Voting Access Scorecard - South Carolina
The Franchise Project’s Voting Access Scorecard ranks how accessible voting is in South Carolina. The Voting Access Scorecard measures the accessibility of American elections by analyzing state election laws and practices. Each state’s performance is based on 30 measurable metrics shown to affect accessibility and foster participation. All metrics are weighted equally to fairly assess all states and their practices. If answered in the affirmative, each metric is worth 1 point, for a total of 30 points. Note that if a practice varies by county or municipality, e.g. the number of early voting locations in Wisconsin, the state only received 0.5 points for that metric. Note: Y=Yes, N=No, and V=Varies by Municipality/County.
Currently, South Carolina ranks 29. You can make a difference! Take action now!Overall score: 15 / 30
Y=Yes, N=No, V=Varies by County/Municipality
| State registration deadline is the Friday before Election Day or later South Carolina Election Commission: https://www.scvotes.org/south-carolina-voter-registration-information | N |
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| State offers Election Day registration South Carolina Election Commission: https://www.scvotes.org/south-carolina-voter-registration-information | N |
| State has automatic registration South Carolina Election Commission: https://www.scvotes.org/south-carolina-voter-registration-information | N |
| State does NOT create barriers to voter registration by third parties (e.g. allows third party registration, does not require registration drive training or notification) South Carolina Election Commission: https://www.scvotes.org/south-carolina-voter-registration-information | Y |
| State does NOT impose fines or criminal penalties for negligent/accidential voter registration mistakes South Carolina Election Commission: https://www.scvotes.org/south-carolina-voter-registration-information | Y |
| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting in multiple locations per municipality/county South Carolina Election Commission: https://www.scvotes.org/absentee-voting | N |
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| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting during evenings and/or weekends South Carolina Election Commission: https://www.scvotes.org/absentee-voting | N |
| State allows no-excuse early voting/in-person absentee voting South Carolina Election Commission: https://www.scvotes.org/absentee-voting | N |
| State holds all elections entirely by mail South Carolina Election Commission: https://www.scvotes.org/absentee-voting | N |
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| State does NOT require an excuse to vote by mail South Carolina Election Commission: https://www.scvotes.org/absentee-voting | N |
| State deadline to return absentee ballot is NO earlier than Election Day (via any type of delivery) Must be received by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, either in person or by mail. South Carolina Election Commission: https://www.scvotes.org/absentee-voting | Y |
| State allows all voters to sign up to vote by absentee permanently South Carolina Election Commission: https://www.scvotes.org/absentee-voting | N |
| State allows voters to request vote by mail ballot online South Carolina Election Commission: https://www.scvotes.org/absentee-voting | N |
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| State allows voters to register online South Carolina Election Commission: https://info.scvotes.sc.gov/eng/ovr/start.aspx | Y |
| State allows voters to check their Election Day polling location online South Carolina Election Commission: https://info.scvotes.sc.gov/eng/voterinquiry/VoterInformationRequest.aspx?PageMode=VoterInfo | Y |
| State allows voters to check their vote by mail status online South Carolina Election Commission: https://info.scvotes.sc.gov/eng/voterinquiry/VoterInformationRequest.aspx?PageMode=AbsenteeInfo | Y |
| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote on Election Day South Carolina Election Commission: https://www.scvotes.org/node/235 | N |
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| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote early or by mail South Carolina Election Commission: https://www.scvotes.org/absentee-voting | Y |
| If ID required, State allows voter to vote through alternative process that does not require voter action (Note: full points received if no ID required at all) Voter without photo ID can show registration card and sign affidavit of "reasonable impediment" to getting photo ID. South Carolina Election Commission: https://www.scvotes.org/node/235 | Y |
| During voter maintenance process, if address has not changed, state allows voter to simply mail back confirmation form SC Code 7-5-330(F)(2)(a): http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t07c005.php | Y |
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| State is NOT a member of Interstate Crosscheck Bryan Caskey, Kansas Secretary of State, Director of Elections (email communication, May 24, 2023) | N |
| State is Member of ERIC ERIC, http://www.ericstates.org/whowear John Lindback, ERIC Executive Director (email communication, May 25, 2023) | N |
| State refused to comply with the Pence-Kobach voter registration data request The Post and Courier: http://www.postandcourier.com/news/south-carolina-election-officials-won-t-share-voter-data-with/article_171a3c1c-6267-11e7-ab16-dfbddffd5940.html | Y |
| State allows individuals to vote when their sentence is complete South Carolina Election Commission: https://www.scvotes.org/south-carolina-voter-registration-information | Y |
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| State allows individuals to vote during their term of incarceration South Carolina Election Commission: https://www.scvotes.org/south-carolina-voter-registration-information | N |
| State allows individuals to vote after incarceration, while on probation or parole South Carolina Election Commission: https://www.scvotes.org/south-carolina-voter-registration-information | N |
| State voting technology requires a paper trail S.C. Code Ann. 7-13-1655: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t07c013.php | Y |
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| State requires poll worker training S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-72: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t07c013.php | Y |
| State law requires voting machines to meet federal standards, testing by a federally accredited laboratory, or federal certification S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-1620: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t07c013.php | Y |
| State provides readily accessible voting technology information South Carolina Election Commission: https://www.scvotes.org/ | Y |
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