Download yours to printout here. Bring it with you to the polls in case you have a question or run into a problem.
November 4: ZERO disenfranchised voters.
2008 SOUTH CAROLINA
Can I vote in South Carolina?
You can vote in the November 4 election if you’re
registered to vote by Saturday, October 4, 2008.
You can register if you meet all of the following
qualifications:
(1) you’re a U.S. citizen;
(2) you’ll be at least 18 years old on Election Day;
(3) you’re a resident of South Carolina, your
county, and your precinct;
(4) you’re not under a court order declaring you
“mentally incompetent;”
(5) you’re not incarcerated for a felony or
misdemeanor offense; and
(6) you’re not on probation or parole for a felony or
a misdemeanor violation of an election law.
What if I’m a student?
You can register to vote at whatever address you
regard as your primary legal residence. This can be
your school address or your home address.
What if I’ve been convicted of a crime?
If you were convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor
involving a violation of election law, you can vote if
you’re not currently incarcerated or on probation or
parole.
If you were convicted of any other misdemeanor in
South Carolina you can’t vote while incarcerated, but
you can automatically vote when you’re released
from incarceration.
Once you’ve completed your sentence, you can
register to vote. It’s recommended that you include
proof of completion of sentence with your voter
registration form—even though it’s not legally
required that you do so.
What if I’m homeless?
You don’t need a home to register, but you do have
to identify a place of residence (which can be a street
corner, a park, a shelter, or any other place where
you usually stay).
How do I register?
You can register to vote:
(1) in person, by filling out a voter registration
form at your county board of registration;
(2) by mail, by filling out a mail-in voter
registration form and mailing it to your county
board of registration; or
(3) when you apply for services at the Division of
Motor Vehicles and state agencies that provide
public assistance (such as Medicaid, WIC, and food
stamps) or services to people with disabilities. You
may also be able to register at many other state
and federal offices and agencies.
You can get mail-in voter registration forms from
your county board of registration, from most
libraries, colleges and high schools, or online at
http://www.scvotes.org/files/VR_Blank_Form.pdf.
What’s the registration deadline?
Saturday, October 4
What if I miss the deadline?
You won’t be able to vote in the November 4
election, but you can register to vote in future
elections.
What if I’ve moved or changed my name?
You have to update your registration every time
you move or change your name. This form can be
printed online at http://www.scvotes.org/files/
changeofaddress.pdf.
If you moved within the same county before
Saturday, October 4, and didn’t notify your county
board of registration, you can vote by going to your
county board of registration on Election Day. You can
also go to your old precinct and cast a fail-safe ballot
for federal, statewide and countywide elections.
If you moved to a new county within South
Carolina before October 4 and didn’t update your
registration, you won’t be able to vote in the
November 4 election.
If you moved from another state to South Carolina
after October 4, or if you moved from South Carolina
to another state after your new state’s registration
deadline, you can vote a special presidential
(3) your job prevents you from voting on Election
Day;
(4) you’re physically disabled or hospitalized;
(5) you’re away on vacation;
(6) you’re 65 or older;
(7) you had a death or funeral in your family on or
after Saturday, November 1;
(8) you’re in jail or pre-trial facility awaiting
arraignment or trial;
(9) you’re attending to someone who’s sick or
disabled; or
(10) you’re a certified poll watcher or poll worker.
How do I know if I’m registered?
You should receive a written notification of
registration from your county board of registration.
You can also check your registration status online
at https://webprod.cio.sc.gov/SCSECVoterWeb/voter
InformationSearch.do, or by calling your county
board of registration.
Can I vote before Election Day?
Maybe. You can vote by absentee ballot before
Election Day if you’re registered to vote and you meet
any of the following conditions:
(1) you’re a student (or the spouse or dependent
child of a student);
(2) you’re a member of the Armed Forces,
Merchant Marines, Red Cross, USO, a government
employee (or the spouse or dependent child of any
one of these);
absentee ballot by contacting the local elections
office for your old address.
How do I get an absentee ballot?
You can get an application for an absentee ballot by
contacting your county board of registration.
If you apply by mail, your county board of
registration office must receive your application no
later than Friday, October 31. Your request must
contain your name and the address to which you
want the ballot mailed.
You can also apply and vote in person until 5 p.m.
on Monday, November 3.
What’s the deadline for returning my absentee
ballot?
To be counted, your absentee ballot must be
received by county board of registration office no
later than 7 p.m. on Election Day.
When is Election Day?
Tuesday, November 4
When are the polls open?
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. You have the
right to vote if you’re in line or inside your polling place
when the polls close.
Can I get time off from work to vote?
Maybe. The law doesn’t require employers to give
their employees paid or unpaid time off from work to
vote, but your employer might have its own policy
allowing you to do so. Ask your employer well before
Election Day.
Where do I vote?
On Election Day, you have to vote at the polling
place to which you’re assigned.
Your assigned polling place will be listed on voter
registration card that you should receive in the mail
when you register.
If you don’t have your card, you can call your
county voter registration office or look up your
polling place online at http://www.scvotes.org/find_
your_precinct.
What if my polling place is not accessible?
If you find this out before Election Day, call your
county voter registration office right away and ask
for a reassignment to an accessible polling place.
You must request reassignment by Saturday,
October 4. You have the right to an accessible polling
place and an accessible voting machine. Or, if you
prefer, you can vote by absentee ballot.
On Election Day, you can send someone into the
polling place to request curbside voting on your
behalf. Poll managers will bring a ballot or voting
machine outside so you can vote.
Otherwise, bring one or more people to assist you.
You have the right to have anyone you choose assist
you as long as the person is not your employer, an
agent of your employer, or an officer or agent of your
labor union.
Can I get a ballot in my native language?
Election materials in South Carolina are generally
available in English only, but you have the right to
bring an interpreter with you to the polls or to get
assistance in your language from anyone you
choose, including a poll manager, as long as the
person is not your employer, an agent of your
employer, or an officer or agent of your labor union.
What if I need help in the voting booth?
If you need help because of a physical disability or
because you can’t read the ballot, tell a poll manager
when you get to your polling place. You have the right
to vote on an accessible voting machine. You also
have the right to have anyone you choose assist you
in the voting booth, including a poll manager, as long
as the person is not your employer, an agent of your
employer, or an officer or agent of your labor union.
Do I have to show ID?
Yes. South Carolina law requires all voters to show
some form of identification.
What are the accepted forms of ID?
Accepted forms of ID for most voters include a
valid South Carolina driver’s license or non-driver ID
card, or your voter registration card.
If you’re a first-time voter who registered by mail
and didn’t include any identification with your voter
registration application, the accepted forms of ID
also include a current utility bill, bank statement,
government check, paycheck, or any other
government document that shows your name and
address. A voter registration card is NOT an accepted
form of ID if the first-time-voter requirements apply
to you.
If you need instructions on how to use the voting
equipment, ask a poll manager for help. Poll
workers are required to help you at any time you
ask—even after you’ve entered the voting booth.
Check your voter registration status at least 30
days before the election.
Vote before Election Day, using absentee voting, if
you’re eligible to do so.
If you plan to vote at the polls, locate your polling
place at least 30 days before the election.
Vote early in the day to avoid the last-minute rush.
Bring some form of identification.
Read all instructions carefully.
Ask for help if you need it.
Take your time. You may take up to three minutes in
the voting booth.
What if I don’t have any ID?
If you’ve lost or misplaced your voter registration
card, you can get a replacement from your county
board of registration in person, by mail, or by
telephone.
On Election Day, you can cast a provisional ballot.
If you have time and have ID at home or work, it’s
usually better to get your ID and return to the polls
to cast a regular ballot.
What if I’m not on the voter list?
First, ask a poll manager to check the list again
and to confirm that you’re at the right polling place.
If you have shown valid ID, the poll manager must
call the county registration office and give your name
as it appears on the driver's license or other form of
identification. If your name is found and if you’re
eligible to vote, they will ask you to provide your date
of birth. If you answer correctly, you can cast a
regular ballot.
If you’re at the right polling place but your name
isn’t on the voter list and you either lack valid
identification or don’t answer with the right date of
birth, ask for a provisional ballot. You have the right
to cast a provisional ballot, even if your name is not
on the voter list, as long as you’re willing to swear
that you believe you registered to vote.
What if I go to the wrong polling place?
Go to the right polling place. You can ask a poll
manager to help you find the polling place where
you’re registered. You can also call your county board
of registration or look up your polling place online at
http://www.scvotes.org/find_your_precinct.
If you can’t figure out where you’re registered, go
the polling place that you think is most likely to be
the right one and ask for a provisional ballot. You
have the right to cast a provisional ballot even if
you’re not sure that you’re at the right polling place.
What if someone challenges my right to vote?
Ask for a provisional ballot. Election officials will
rule on the challenge before the election results
become final.
What if someone tries to intimidate or harass me?
Tell a poll manager right away. If the poll manager
is the problem, tell a poll watcher, call county voter
registration office, call one of the election hotline
numbers listed at the end of this card, or make a
complaint online at http://www.votingrights.org.
What if I make a mistake on my ballot or the
voting machine malfunctions?
Tell a poll manager before you cast your vote. If
your voting machine malfunctions, you can request a
different machine.
How do I make a complaint?
First, ask for the poll manager at your polling
place. He or she can handle most routine complaints
that arise on Election Day. Candidates, political
parties, and nonprofit groups may also have poll
watchers at your polling place who might be able to
assist you. If any of those people ask you who you
voted for, or if they can’t resolve your complaint, call
your county board of voter registration or the South
Carolina State Elections Commission.
You can also call one of the election hotline
numbers listed at the end of this card or make a
complaint online at http://www.votingrights.org.
SC Election Commission: 803-734-9060
US Dept. of Justice: 800-253-3931
ACLU Voting Rights Project: 877-523-2792
http://www.votingrights.org
Election Protection Hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE
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