News

The South Carolina State Election Commission (SEC) is disappointed with the conduct of yesterday’s primaries in Richland County. We know election officials and poll managers were faced with the extraordinarily difficult task of conducting an election in a pandemic. But yet again, voters were unnecessarily subjected to extreme wait times and confusion at polling places.

For the last several years, the SEC has worked to assist the Richland County Voter Registration and Elections Office (Richland Office) by providing training, guidance and recommendations aimed at improving outcomes. Unfortunately, those efforts have not produced the desired results. We, like the voters of Richland County, continue to be frustrated.

June 9, 2020

The South Carolina State Election Commission thanks our voters, poll managers and county election officials for the dedication shown today under extraordinary circumstances. 

“The passion and dedication of South Carolinians was on display at the polls today,” said Marci Andino, executive director of the South Carolina State Election Commission. “We’re grateful to voters for their patience as they waited to cast their ballots, and we want to thank the poll workers and election officials across the state for their tireless work in what has proved to be a long day under trying conditions.”

Due to COVID-19, a number of polling places have been relocated or consolidated with other polling places for the June 9 and June 23 Statewide Primaries and Runoffs.

Click below to download the list of polling places that have moved for the Statewide Primaries and Runoffs.  If your county and precinct are not included in this list, you will vote at your normal location.  If you don't know your precinct name , check the "Regular Location (Moved From)" column to find your regular polling place then look in the "Location for 6/9/2020 Primaries (Moved To)" column to find where you vote today.

List of polling places moves for June Primaries and Runoffs

Click here for a complete list of precincts and polling places throughout the state.

COLUMBIA, SC (June 3, 2020) – As Election Day approaches, the S.C. Election Commission wants voters to be aware of their options for voting in- the June 9th Statewide Primaries. 

If you have a mail-in absentee ballot:

COLUMBIA, S.C. (May 25, 2020) – As a result of a U.S. District Court order issued today, South Carolinians voting absentee by mail in the 2020 June Primaries and Runoffs are no longer required to have their signature witnessed on the ballot return envelope.  Election officials will accept and count all absentee ballots regardless of whether the envelope contains a witness signature, if otherwise valid.  Any ballots that may have already been returned without a witness signature will also be counted if otherwise valid. 

Voters are still required to sign and date the voter’s oath on the return envelope.  However, the “Signature of Witness” and “Address of Witness” spaces can be left blank.

The removal of the witness signature requirement applies only to the June 9 Primaries and June 23 Runoffs.

Click here for more on absentee voting.

Poll managers, any voter, and any qualified watcher may challenge the vote of a person who may be known or suspected not to be a qualified voter. A challenge may also be made if you have good reason to believe the person has already voted or has become disqualified for any cause. Challenges of ballots cast in person in the absentee precinct and at the polling place on election day must be made prior to the voter casting the ballot.  No challenges can be made after that time.  All challenges must be addressed to poll managers and not directly to voters.  Challenges of absentee by mail ballots must be made prior to separating the ballot from absentee return envelope, which can begin as early as 9:00 a.m. on the day preceding the election.  Challenges in the absentee precinct are very rare because the voter has the opportunity to make address changes or otherwise correct his voting record with election officials before casting an absentee ballot.  If a challenged voter casts a provisional ballot, the challenger must appear or produce evidence at the provisional ballot hearing to sustain the challenge; otherwise, the ballot will be counted.  See S.C.

COLUMBIA, SC (May 13, 2020) – Every voter in South Carolina is now qualified to vote absentee in the June Primaries and Runoffs.  Governor McMaster today signed into law legislation passed yesterday by the General Assembly that authorizes any voter to vote absentee in any election in June 2020.  The provision expires on July 1, 2020 and does not apply to any elections after that date.

“This action by the General Assembly and Governor McMaster, which we greatly appreciate, will go a long way in protecting the health and safety of every South Carolinian,” said Marci Andino, Executive Director of the S.C. State Election Commission.   “All voters now have a safer alternative to voting at their polling place in June.”

All voters now have two options to exercise their right to vote in the 2020 Statewide Primaries and Runoffs.

Vote Absentee

Postponed Elections Rescheduled for July 14

COLUMBIA, SC (May 12, 2020) – Governor McMaster on Friday announced the rescheduling of all elections that had been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic (full list below).  All affected elections have been rescheduled for July 14, 2020.

List of postponed elections:

Make Sure You Are Registered and Your Information is Current

COLUMBIA, S.C. (May 4, 2020) – To help ensure voters are prepared for the June 9 Statewide Primaries, the State Election Commission wants to remind South Carolinians of the fast-approaching voter registration deadline.

YOU MUST BE REGISTERED BY MAY 10* TO VOTE IN THE 2020 STATEWIDE PRIMARIES.

Voters not currently registered to vote in their county of residence must register by the deadline, including citizens who:

• Will be 18 years old on or before November 3, 2020 and have not registered.
• Moved to a new county but did not register in the new county.
• Moved from another state but did not register in South Carolina.

Register Online at scVOTES.org

COLUMBIA, SC (April 27, 2020) - Governor McMaster today announced the postponement of elections scheduled for May 5 and May 12 (full list below).  Affected elections will be rescheduled.  Specific dates will be announced later.    

List of postponed May elections:

• May 5
  • Lancaster School Board Special Election
  • Newberry City Council Special Election
• May 12
  • Ware Shoals School Board General Election
  • Town of Windsor General Election
  • Town of Bonneau General Election
  • City of Hanahan Special Election
  • City of Chester Special Election
  • Town of Lamar Special Election
  • Ninety-Six School Board General Election
  • Spartanburg Metropolitan Sub District B Water and Sewer District General Election

Qualifying Voters Urged to Vote Absentee

COLUMBIA, SC (April 27, 2020) – The June 9 Statewide Primaries and June 23 Runoffs are set to proceed as scheduled.  The SEC has no authority to delay the primaries or deviate from current law in conducting elections.  Voting options remain unchanged.  Voters should prepare now to exercise their right to vote by choosing the best option for them.

Vote Absentee

The June Primaries and Runoffs are scheduled to be held on June 9 and June 23, 2020.  The SEC has no authority to postpone the primaries.

Click here to download a printer-friendly version.

“Digitized signatures” will be accepted for verification under certain conditions.  A digitized signature is created using a touchscreen or similar device by which the signor uses his finger or stylus to create a human readable signature that can be checked against signatures on file at county voter registration and election offices.  

COLUMBIA, SC (March 19, 2020) – As March candidate filing continues, the SEC is asking candidates to file as soon as possible and to make an appointment before filing to help avoid crowding in the final days of the period. While the day-to-day impact of the response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is uncertain, the SEC continues working with county boards to help ensure the process continues without interruption as directed by the Governor’s Executive Order 2020-09.