Absentee voting in South Carolina includes voting by mail.
You can request that a ballot be sent to your home to vote by mail for you and immediate family members, including your spouse, parents, children, grandchildren, siblings, and more.
You can send a request each year after January 1 that you receive some or all your ballots by mail for that year. Mailed absentee ballots are mailed starting 30 days before the scheduled election date.
If you vote by mail, get a witness signature.
The witness signature will actually be on the OUTSIDE ENVELOPE of your ballot if you vote by mail (see image below).
A Witness Signature is required to vote by mail.
The witness can be ANYONE, including your spouse or relative. They don’t need to be 18. The witness doesn’t need to be a registered voter nor even an American citizen. The witness just needs to have an address.
There is no requirement that the election commission (or anyone) verify or check the witness signature or address in any way.
Even if you plan to drop off your ballot at an election commission office or satellite office, you should get a witness signature.
Both the voter and the witness must sign on the OUTSIDE of the envelope.
Voting absentee is as easy as 1-2-3
Request an application for yourself and, or your immediate family member from the county voter registration office in your county of residence by email. The Board of Elections will email or mail you an application, as you prefer.
You must now complete and sign the application and return it to your county voter registration office. You should return the application as soon as possible. You may return the application by email, mail, fax, or personal delivery.
When you receive your ballot in the mail, follow the instructions and return it to the county voter registration office in your county of residence. It must be RECEIVED at that office by 7:00 p.m. on the day of the election. You may return the ballot personally or by mail. You will not need to add postage because the state is paying the postage.
You may also have another person return the ballot for you, but you must first complete an authorization to return absentee ballot form. That yellow form will be included in your absentee ballot package.
You can mail your completed (postage paid) ballot. There isn’t a “deadline” for mailing but we recommend you mail it at least 5 business days before the election. After that date you should probably return your ballot in person to one of the satellite voting locations (if available) or to the election office in your county.
You CANNOT return your absentee ballot at your regular polling place on Election Day. But you CAN return an absentee ballot to your county election office by 7:00 pm on Election Day.
Remember, you must have a witness signature on your outside envelope, as explained above.
If you have questions at any time, you can contact your county’s Board of Election & Voter Registration
Don’t I need a reason to vote absentee?
Yes, but there are many that may apply to you.:
Persons age 65 or older
Persons who, because of injury or illness, cannot be present in person at your polling place
Persons attending sick or physically disabled persons
Persons who, for reasons of employment, will not be able to vote on Election Day
Persons planning to be on vacation
Students and their spouses out of the county
Jurors
Poll managers and watchers
Persons hospitalized within 4 days of election
Persons attending a funeral within 3 days of election
Persons jailed pending trial
Members of the Armed Forces, Government employees, Red Cross, and spouses and dependents out of the county (see more details in our FAQ)
Citizens overseas (see more details in our FAQ)
Support our work.
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