Myrtle Beach, South Carolina preparing for Hurricane Matthew. (Getty)
The deadline to register to vote in South Carolina has been moved from Saturday, October 8 to Tuesday, October 11 by mail. The deadline to register to vote online is still Sunday, October 9, while the deadline to register at county voter registration offices is still Saturday.
The delay for by-mail registration was due to Hurricane Matthew. Although the in-person registration deadline will remain the same, the state notes that some county offices are closed through Saturday due to the hurricane.
Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to register to vote.
Registering Online & By Email
South Carolina is among the states that has a system for online voting registration. To do so, click here. You must have your valid South Carolina Divers License or ID with you during the process. If you have changed your address, you must click here to change your address with the DMV.
South Carolina residents can also print out the voter registration mail application, fill it out and scan the document to email the application to their local county elections office. To find your local office’s email address, click on your county’s name here.
The deadline for online and by-email registration is 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, October 9.
Registering By Mail
To register to vote by mail, you must print out the form by clicking here. After filling it out, mail it to your local county elections office. Click here to find the address for your local county elections office.
If you are registering to vote for the first time in the state, you need to include a copy of a valid photo ID, current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government document with your name and address.
The original deadline for voting by mail was Saturday, October 8. However, this has been extended, so you need to have the form postmarked by Tuesday, October 11. Due to the Columbus Day federal holiday, post offices are closed on Monday, October 10.
Registering in Person
To register in person, either print out the voter registration application form here or pick it up at your local county elections office and fill it out there. Click here to find the address for your local county elections office.
The deadline to register in person is Saturday, October 8. However, county government offices in the following counties will remain closed through Saturday:
Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Berkeley, Beaufort, Calhoun, Charleston, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, Jasper, Lee, Lexington, Marlboro, Marion, Orangeburg, Richland, Sumter, and Williamsburg
Voting Dates
Election Day is Tuesday, November 8. South Carolina does not have an early voting period. The only people who can vote early are those who meet one of 16 requirements listed here.
