South Carolinians who want to vote in the November 3 statewide general election must register online, by email or by fax no later than 11:59 p.m. Sunday, October 4. Because the deadline falls on a Sunday, mailed applications may be postmarked as late as Monday, October 5, according to the State Election Commission.
The timing is different for people who plan to register in person. Most county voter-registration offices will close at 5 p.m. Friday, October 2, making that the practical walk-in deadline. The commission is urging residents who recently moved, changed their names or are uncertain about their records to check their status before the final weekend.
South Carolina law generally requires registration at least 30 days before an election. Eligible residents must be U.S. citizens, live in the county and precinct where they register, and be 18 by Election Day. The state’s registration guidance says online registration requires a South Carolina driver’s license or Department of Motor Vehicles identification card. Anyone who has moved must update the address on the DMV record first.
Four ways to meet the deadline
Residents with qualifying state identification may use the online system. Others may download a registration form and send it to their county election office by mail, email attachment or fax, or visit the office in person. Mail and in-person applicants must provide a copy of an accepted document, such as a current photo ID, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or government document showing the applicant’s name and county address.
Students may register where they live while attending college or at a home address they intend to return to. Students living on campus must use the physical address of their dormitory rather than a post-office box. South Carolina does not register voters by party, so an applicant does not select a party when completing the form.
Residents who have completed an entire sentence for a felony or election-law conviction, including any probation and parole, may submit a new registration application. County officials may ask for proof that the sentence is complete. Anyone unsure of eligibility or registration status can use the commission’s online lookup or contact a county registration office before submitting a duplicate application.
Early voting begins October 19
Registration is separate from choosing how to cast a ballot. The commission’s early-voting schedule runs from Monday, October 19, through Saturday, October 31. County early-voting centers will operate from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and will be closed Sunday, October 25. Any registered voter may use an early-voting center within the voter’s county and must present an accepted photo ID.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. The practical sequence is to verify registration now, resolve any address or name mismatch before October 4, and then identify a county early-voting location or the correct Election Day polling place. That leaves time to correct a record without relying on the final hours of the registration window.
