When and where can you cast a ballot in SC before Election Day? Your guide to early voting
Americans around the country will gather in polling places to cast ballots on Nov. 5, 2024 for the US general election. But those who prefer to get a head start, want to avoid election day lines or can’t cast a ballot on a Tuesday, can vote before Election Day.
In South Carolina, registered voters will be able to vote early every day between 8:30 am and 6:00 pm from Monday, Oct. 21 through Saturday, Nov. 2, excluding Sunday, Oct. 27.
Unlike Election Day, when voters must vote at their precinct’s polling place, early voters can cast their ballots at any early voting center in their county. A complete list of South Carolina’s nearly 140 early voting locations by county is available on the South Carolina Election Commission’s website.
No matter when you visit a polling place, when you check in you’ll be asked to show one of the following forms of photo identification:
South Carolina driver’s license, either a standard license or a REAL ID
South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles ID card, either a standard ID card, a REAL ID or a concealed weapons permit
South Carolina voter registration card with a photo
Federal military ID, either a Department of Defense photo ID or Veterans Affairs benefits card
US passport or a US passport ID card
If you don’t have any of these forms of photo identification and want to vote in the general election, the first thing you should do is make sure you’re registered to vote. Once you’re registered, you can get a free photo ID from your local DMV office or your county’s Voter Registration and Election Office, which you can locate online here.
Even if you’re not yet registered to vote, there’s still time. Although the original registration deadline passed, a judge extended the deadline because of Hurricane Helene. Through Monday, Oct. 14, South Carolinians can still register in person, online or by mail to vote in the general election.
This story was originally published October 9, 2024 at 6:00 AM.