News

Hurricane Forces Closure of Midlands, Coastal County Election Offices

COLUMBIA, S.C. (October 4, 2016) - To help ensure voters are prepared for the November 8 General Election, the State Election Commission wants to remind everyone of the upcoming voter registration deadline.  Also, citizens along South Carolina's coast need to make sure they are registered now in advance of the approaching storm and impending deadline.

TO VOTE IN THE 2016 GENERAL ELECTION, YOU MUST BE REGISTERED BY OCTOBER 8.

While Hurricane Matthew has forced 26 county offices to close (complete list below), voters still have various options to register before the deadline:

Governor Nikki Haley declares September 2016 as Voter Education Month

COLUMBIA, SC (September 21, 2016) - State and local voter registration and elections officials are using the month of September to encourage voters to prepare for the November 8 General Election.

"During the month of September, election officials across the State of South Carolina are focused on encouraging voters to register to vote or update their addresses, educating voters on what they need to bring with them to the polls, and helping voters learn more about what offices and candidates will be on their ballot before they get to the voting booth," said Marci Andino, Executive Director, S.C. State Election Commission.

August 30, 2016 - Lexington & Richland Counties

This special filing period and special primary are being held pursuant to S.C. Code of Laws Section 7-11-55 after the withdrawal of the Democratic nominee for State Senate District 20.  This special filing period is limited by law to only candidates seeking the Democratic Party's nomination since the withdrawn candidate was not unopposed.  The nominee resulting from this process will be a candidate on the November 8, 2016 General Election ballot.

Important Dates & Deadlines

June 18 - Voter Registration Deadline for Primary (if necessary)

Noon, August 9 - Filing Opens

Noon, August 16 - Filing Closes

Click Here for Candidate Tracking - Get candidate names and documents

August 30 - Primary (if necessary)

September 13 - Primary Runoff (if necessary)

November 8 - General Election

Candidate Filing Information

July 19, 2016 - Berkeley County

OFFICIAL RESULTS

This special primary was held pursuant to S.C. Code of Laws Section 7-11-55 after the withdrawal of the unopposed Republican nominee for State House of Representatives District 100.  The special filing period was open to candidates of all certified political parties.  Nominees resulting from this special filing and primary will be candidates on the November 8, 2016 General Election ballot.

Click here for more information on this special filing period.

July 19, 2016 - Berkeley County

This special filing period and special primary are being held pursuant to S.C. Code of Laws Section 7-11-55 after the withdrawal of the unopposed Republican nominee for State House of Representatives District 100.  This special filing period is open to candidates of all certified political parties.  Nominees resulting from this special filing and primary will be candidates on the November 8, 2016 General Election ballot.

Candidates

Tonia Aiken-Taylor, Democratic

Sylleste Davis, Republican

Republican Primary Results

Important Dates & Deadlines

June 18 - Voter Registration Deadline for Primary

Noon, June 28 - Filing Opens

Noon, July 5 - Filing Closes

Click Here for Candidate Tracking - Get candidate names and documents

July 19 - Primary (if necessary)

August 2 - Primary Runoff (if necessary)

November 8 - General Election

COLUMBIA, SC (May 31, 2016) - The State Board of Canvassers met Friday at 2:00 p.m. and ordered necessary Recounts and Runoffs for the 2016 Statewide Primaries.  Recounts were ordered to begin at 2:30 p.m.  The State Board of Canvassers will reconvene no earlier than noon on Saturday, June 18th to certify results of the Recounts.  Runoffs will be held on June 28, 2016.

2016 Primaries - Runoffs & Recounts

State-level Runoffs

Runoff - Senate 2 REP

Runoff - Senate 6 REP

Runoff - Senate 12 REP

Runoff - Senate 17 DEM

Runoff - Senate 34 REP

Runoff - Senate 41 REP

Runoff - State House 7 REP

Runoff - State House 50 DEM

Runoff - State House 79 DEM

Runoff - State House 81 REP

Runoff - State House 89 REP

Runoff - State House 110 REP

Runoff - State House 122 DEM (Recount ordered, Runoff to be officially ordered at 6:30 p.m.)

Runoff - Solicitor 10 REP

Runoff - Solicitor 11 REP

Runoffs by County

Abbeville

Runoff - State House 7 REP

August 30, 2016 - Berkeley County

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Sylleste H. Davis was certified the winner of this Special Election on June 8, 2016, according to the provisions of S.C. Code of Laws Section 7-13-190(E).

The following is the text of the State Board of Canvassers certification document adopted on June 8, 2016:

Whereas, a Special Election for State House of Representatives District 100 was ordered to be held on August 30, 2016; and

Whereas, the candidate filing period for the Special Election opened at noon on May 13, 2016, and closed at noon on May 23, 2016; and

Whereas, only one candidate, Sylleste H. Davis, filed as a candidate during the filing period; and

Whereas, more than fourteen calendar days have elapsed since the close of the filing period, and no person has filed a declaration to be a write-in candidate with the S.C. State Election Commission nor with the Berkeley County Board of Voter Registration and Elections; and

Q.  What candidates and/or offices are on the ballot today?

A.   The candidates and offices on a particular ballot will differ depending on the county and districts in which you reside and the primary in which you're voting (Republican or Democratic).  To see the candidates that will appear on your ballot, visit scVOTES.org and click "Get My Sample Ballot" in the mySCVOTES section of the homepage.

Q.  Where do I vote?

A.   At the polling place in your precinct.  Your precinct and polling place are listed on your voter registration card.  However, it's possible your polling place may have changed since the card was issued.  To be sure of the location of your polling place:

• Visit scVOTES.org and click "Find My Polling Place" in the mySCVOTES section of the homepage.
• Call your county voter registration office.

Q.  What hours will the polls be open?

May 17, 2016 - Abbeville, Anderson & Greenwood Counties

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Important Dates & Deadlines

Noon, Friday, January 22 - Filing Opens

Noon, Monday, February 1 - Filing Closes

Click Here for Candidate Tracking - Get candidate names and filing information. 

February 20 - Voter Registration Deadline for Primary

March 22 - Primary

April 5 - Primary Runoff 

Get Registered by May 14 to Vote in State Primaries

COLUMBIA, S.C. (May 5, 2016) - South Carolina's voter registration rolls have grown to more than three million registered voters.  "It's never been easier to register to vote in South Carolina," said Marci Andino, Executive Director of the S.C. State Election Commission.  "With online voter registration, registration by mail, and registration at the Department of Motor Vehicles and other state agencies, South Carolinians have more opportunities than ever to get registered."  South Carolinians are also registering at higher rates than ever before.  More than three quarters (76.5%) of the state's voting age population is registered to vote.

April 5, 2016 - Abbeville, Anderson and Greenwood Counties

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Republican Primary Results

Special Election Results

March 22, 2016 - Abbeville, Anderson and Greenwood Counties

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Candidate Tracking System available at scVOTES.org

COLUMBIA, SC (March 16, 2016) - The 2016 March Filing Period opens at noon today throughout the state.  Any candidate seeking a political party's nomination for an office on the November 8, 2016, General Election ballot must file during the March Filing Period.  The filing period opens at noon today and closes at noon on March 30.  Filing deadlines for nonpartisan candidates are later this year.

See Who Has Filed

Beginning at noon today, check the Candidate Tracking System at scVOTES.org and select "2016 General Election."  Candidate names and copies of forms are posted online immediately as candidates file.

Where Candidates File

Who Must File

Any candidate seeking a political party's nomination for an office on the November 8, 2016, General Election ballot (except President) must file during the March Filing Period.  Click here for information on filing for President.

When to File

The filing period opens at Noon on March 16 and closes at Noon on March 30.

WARNING:  Filing closes at 12:00 p.m. sharp.  There are no exceptions to this rule.  The candidate must be present and ready to file before the clock strikes noon.  The SEC encourages candidates to consider all contingencies and plan accordingly to ensure this deadline is met. 

Filing Hours

State Election Commission

Wednesday, March 16: 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Thursday - Friday, March 17-18: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Saturday - Sunday, March 19-20: CLOSED

Monday - Friday, March 21-25: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 26: CLOSED

Sunday, March 27: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

COLUMBIA, SC (February 23, 2016) - The S.C. State Election Commission (SEC) wants voters to be aware of what they need to bring to the polls to vote in the Democratic Presidential Primary on Saturday, February 27. 

While having a Photo ID, and bringing it to the polls, will make the voting process easier; no registered voter in the correct polling place should ever be denied a ballot, whether the voter has a Photo ID or not.

Poll Managers will ask voters for one of the following types of Photo ID:

• S.C. Driver's License
• S.C. DMV ID Card
• S.C. Voter Registration Card with a Photo
• Federal Military ID
• U.S. Passport

Voters who already have one of the IDs above are ready to vote.  They need to be sure to bring their ID with them to their polling place.