Election 2024: South Carolina voter FAQ

When do I need to register to vote?

The deadline to register to vote in any election in South Carolina is normally 30 days prior to Election Day, but the deadline was extended by 10 days due to potential disruptions to voters registration efforts caused by Hurricane Helene.

• The deadline to register to vote in person, online, by fax, or by mail (must be postmarked by this date) is Friday, Oct. 14.

To register to vote, go to https://scvotes.gov/voters/register-to-vote/.

I’ve moved since the last time I voted, and I haven’t updated my voter registration. Can I still vote?

If you moved to…

• Another residence within your precinct, you can update your address at your polling place and vote a regular ballot.
• A different precinct within your county, you are eligible vote failsafe (see below).
• Another residence in another county within 30 days of the election, you are eligible to vote failsafe (see below).
• Another residence in another county prior to the Oct. 6 registration deadline, you are not eligible to vote. State law requires you to be registered prior to the deadline to be eligible to vote.
• South Carolina after the Oct. 6 registration deadline, you are not eligible to vote. State law requires you to be registered prior to the deadline to be eligible to vote.

Two options for voting failsafe:

1. Vote at the polling place in your previous precinct using a failsafe provisional ballot. A failsafe provisional ballot contains only federal, statewide, countywide and municipality-wide offices.
2. Go to the voter registration office in the county in which you currently reside, change your address, and vote a regular ballot there.

Can I take my child with me to vote?

Yes. Minor children (under age 18) of a voter may accompany the voter in the voting booth.

What do I need to take with me to vote?

At your polling place, you will be asked to show one of the following photo IDs:

• Driver’s license
• ID card issued by the S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles
• Voter registration card with photo
• Federal military ID
• U.S. passport

What if I don’t have one of these photo IDs?

If you do not have one of these photo IDs, you can make your voting experience as fast and easy as possible by getting one before Election Day. If you are already registered to vote, you can go to your county voter registration and elections office, provide your date of birth and the last four digits of your Social Security number, and have your photo taken. You can do this even on Election Day. Free ID cards are also available from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

If you cannot get a photo ID, bring your non-photo voter registration card with you to the polling place. You can contact your county voter registration office if you need to replace your non-photo voter registration card. You may vote a provisional ballot after signing an affidavit stating you have a reasonable impediment to obtaining a photo ID. A reasonable impediment is any valid reason, beyond your control, which created an obstacle 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 and 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 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.

What happens if I forget to bring my photo ID when voting in person?

If you forget to bring your photo ID to your polling place, you may vote a provisional ballot that will count only if you show your photo ID to your county board of voter registration and elections office prior to certification of the election. Results are certified on the Friday after the general election (Nov. 8).

What hours will the polls be open on Election Day?

Polling places are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Anyone in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

Are there any laws about candidates posting their signs along the roadway?

Yes, there are several state laws addressing political signs on roadways, as well as county and municipal ordinances. See S.C. Code of Laws Sections 57-25-10, 57-25-140 and 7-25-210. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the entity that maintains the road (state, county or municipality) to enforce applicable sign laws.

Can candidates or their representatives take people to the polls to vote?

Yes. It is permissible for any person, even a candidate, to give a voter a ride as long as it is being done solely to help facilitate voting. However, no one can offer a voter anything of value in exchange for voting.

I saw a candidate/member of candidate’s campaign at my polling place talking to voters. Can they do that?

Yes, but there are restrictions:

Inside the polling place: No campaigning is allowed. Candidates may be inside the polling place and talk to voters as long as they are not campaigning, intimidating voters or interfering with the election process.

Within 500 feet of an entrance to a polling place: Candidates and campaign staff may campaign as long as they are not intimidating voters or interfering with the election process. However, no campaign literature, signs, or posters are allowed. Candidates are allowed to wear a badge no larger than 4.25” x 4.25” featuring only the candidate’s name and office sought. Candidates must remove their badge upon entering a polling place.

A candidate is definitely campaigning while in the polling place, or there is campaign literature within 500 feet of the entrance. What can I do?

Inform the poll clerk immediately. If the issue is not resolved, contact the county board of voter registration and elections. The county board will address the complaint.

When I left the polls, I was asked to participate in an “exit poll.” Is this legal?Exit polls are legal and participation is voluntary. They are not conducted by the State Election Commission or the county boards of voter registration and elections. Generally, polls may not be conducted inside the polling place, and we ask that voters not be approached before they have voted. If a voter feels threatened or intimidated by a pollster, it should be reported immediately to the precinct’s poll clerk.

Where should I file a complaint about the election?

It’s best to report any concerns to a poll manager or notify your county voter registration and elections office as soon as possible. To send a complaint to the SEC, visit the contact page on www.scVOTES.gov. Complaints regarding voting and elections should be addressed to your county board of voter registration and elections.

Source: S.C. Election Commission/SCVotes.gov

This information is in The Sumter Item's Vote 2024 Guide to the General Election special newspaper section. To read it online, no subscription required, go to https://issuu.com/theitem/docs/2024_votersguide_issuu.