Where, when & how Myrtle Beach-area voters can cast a ballot this election

This year voters around the United States will visit polling places on Tuesday, Nov. 4 to cast their ballots. But South Carolina voters who want to get a head start can also go to select voting locations for early voting through the end of October, and eligible voters can vote absentee.

Here’s what Horry County voters should know about when, where and how to make their voices heard this election season.

How to check South Carolina voter registration

Before heading to polling locations, voters can check their registration quickly online on the MySCVotes website. After entering their name, county of residence and the last four digits of their social security number, voters can see whether they’re registered and get a sample ballot

Because Horry County is home to many unincorporated areas near municipalities, some residents may have mailing addresses that don’t match their actual election ballot. For example, a Carolina Forest resident’s mailing address might say Myrtle Beach, but that doesn’t mean they’re actually eligible to vote in the Myrtle Beach general election.

Checking voter registration on MySCVotes also allows voters to see their voting precinct, polling location and if they’re eligible to vote in a municipal election this fall.

South Carolina voting requirements

No matter how voters cast a ballot early or on Election Day, they’ll need one of the following approved forms of photo identification:

• South Carolina driver’s license
• South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles ID Card, including SC Concealed Weapons Permit
• SC Voter Registration Card with a photo
• US Passport
• Federal Military ID, including all Department of Defense Photo IDs and Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Card

Through Election Day, registered voters who don’t have an approved photo ID can get one from the Horry County Voter Registration Office. DMV offices also issue free ID cards.

Early voting in Horry County

Registered voters can vote early at select polling locations Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Oct. 31. Unlike Election Day, voters casting early ballots don’t report to their polling place listed on MySCVotes.

Instead, voters who live in the City of Myrtle Beach should visit Chapin Memorial Library at 400 14th Ave. N., Myrtle Beach, SC, 29577.

Horry County early voters in all other municipalities should go to the County Voter Registration Office at 1515 4th Avenue, Conway SC 29526.

Horry County Election Day voting

Voters casting a ballot on Election Day must go to their precinct’s polling location listed on MySCVotes.

All polling places will open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and any voters in line by 7:00 p.m. will be able to cast a ballot.

How to vote absentee in Horry County

South Carolina allows absentee voting, but only for certain qualified voters. People admitted to a hospital as an emergency patient within four days of Election Day can have an immediate family member apply for and deliver a ballot to them.

All other absentee voters must apply to vote absentee. Eligible voters include:

• People over the age of 65
• People with physical disabilities
• Members of the US Armed Forces and Merchant Marines, their spouses and dependents that resides with them
• People with employment obligations which prevent them from voting during early voting and Election Day hours
• People attending a sick or physically disabled person which prevents them from voting during early voting and Election Day hours
• People in jail or a pretrial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial during early voting and Election Day
• People who will be absent from their county of residence during early voting and Election Day

Voters who want to vote absentee can request an application in-person, by phone at (843) 915-5440 or by mail at the Horry County Voter Registration Office. However, with just weeks until Election Day, it’s best to make a request by phone or in person.

Absentee voting applications must be returned to the Horry County Voter Registration Office by mail or personal delivery by 5:00 p.m. on the 11th day prior to the election.

In-person requests, application returns and ballot deliveries can also be made on behalf of the voter by an immediate relative or authorized representative who’s registered to vote.

Eligible relatives include:

• Spouse
• Parent or parent-in-law
• Child or child-in-law
• Sibling or sibling-in-law
• Grandparent
• Grandchild

An authorized representative must:

• Have permission to act on the voter’s behalf
• Complete an Authorized Representative form
• Not be a candidate, staff or volunteer, unless they’re a member of the voter’s family

Once an application has been submitted, it can be tracked online or through the Horry County Voter Registration Office.

Absentee voters can return their ballot to an early voting center or the Horry County Voter Registration Office by mail or personal delivery. Voters submitting a ballot by mail must have someone 18 years or older witness their signature on the voter’s oath.

Ballots returned in-person by an eligible family member or representative must be presented with one of the forms of voter ID required for in-person voting at early polling or on Election Day.

Voters submitting ballots by mail should be placed in the “ballot here-in” envelope, which goes in the return envelope. In order to get a ballot in on time, absentee voters should mail their ballots in no later than one week before Election Day. This year, that means Tuesday, Oct. 28.

No matter how a ballot is returned, it cannot be counted if the office or center receives the ballot after 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4.

This story was originally published October 21, 2025 at 7:32 AM.