Important Info About Early Voting in South Carolina
Hey South Carolina residents! We’ve got less than 20 days before Election Day on Nov. 5 . Did you know you can vote early? Here’s the scoop on everything you need to know about getting your vote in, from locations to essential items to bring, viewing your ballot, and what’s on it.
Voting Early – The Basics
South Carolina’s early voting is set to kick off on Oct. 21 and will continue till Nov. 2. The polling centers will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. so you should be able to find a sweet spot in your schedule.
The state’s election commission has put together a detailed county-by-county list of early voting centers. Some of these include:
McAlister Square in Greenville, Mauldin Senior Center, Mt. Pleasant Community Center in Greenville, Calvary Baptist Church – Student Center in Simpsonville, Travelers Rest Council Chambers – City Hall, and several Greenville Technical College campuses. You can also cast your vote early at locations in Spartanburg, including the Woodruff Library and the Spartanburg County Board of Voter Registration & Elections. Anderson County has the Pendleton Library and the Watkins Community Center as early voting centers.
Election Day Details
Can’t make it to early voting? No problem! The general election is on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Voters will make their choice for president, congressional, state, and local offices. You can visit your polling place in your precinct from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Before you head out the door, make sure to check the South Carolina Election Commission’s website to see if your polling place has changed at all. It’s a key step to ensure your vote counts.
In order to vote, you’ll need to have some form of photo ID on you. It could be a driver’s license, an ID card issued by the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles,
a voter registration card with a photo, a federal military ID, or a U.S. passport.
Decoding the Ballot
The question on everybody’s mind is, ‘how to see a ballot, and what’s on it?’ The election commission website has a sample ballot, which will give you a fair idea of all the choices you’ll make.
On the ballot, you’ll see something called a referendum. That’s simply residents voting for or against a law or an initiative about a particular issue. This can be at the local, county, or statewide level. The referendums that you’ll vote on depend on where you live.
Highlight Referendums
A state-wide referendum will ask you if you’re in favor of a constitutional amendment. Specifically regarding only a citizen of the United States who is aged eighteen and upwards and properly registered should be allowed to vote.
In Greenville County, voters will decide whether to add a one percent sales tax to raise funds for road improvements. And in Anderson County, two transportation sales taxes wait for your nod of approval.
Spend your vote wisely, because it counts and makes a real difference. Just make sure you’re aware of all the facts before you place your vote. And happy early voting!
