South Carolina does not have early voting, but they do have absentee voting either in person or by absentee ballot.
There are a variety of reasons that someone might not be able to go to their polling location on November 6 – among them can be illness, away from home, job duties and even just being over 65 years old. Any of these will qualify you to vote absentee. South Carolina has approximately 16 different qualifications to vote absentee.
The State Election Commission allows two ways to vote absentee:
Voting Absentee in Person:
To vote in person prior to Election Day, you can go to one of the locations listed below, fill out an application, and cast your ballot all in one visit. Locations include:
North Charleston: Royal Missionary Baptist Church, 4761 Luella Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29405. Hours are 8:30 am to 5 pm Monday-Friday and Saturday, October 27, 9:00 am to 12:00 noon.
West Ashley: 2049 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29407. Hours are 8:30 am-5 pm Monday-Friday and Saturday, October 27, 9 am to 12 noon.
Mt. Pleasant: 750 Long Point Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464. Hours are 8:30 am-5 pm Monday-Friday and Saturday, October 27, 9 am-12 noon.
The deadline to vote absentee in person is 5:00 pm, Monday, November 5 (the day before Election Day.)
For more information on voting absentee in person, call (843) 744-8683 or email absentee@charlestoncounty.org.
Voting Absentee by Mail:
To vote absentee by mail, you need to get an application online or request an application from your county voter registration office.
Send in your application by Friday, November 3, 5:00 pm, and you will be mailed an absentee ballot. The county voter registration office must receive the absentee ballot by 7:00 pm on Tuesday, November 6.
To see more about voting absentee in person or by mail, click here.
For accurate, unbiased information on candidates, including for school board, click here.
–Tidelines Editors