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Absentee Voting Underway for 2018 General Election

COLUMBIA, SC (October 12, 2018) - Absentee voting for the November 6, 2018 General Election is underway at county elections offices throughout the state.  As of this morning, approximately 45,000 voters had applied for absentee ballots statewide.  At this point in the process in 2014, the last gubernatorial election, approximately 30,000 voters had applied for absentee ballots statewide.

Voters who are age 65 and older, who will be on vacation, or who can’t go to the polls due to their job are all qualified to vote absentee.   If you meet one of these or any of the other qualifying reasons, you can vote early by absentee ballot.  The State Election Commission wants you to know how to vote absentee and the deadlines for doing so.

Voting Absentee In-Person:

  • Visit your county elections office, complete an application, and cast your ballot. 
  • Available until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 5.

Voting Absentee by Mail:

SEC Mails to Unregistered Citizens, Urges Them to Register by Oct. 17

COLUMBIA, S.C. (October 8, 2018) – Postcards are being mailed to South Carolina residents who are most likely eligible to vote but have not yet registered.  These postcards are being sent today to approximately 950,000 South Carolina residents, encouraging them to register by October 17th so they can vote in the 2018 General Election.

The mailing was planned as part of South Carolina’s recent membership in the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC).  ERIC is an organization operated by member states which uses motor vehicle, voter registration, and Social Security Administration data to improve the accuracy of voter registration lists.  To join, member states are required to reach out by mail to residents who are likely eligible but not registered letting them know how and when to register to vote. 

Voter Registration Deadline Extended to October 17

COLUMBIA, S.C. (October 2, 2018) – South Carolina citizens now have more time to register to vote ahead of the 2018 General Election after the court today ordered the voter registration deadline extended to October 17.

The 10-day extension was necessary to protect the voting rights of South Carolina residents due to the widespread impact of Hurricane Florence.  Many citizens have been displaced and are struggling to recover, and many county voter registration offices were closed for considerable periods of time.

While the deadline was extended due to the impact of Hurricane Florence, the October 17 deadline applies to voters in all counties.

YOU MUST REGISTER BY WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17 TO VOTE IN THE 2018 GENERAL ELECTION.

There are many ways to register in South Carolina, and it has never been easier:

National Voter Registration Day is September 25

COLUMBIA, S.C. (September 24, 2018) – To help ensure voters are prepared for the November 6 Statewide General Election, the State Election Commission is joining thousands of other election officials and others across the country to celebrate National Voter Registration Day.

The first step to ensuring every vote matters and every vote counts is making sure everyone has the opportunity to register to vote.

TO VOTE IN THE 2018 GENERAL ELECTION, YOU MUST BE REGISTERED BY SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7.

Are you already registered?  Visit scvotes.org and click “Check My Registration” to make sure your registration is up-to-date.

There are many ways to register in South Carolina, and it has never been easier:

2018 Constitutional Amendment Question

The following Constitutional Amendment Question will appear on ballots in the November 6, 2018 General Election:

Amendment 1

Must Section 7, Article VI of the Constitution of this State, relating to state constitutional officers, be amended so as to provide that beginning in January 2023, or upon a vacancy in the office of Superintendent of Education after the date of the ratification of the provisions of this paragraph, whichever occurs first, the Superintendent of Education must be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate; to provide that the appointed Superintendent of Education shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor; and to require the General Assembly to provide by law for the duties, compensation, and qualifications for the office?

Explanation

SEC Holds Election Security and Technology Workshop

Topics include election infrastructure security, voting system implementation and auditing methods

COLUMBIA, S.C. (August 8, 2018) – The S.C. State Election Commission (SEC) concluded its 2018 Election Security and Technology Workshop today in Columbia, S.C.  Approximately 150 election officials and county information technology staff from all 46 counties in the state attended the two-day workshop.  Attendees received valuable cybersecurity information and training, viewed the latest in voting system technologies and learned how other states are using paper ballot audits to confirm election results.

State House of Representatives District 58 Special Democratic Party Filing & Primary

August 14, 2018 - Horry County

This special filing period and special primary are being held pursuant to S.C. Code of Laws Section 7-11-55 after the death of the Democratic Party nominee for State House of Representatives District 58.  Because this candidate had opposition in the General Election, this special filing period is open to only Democratic Party candidates.  The nominee resulting from this special filing and primary will be a candidate on the November 8, 2016 General Election ballot.

Candidates

No candidates filed during this Special filing period.

Important Dates & Deadlines

July 15 - Voter Registration Deadline for Primary

Noon, July 24 - Filing Opens

Noon, July 31 - Filing Closes

August 14 - Primary (if necessary)

August 28 - Primary Runoff (if necessary)

November 6 - General Election

Candidate Filing Information

2018 Primary Runoff Offices and Candidates

 

Democratic Primary

U.S. House of Representatives District 2
Sean Carrigan
Annabelle Robertson

U.S. House of Representatives District 4
Brandon P Brown
Doris Lee Turner

U.S. House of Representatives District 7
Mal Hyman
Robert Williams

State House of Representatives District 77
Kambrell Garvin
Joe McEachern

Chester County Council District 2
Chris Melvin
Mike Vaughn

Dillon County Council District 7
Stevie Grice
Corey Jackson

Marion County Council District 3
James P Gause
Tom Shaw

Marlboro County Council District 7
Steve Blackmon
R Chris Brown

Republican Primary

Governor
Henry McMaster
John Warren

Attorney General
Todd Atwater
Alan Wilson

U.S. House of Representatives District 4
Lee Bright
William Timmons

State House of Representatives District 5
Neal Collins
Allan Quinn