can have an immediate family member apply and carry a ballot to the voter.

Additional Information for Overseas Voters

How do I Return the Absentee Ballot and What is the Deadline?

Absentee ballots can be returned by mail or in person. To have your absentee ballot returned by a person other than yourself, it is necessary for the absentee voter to compete an "Authorization to Return Absentee Ballot Form."

In order to be counted, mail-in absentee ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day. You may vote absentee in person at your County Voter Registration Office up until 5 p.m. on the day before the election.

Source of information:
South Carolina State Election Commission
2221 Devine Street, Suite 105
Post Office Box 5987
Columbia, South Carolina 29205
Phone: 803-734-9366
Fax: 803-734-4381
Email: [email protected]

http://www.scvotes.org/

PROTECT YOUR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS
BY EXERCISING YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE!