Election Special: South Carolina
SOUTH CAROLINA
WHAT’S NEW?
Republicans set their South Carolina presidential primary for Saturday, Feb. 24. The Democratic National Committee reordered its 2024 presidential calendar to give South Carolina a bigger role, with its primary set for Saturday, Feb. 3. Congressional and state office primaries will be held in June.
WHAT ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW
How do I register to vote?
Register in person at your county board of voter registration, the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles or other state agencies. Find your county board at scvotes.gov and click Voter Registration. At that site, you can also register to vote online or download a form and then mail, fax or email it to your county board. Alternatively, call your board and ask that a form be mailed to you.
For the presidential primaries, registration deadlines are the same day, whether you register by mail (a postmark by the deadline is acceptable), online, by fax or in person: Thursday, Jan. 4, for Democrats, and Thursday, Jan. 25, for Republicans. For state office and congressional primaries, the dates differ: Friday, May 10, for inperson registration (unless your county board holds weekend hours); Sunday, May 12, for online, fax or email; or a Monday, May 13, postmark for mail.
Do I have to affiliate with a party?
No. Simply pick the primary you want to vote in—but vote in only one.
How can I vote absentee?
Absentee-by-mail ballots are available to some voters, including people 65 and older, people with physical disabilities and those who can’t vote because of a work obligation or who will be out of their county during available voting days. Call your board and ask that an application be mailed to you, or apply for one there in person. Mail or deliver your completed application to your county board. The application must be received—not just postmarked—by 5 p.m. on the application deadline. Immediate family members or registered voters who complete an authorized representative form can also request an absentee ballot for someone else.
How do I return my absentee ballot?
Mail or hand deliver your completed ballot to your county board or an early voting center. Ballots must be received—not just postmarked—by 7 p.m. primary day; you cannot return your absentee ballot to polling places that day. Absentee ballots require a witness signature. Track your ballot at vrems.scvotes.sc.gov, or by contacting your county board.
Can I vote in person before primary day?
Voters can cast ballots at early voting centers in their county. For the Democratic primary, early voting runs Monday, Jan. 22, to Friday, Feb. 2 (closed Sunday, Jan. 28), from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. For the Republican primary, early voting runs Monday, Feb. 12, to Thursday, Feb. 22 (closed Sunday-Monday, Feb. 18-19), from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Early voting for the South Carolina state office and congressional primary runs Tuesday, May 28, to Friday, June 7 (closed Saturday-Sunday, June 1-2), from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Early voting center locations are posted on scvotes.gov at least two weeks prior to the start of early voting.
When are the primary elections?
The Democratic presidential primary is Saturday, Feb. 3, and the Republican one is Saturday, Feb. 24. The primary for congressional and state offices is Tuesday, June 11, with runoffs on Tuesday, June 25.
Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Find polling places at vrems.scvotes.sc.gov, or contact your county board.
Do I need ID to vote?
To vote on primary day or return an absentee ballot in person, you must show a valid photo ID; find a list of requirements at scvotes.gov/voters/how-to-vote. —Emily Paulin
RACES TO WATCH
U.S. President
U.S House: All 7 seats
State Senate: All 46 seats
State House: All 124 seats
For other state election guides, go to aarp.org/electionguides.
HOW TO VOTE IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA 2024 PRIMARY ELECTIONS
KEY PRIMARY DATES
Democratic presidential
Early in-person voting:
Monday, Jan. 22, to Friday, Feb. 2
Absentee ballot request due:
Tuesday, Jan. 23
Primary day:
Saturday, Feb. 3
Republican presidential
Early in-person voting:
Monday, Feb. 12, to Thursday, Feb. 22
Absentee ballot request due: Tuesday, Feb. 13
Primary day:
Saturday, Feb. 24
State office and congressional
Early in-person voting:
Tuesday, May 28, to Friday, June 7
Absentee ballot request due:
Friday, May 31
Primary day:
Tuesday, June 11
IMPORTANT: AARP strongly recommends confirming voting rules and other details by going to the South Carolina State Election Commission’s official site, scvotes.gov, before submitting your ballot. Find additional details and updates at aarp.org/scvotes. You can also call the state election commission at 803-734-9060.
As a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, AARP does not endorse candidates or make political donations.