S.C. Code Ann. § 7-7-230 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 7 / Article 1 / Section 7-7-230
SECTION 7-7-230. Designation of voting precincts in Dorchester County.
Status: in_force

(A) In Dorchester County there are the following voting precincts: Archdale Archdale 2 Ashborough East Ashborough East 2 Ashborough West Ashborough West 2 Ashley River Bacons Bridge Bacons Bridge 2 Beech Hill Beech Hill 2 Brandymill Brandymill 2 Briarwood Briarwood 2 Briarwood 3 Butternut Carolina Central Central 2 Clemson Clemson 2 Clemson 3 Coastal Coastal 2 Coastal 3 Coosaw Coosaw 2 Coosaw 3 Cypress Cypress 2 Delemars Dorchester Dorchester 2 Flowertown Flowertown 2 Flowertown 3 Four Hole German Town Givhans Givhans 2 Greenhurst Greenwave Grover Harleyville Indian Field Indian Field 2 Irongate Irongate 2 Irongate 3 King's Grant King's Grant 2 Knightsville Lincoln Miles/Jamison Newington Newington 2 North Summerville North Summerville 2 Oakbrook Oakbrook 2 Patriot Reevesville Ridgeville Ridgeville 2 Rosinville Rosses Saul Dam Sawmill Branch Spann St. George No. 1 St. George No. 2 Stallsville Tranquil Tranquil 2 Tranquil 3 Trolley Tupperway Tupperway 2 Windsor Windsor 2 (B) The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on maps filed with the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office designated as document P-35-19 and as shown on copies provided to the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Dorchester County by the office. (C) The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be established by the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Dorchester County. Code Commissioner's Note Pursuant to the directive to the Code Commissioner in 2018 Act No. 246, SECTION 10, "Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office" was substituted for all references to "Office of Research and Statistics of the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office". Effect of Amendment 2019 Act No. 9, SECTION 1, in (B), substituted "document P-35-19" for "document P-35-14".
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-7-440 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 7 / Article 1 / Section 7-7-440
SECTION 7-7-440. Designation of voting precincts in Orangeburg County.
Status: in_force

(A) In Orangeburg County there are the following voting precincts: Precinct Name Orangeburg Ward 1 Orangeburg Ward 2 Orangeburg Ward 3 Orangeburg Ward 4 Orangeburg Ward 5 Orangeburg Ward 6 Orangeburg Ward 7 Orangeburg Ward 8 Orangeburg Ward 9 Orangeburg Ward 10 Suburban 1 Suburban 2 Suburban 3 Suburban 4 Suburban 5 Suburban 6 Suburban 7 Suburban 8 Suburban 9 Bethel Bolentown Bowman 1 Bowman 2 Branchville 1 Branchville 2 Brookdale Cope Cordova 1 Cordova 2 Edisto Elloree 1 Elloree 2 Eutawville 1 Eutawville 2 Four Holes Holly Hill 1 Holly Hill 2 Jamison Limestone 1 Limestone 2 Neeses-Livingston Nix North 1 North 2 Norway Pinehill Providence Rowesville Santee 1 Santee 2 Springfield Vance Whittaker (B) The precinct lines defining the precincts in subsection (A) are as shown on official maps on file with the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office and as shown on copies provided to the State Election Commission and the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Orangeburg County by the office and designated as P-75-23A. (C) The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be determined by the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Orangeburg County subject to the approval of a majority of the Orangeburg County Legislative Delegation. Code Commissioner's Note Pursuant to the directive to the Code Commissioner in 2018 Act No. 246, SECTION 10, "Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office" was substituted for all references to "Office of Research and Statistics of the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office". Effect of Amendment 2023 Act No. 12, SECTION 1, in (B), substituted "P-75-23A" for "P-75-05".
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-25-50 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 25 / Section 7-25-50
SECTION 7-25-50. Bribery at elections; unlawful to accept bribery.
Status: in_force

It is unlawful for a person to procure, by the payment, delivery, or promise of money or other article of value, another to vote for or against any particular candidate or measure at any election held within this State, whether general, special, or primary, for members of the Congress of the United States, members of the General Assembly of this State, sheriff, clerk, judge of probate or other county officer, mayor, and aldermen of any city or intendant and wardens of any incorporated town, or at any other election held within this State. It is also unlawful for a person to accept such procurements. The person promising and the person voting are each guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, for the first offense, must be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars and imprisoned not more than five years. Upon conviction for a second or subsequent offense, the person must be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars and imprisoned not more than ten years.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-9-105 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 9 / Section 7-9-105
SECTION 7-9-105. Use of state funds for state conventions prohibited.
Status: in_force

No state funds shall in any manner be used for the purpose of holding conventions pursuant to the provisions of Section 7-9-100.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-5-110 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 5 / Article 3 / Section 7-5-110
SECTION 7-5-110. Persons must register in order to vote.
Status: in_force

No person shall be allowed to vote at any election unless he shall be registered as herein required.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-15-210 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 15 / Article 3 / Section 7-15-210
SECTION 7-15-210. Specifications for return-addressed envelopes.
Status: in_force

The return-addressed envelope required by item (4) of Section 7-15-200 to be sent to each absentee ballot applicant shall have printed on its face in the upper left hand corner the words "Absentee ballots for __________ County, __________ (county seat), South Carolina." All blanks on the face of the envelope shall be filled in by the board of voter registration and elections prior to the mailing of the ballot to the absentee ballot applicant. On the back shall appear blanks which the voter shall fill in with his name and address. The envelope shall be of such thickness as to make it impossible to read any of its contents without opening the envelope. When the ballot is for use in a primary election the return-addressed envelope referred to herein and in Section 7-15-200 shall be changed appropriately to insure its return to the proper county committee.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-15-380 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 15 / Article 5 / Section 7-15-380
SECTION 7-15-380. Oath of absentee ballot applicant; exception.
Status: in_force

(A) The oath, which is required by Section 7-15-370 to be imprinted on the return-addressed envelope, furnished each absentee ballot applicant, must be signed by the absentee ballot applicant and witnessed by a person who is at least eighteen years of age. The address, printed name, and signature of the witness shall appear on the oath. In the event the voter cannot write because of a physical handicap or illiteracy, the voter must make his mark and have the mark witnessed by someone designated by the voter. The oath must be in the following form: "I hereby swear (or affirm) that I am duly qualified to vote at this election according to the Constitution of the State of South Carolina 1895, that I have not voted during this election, that the ballot or ballots contained in this envelope is my ballot and that I have received no assistance in voting my ballot that I would not have been entitled to receive had I voted in person at my voting precinct." (B) Qualified voters under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voters Act are exempt from witness requirements in subsection (A). Validity For the validity of the prior version of this section, see Middleton v. Andino, 488 F.Supp.3d 261 (D. S.C. 2020). Editor's Note 2011 Act No. 43, SECTIONS 1 and 10, provide as follows: "SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the 'South Carolina Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voters Act'." "SECTION 10. This act takes effect upon preclearance approval by the United States Department of Justice or approval by a declaratory judgment issued by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, whichever occurs first." [Preclearance approval received August 22, 2011.] 2022 Act No. 150, SECTION 45.C, provides as follows: "[SECTION 45.]C. SECTIONS 3 and 6 shall take effect on July 1, 2022." Effect of Amendment 2022 Act No. 150, SECTION 6, in (A), in the first sentence, inserted "by a person who is at least eighteen years of age" at the end, in the second sentence, inserted ", printed name, and signature" following "The address", and in the oath form, inserted "1895" following "Constitution of the State of South Carolina" and the line for "Printed Name of Witness".
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-1-100 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-1-100
SECTION 7-1-100. Availability to media of local ballot question and simplified explanation.
Status: in_force

(A) If a countywide or less than countywide referendum is held on a question, the electoral board charged with conducting the referendum shall make the ballot question available to the news media in the county at least forty-five days in advance of the date of the referendum. (B) If the electoral board determines that a referendum question is of a nature that it might not be clearly understood by the voters, it may prepare a simplified or, when appropriate, more detailed explanation of the question that must be placed on the ballot along with the referendum question. When mechanical devices for voting are used, printed copies of the explanation must be made available at each voting precinct. The explanation provided must be made available to the news media in the county on the same schedule provided in subsection (A). (C) No referendum may be challenged on the grounds that the electoral board failed to act in a timely manner to implement this section. (D) The provisions of Section 7-13-2130 apply with respect to any proceeding challenging a referendum based on any explanation provided by the electoral board. (E) The provisions of this section do not apply to a referendum for which the General Assembly provides the ballot question.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-80 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 1 / Section 7-13-80
SECTION 7-13-80. Organization of voter registration and elections; managers and clerks; oaths.
Status: in_force

The board members, managers, and clerks at their first meeting, respectively, must proceed to organize as a board. The county board of voter registration and elections must appoint the chairman of the board of managers. The chairman must be a resident and registered elector of the respective county in which he is appointed to work or in an adjoining county. The chairman, in each instance, may administer oaths. Effect of Amendment 2019 Act No. 54, SECTION 2, inserted the third sentence, providing that a chairman must be a resident and registered elector of the respective county in which he is appointed to work or in an adjoining county.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-17-270 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 17 / Article 3 / Section 7-17-270
SECTION 7-17-270. Hearing of protest or contest; procedure at hearing; notice of decision; appeals.
Status: in_force

The board, acting in a judicial capacity, shall hear the protest or contest not earlier than the fifth nor later than the twenty-fifth day following receipt of the protest. Testimony at the hearing of the protest shall be limited to the grounds stated in the written protest. The protestant and each other candidate in the protested race shall have the right to be present at the hearing, to be represented by counsel, to examine and cross-examine witnesses, and to produce evidence relevant to the grounds of the protest. The chairman of the board shall provide for and conduct the hearing as nearly as possible in accordance with the procedures and rules of evidence observed by the circuit courts of this state. The chairman shall have authority to administer oaths and subpoena witnesses. Upon the conclusion of the hearing of the protest, the board shall determine all issues by majority vote and forthwith certify the results of the election. The board shall remain in session until a conclusion has been reached. All candidates in the protested or contested race shall be immediately notified of the board's decisions. Appeals from decisions of the state board shall be taken directly to the Supreme Court on petition for a writ of certiorari only based on the record of the state board hearing and shall be granted first priority of consideration by the Court.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-5-175 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 5 / Article 3 / Section 7-5-175
SECTION 7-5-175. Providing voter registration application forms to high school administration.
Status: in_force

The board of voter registration and elections in each county, or the entity charged by law with registering an elector, shall provide voter registration application forms to the administration of any high school in this State, upon the administration's request.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-25-180 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 25 / Section 7-25-180
SECTION 7-25-180. Unlawful distribution of campaign literature.
Status: in_force

(A) It is unlawful for a person to distribute any type of campaign literature or place any political posters within five hundred feet of any entrance used by the voters to enter the polling place, during polling hours on an election day and during the early voting period. The poll manager shall use every reasonable means to keep the area within five hundred feet of any such entrance clear of political literature and displays, and the county and municipal law enforcement officers, upon request of a poll manager, shall remove or cause to be removed any material within five hundred feet of any such entrance distributed or displayed in violation of this section. (B) A candidate may wear within five hundred feet of the polling place a label no larger than four and one-fourth inches by four and one-fourth inches that contains the candidate's name and the office he is seeking. If the candidate enters the polling place, he may not display any of this identification including, but not limited to, campaign stickers or buttons. Effect of Amendment 2022 Act No. 150, SECTION 39, in (A), rewrote the first sentence, and in the second sentence, substituted "five hundred feet" for "two hundred feet" in two places; and in (B), in the first sentence, substituted "five hundred feet" for "two hundred feet".
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-790 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 7 / Section 7-13-790
SECTION 7-13-790. Substitute for marred or defaced ballot.
Status: in_force

If a voter shall mar or deface his ballot, he may obtain one additional ballot upon returning to the managers in charge of the ballots the ballot so marred or defaced with the stub attached. The manager in charge of the poll list shall change the number of the ballot on the poll list and place the marred or defaced ballot in a file. No voter shall be given a second ballot until he has returned the first one with the stub attached.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-315 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 3 / Section 7-13-315
SECTION 7-13-315. Joint election of Governor and Lieutenant Governor; single vote.
Status: in_force

The State Election Commission shall ensure that the Governor and Lieutenant Governor must be elected jointly so that each voter casts a single vote to elect a Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-17-510 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 17 / Article 5 / Section 7-17-510
SECTION 7-17-510. Convening of county board of voter registration and elections as county boards of canvassers; canvass and certification of primary results; canvass and declaration of results by Board of State Canvassers; telecommunication or electronic communication; public access.
Status: in_force

The board of voter registration and elections for the counties shall convene a meeting on the Thursday next following the primary, before one o'clock p.m. of that day and shall organize as the county board of canvassers for primaries. They may appoint a competent person as secretary. The chairman shall administer the constitutional oath to each member of the board and to the secretary. The secretary shall administer to the chairman the same oath. Each county board of canvassers for primaries shall canvass the votes of the county and declare the results. The county board of canvassers for primaries shall make statements of the votes of the precincts of its county as the nature of the primary requires not later than twelve o'clock noon on the Saturday next following the primary and at that time transmit and certify to the Board of State Canvassers the results of its findings. This procedure must be repeated following every primary runoff. The Board of State Canvassers shall convene a meeting scheduled through the office of the State Election Commission and shall canvass the vote and declare the results of the primaries and the runoffs no later than twelve o'clock noon on the Saturday next following the primary in the State for state offices, federal offices, and offices involving more than one county. Nothing in this section prohibits any meeting required by this section from being conducted by using telephone conference or other means of telecommunication or electronic communication. Any meeting provided for in this section must be accessible and without cost to the public and must comply with the notice requirements of Chapter 4, Title 30, the Freedom of Information Act.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-1670 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 15 / Section 7-13-1670
SECTION 7-13-1670. Demonstrations with machines for instruction of voters.
Status: in_force

In any county, city or town in which voting machines are to be used, the board of voter registration and elections or other electoral board may designate suitable and adequate times and places for the exhibition and demonstration of a voting machine containing sample ballots, showing the title of offices to be filled and, so far as practicable, the names of the candidates to be voted for at the next election for the purpose of giving instruction as to the use of a voting machine to all voters who may apply for it. No voting machine shall be used for such instruction after being prepared and sealed for use in an election. During such exhibition the counting mechanism of the voting machine shall be concealed from view.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-45 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 1 / Section 7-13-45
SECTION 7-13-45. Acceptance of filings.
Status: in_force

In every general election year, the Executive Director of the State Election Commission and the director of each county board of voter registration and elections shall: (1) accept filings during the regular business hours on the regular business days of the filing period as required by Section 7-11-15; (2) place an advertisement to appear two weeks before the filing period begins in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least five by seven inches in size that notifies the public of the dates of the filing periods, the offices that may be filed for, the place and street address where filings may be made, and the hours that an authorized person will be present to receive filings. Editor's Note 2013 Act No. 61, SECTION 14, provides as follows: "SECTION 14. This act takes effect upon preclearance approval by the United States Department of Justice or approval by a declaratory judgment issued by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, whichever occurs first." The amendment by 2013 Act No. 61 became effective June 25, 2013, see South Carolina Libertarian Party v. South Carolina State Election Com'n, 407 S.C. 612, 757 S.E.2d 707 (2014). Effect of Amendment 2018 Act No. 142, SECTION 7, deleted the (A) identifier preceding "In every election year"; in (1), substituted "accept filings during the regular business hours on the regular business days of the filing period" for "establish regular hours of not less than four hours a day during the final seventy-two hours of the filing period in which the director or some person he designates must be present to accept filings"; and made a nonsubstantive change in (2).
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-25-130 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 25 / Section 7-25-130
SECTION 7-25-130. Arrest of person who impersonates a voter.
Status: in_force

If any manager of election of this State report to the sheriff or other peace officer that a person has violated Section 7-25-120 such peace officer shall arrest such person and have a proper warrant sworn out. Any sheriff or police officer refusing to make an arrest when demand is made by the proper authorities for any violation of Section 7-25-120 shall be subject to prosecution in the court of general sessions for malfeasance in office.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-15-385 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 15 / Article 5 / Section 7-15-385
SECTION 7-15-385. Marking ballots; return; storage; penalty for violations.
Status: in_force

(A) Upon receipt of the ballot or ballots, the absentee ballot applicant must mark each ballot on which he wishes to vote and place each ballot in the single envelope marked "Ballot Herein" which in turn must be placed in the return-addressed envelope. The applicant must return the return-addressed envelope only by: (1) mail to the main office of the county board of voter registration and elections; (2) personal delivery to an election official during office hours at the main office of the county board of voter registration and elections or to an election official during office hours at an early voting center; or (3) authorizing a member of the applicant's immediate family, as defined in Section 7-15-310(8), or an authorized representative, to return the return-addressed envelope for him to an election official during office hours at the main office of the county board of voter registration and elections or to an election official during office hours at an early voting center. (B) An applicant who authorizes a member of his immediate family or an authorized representative to return the return-addressed envelope for him pursuant to this section must complete an authorization form prescribed by the State Election Commission that must be turned in by the immediate family member or authorized representative at the time the return-addressed envelope is returned. The applicant must sign the form, or in the event the applicant cannot write because of a physical handicap or illiteracy, then the applicant must make his mark and have the mark witnessed by someone designated by the applicant. (C) The authorization form prescribed by the State Election Commission must include a designated space in which an election official must record the specific form of government-issued photo identification presented by the immediate family member or authorized representative who is authorized by the applicant to deliver the return-addressed envelope. The authorization form must be preserved as part of the record of the election, and the county board of voter registration and elections must note the time and date of receipt of the authorization form, the name of the immediate family member or authorized representative, his relationship to the applicant, and the immediate family member's or authorized representative's form of government-issued photo identification in the record book required by Section 7-15-330. (D)(1) When an applicant, or an applicant's authorized immediate family member or authorized representative, presents himself to deliver a return-addressed envelope pursuant to this section, he must produce a valid and current: (a) driver's license issued by a state within the United States; (b) another form of identification containing a photograph issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles or its equivalent by a state within the United States; (c) passport; (d) military identification containing a photograph issued by the federal government; or (e) South Carolina voter registration card containing a photograph of the voter. (2) An election official must verify that the name and photograph on the identification is the applicant, or the applicant's authorized immediate family member or authorized representative, as applicable. (E) An election official must not accept a return-addressed envelope until the provisions of this section have been met. (F) The county board of voter registration and elections must securely store return-addressed envelopes in locked boxes within the main office of the county board of voter registration and elections as prescribed by the State Election Commission. (G) It is unlawful for a person to return more than five return-addressed envelopes in an election, in addition to his own. A person who violates this subsection, upon conviction, must be punished as provided in Section 7-25-190. Effect of Amendment 2022 Act No. 150, SECTION 7, rewrote the section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-15-600 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 15 / Article 9 / Section 7-15-600
SECTION 7-15-600. Short title.
Status: in_force

This article may be cited as the "South Carolina Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act".
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-23-20 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 23 / Section 7-23-20
SECTION 7-23-20. Payment for notices of election.
Status: in_force

Notices of election published in any public gazette or county newspaper by authority of the proper board of voter registration and elections, as required by law, shall be paid for at the rates prescribed by law for legal notices.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-1390 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 13 / Section 7-13-1390
SECTION 7-13-1390. Labeling, preparation, and testing of vote recorders; custodians and deputies; examination by interested persons.
Status: in_force

(a) The election officials of each county shall cause the proper ballot labels to be placed on each vote recorder which is to be used in any election within such county and shall cause each vote recorder to be placed in proper order for voting. (b) The election officials of each county shall appoint one custodian of vote recorders, and such deputy custodians as may be necessary, whose duty it shall be to prepare the vote recorders to be used in county elections. Each custodian and deputy custodian shall receive such compensation as provided for in the annual county appropriation. Such custodian shall, under the direction of the county election officials, have charge of and represent them during the preparation of the vote recorders as required by this article, and he and the deputy custodians, whose duty it shall be to assist him in the discharge of his duties, shall serve at the pleasure of the county election officials. (c) On or before the third day preceding an election, the county election officials shall have the tabulating machines tested to ascertain that they will correctly count the votes cast for all offices and on all questions. Public notice of the time and place of the test shall be made at least five days prior thereto. Representatives of political parties and bodies, candidates, news media and the public shall be permitted to observe such tests. The test shall be conducted by processing a preaudited group of ballot cards clearly marked for such purpose, not to exceed fifty for each candidate or question, so punched or marked as to record a predetermined number of valid votes for each candidate and on each question, and shall include for each office one or more ballot cards which have votes in excess of or less than the number allowed by law in order to test the ability of the tabulating machine to reject such votes. The tabulating machine shall not be approved unless it produces an errorless counting. If any error is detected, the cause therefor shall be ascertained and corrected, and an errorless count shall be made before the machine is approved. The same test shall be repeated immediately before the start of the official count of the ballot cards and at the conclusion of such count. The county election officials or custodian shall also prepare the vote recorders for voting at the various polling places to be used in the election. In preparing the vote recorders, they shall arrange the recorders and the ballot labels so that they meet all requirements of voting and counting at such primary or election, thoroughly inspect and test the vote recorders, and file a certificate, as prescribed by the State Election Commission, in the office of the county election officials that the recorders are in proper order with correct ballot labels. (d) Prior to the election, no county election officials, nor custodian, nor other employee shall in any way prevent free access to and examination of all voting machines which are to be used at the election under proper supervision and, at reasonable times, by any interested persons.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-15-640 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 15 / Article 9 / Section 7-15-640
SECTION 7-15-640. Application to register to vote.
Status: in_force

(A) A covered voter may use a federal postcard application, the federal postcard application's electronic equivalent, or another method approved by the federal government or the State Election Commission to apply to register to vote. (B) A covered voter may use the declaration accompanying a federal write-in absentee ballot to apply to register to vote simultaneously with the submission of the federal write-in absentee ballot, if the declaration is received before the closure of the registration books for that election pursuant to Section 7-5-120, 7-5-150 or 7-5-155, as appropriate. If the declaration is received after that date, it must be treated as an application to register to vote for subsequent elections. (C) The Executive Director of the State Election Commission shall ensure that the election commission's electronic transmission system is capable of accepting both a federal postcard application and any other approved electronic registration application sent to the appropriate election official. The voter may use the electronic transmission system or any other approved method to register to vote.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-7-910 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 7 / Article 5 / Section 7-7-910
SECTION 7-7-910. Designated polling places; alternative polling place.
Status: in_force

(A) Subject to the provisions of Section 7-7-920 and Section 7-5-440 and except as provided in subsection (B) of this section, each elector must be registered and, unless otherwise specified on his voting certificate, shall vote at the designated polling place within the precinct of his residence, but in incorporated municipalities in which officers are elected by wards or other municipal subdivisions, electors must be registered and shall vote at their designated polling places. (B)(1) For purposes of this subsection, an "emergency situation" means the designated polling place is not available for use as a polling place on the election day after the first notice of the election is published. (2) If a designated polling place in a precinct is unavailable for use during an election as a result of an emergency situation, the authority charged by law with conducting the election shall designate an alternative polling place to be used for the electors in that precinct for any election occurring during the emergency situation. An alternative polling place for an emergency situation must be approved by the majority of the legislative delegation if the designation occurs more than seven days prior to the election. If an alternative polling place for an emergency situation is designated seven days or less prior to the election, the authority charged by law with conducting the election must notify the members of the legislative delegation of the alternative polling place. (3) The alternative polling place is not required to be within the precinct of the elector's residence; however, the authority charged by law with conducting the election may designate an alternative polling place outside the precinct only if no other location within the precinct is available for use as a polling place. If an alternative polling place is outside the precinct, it must be located in an adjoining precinct. The alternative polling place must be selected with consideration of the distance the electors would be required to travel in order to vote. (4) Every attempt must be made to notify electors of the alternative polling place before the election and on the day of the election through the media and by posted notice at the designated polling place. (C) If an alternative polling place outside of the precinct is selected pursuant to subsection (B) of this section, the authority charged by law with conducting the election shall certify in writing to the State Election Commission that no other location within the precinct is available for use as a polling place and that the selection of a polling place was made with consideration of the distance electors would have to travel to vote. Editor's Note 2006 Act No. 339, SECTION 2, provides as follows: "This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and must not be put into practice until it receives preclearance by the United States Department of Justice." [Preclearance received September 5, 2006]
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-7-970 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 7 / Article 5 / Section 7-7-970
SECTION 7-7-970. Change of location of voting place or name of precinct.
Status: in_force

When one voting place has been changed to another in the same township or polling precinct, or when the name of the voting place has been changed since the last general election, the registration of electors for the former voting place shall be valid and effectual for the new voting place.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-19-20 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 19 / Section 7-19-20
SECTION 7-19-20. Filling vacancies in office of United States Senator.
Status: in_force

In case of a vacancy in the office of United States Senator from death, resignation or otherwise, the Governor may fill the place by appointment which shall be for the period of time intervening between the date of such appointment and January third following the next succeeding general election. But in the event any such vacancy shall occur less than one hundred days prior to any general election, the appointment shall be for the period of time intervening between the date of such appointment and January third following the second general election next succeeding. The Governor shall within five days after any such appointment order an election to be held in connection with and at the time of the general election immediately preceding the expiration date of such appointment if at the expiration of such appointment an unexpired term shall remain.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-325 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 3 / Section 7-13-325
SECTION 7-13-325. Use of candidate's given name, derivative of, or nickname on ballot.
Status: in_force

The name of a candidate authorized by law to appear on a ballot in a general, special, or primary election in this State for any office may be one of the following or a combination of them: (1) the candidate's given name; (2) a derivative of the candidate's given name properly acquired under the common law and used in good faith for honest purposes; or (3) a nickname which bears no relation to the candidate's given name but which is used in good faith for honest purposes and does not exceed fifteen letters on the ballot. The derivative name or nickname may not imply professional or social status, an office, or military rank. A candidate wanting to use a derivative name or a nickname, as permitted by items (2) and (3), respectively, of this section, shall notify the authority responsible by law for conducting the election, in writing, before a deadline for receiving or certifying candidates' names for inclusion on the ballot, the name he wishes to have appear and shall present evidence required by the authority conducting the election that the name indicated is his derivative name or nickname. In deciding whether the name indicated is the candidate's derivative name or nickname, the authority conducting the election shall consider appropriate criteria, including, but not limited to, the following: (a) whether the name is the designation by which the candidate is usually and commonly known in the community in which he resides or called by other persons; (b) whether the name is the designation by which the candidate calls himself or which he has adopted; (c) whether the name is the designation under which the candidate transacts private and official business. The State Election Commission may promulgate regulations to carry out the provisions of the section, including, but not limited to, forms to be completed by the candidate and the deadline by which a candidate shall indicate the name he wished to have appear on the ballot.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-5-610 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 5 / Article 7 / Section 7-5-610
SECTION 7-5-610. Citizens entitled to vote in municipal elections.
Status: in_force

Every citizen of this State and of the United States: (1) Of the age of eighteen years and upwards; (2) Having all the qualifications mentioned in Section 7-5-120; (3) Who has resided within the corporate limits of any incorporated municipality in this State for thirty days previous to any municipal election; (4) Who has been registered for county, state, and national elections as herein required; is entitled to vote at all municipal elections of his municipality.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-840 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 7 / Section 7-13-840
SECTION 7-13-840. Ballot boxes; number, location, construction, color, labeling.
Status: in_force

There shall be provided for each voting place a sufficient number of boxes to meet the anticipated requirements. In general and special elections they shall be provided by the board of voter registration and elections; in primaries by the county committee. There shall always be provided at least one box for each kind of ballot used. An opening shall be made in the lid of each box not larger than sufficient for a single ballot to be inserted therein at one time, through which the ballot shall be inserted by the person voting and by no other. Each box shall be provided with a sufficient lock and shall be publicly opened and inspected, to show that it is empty and secure, and locked just before the opening of the poll. The keys shall be returned to the managers and the box shall not be opened during the election. Each box shall be labeled in plain and distinct roman letters with the office or officers voted for and shall be painted in a color corresponding to the proper ballot to be placed therein, or have sample ballots conspicuously affixed to the box in which like ballots are to be deposited, and the managers, on the demand of the voter, shall be required to read to him the names of the boxes. The ballot boxes shall be so located as to be in view of the persons outside of the rail at the polling place during the time of the voting.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-15-700 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 15 / Article 9 / Section 7-15-700
SECTION 7-15-700. Delivery of valid military-overseas ballot; declaration of voter.
Status: in_force

(A) A valid military-overseas ballot must be counted if it is delivered to the address that the State Election Commission or county board of voter registration and elections, as appropriate, has specified by the close of business on the business day before the county canvass. (B) If, at the time of completing a military-overseas ballot and balloting materials, the voter has declared under penalty of perjury that the ballot was timely submitted, the ballot may not be rejected on the basis that it has a late postmark, an unreadable postmark, or no postmark as long as the ballot was received in accordance with subsection (A).
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-15-740 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 15 / Article 9 / Section 7-15-740
SECTION 7-15-740. Preparation of election notices.
Status: in_force

(A) At least one hundred days before a regularly scheduled election and as soon as practicable before an election not regularly scheduled, the Executive Director of the State Election Commission shall prepare appropriate election notices to be used in conjunction with a federal write-in absentee ballot. The election notice must contain a list of all of the ballot measures and federal, state, and local offices that as of that date the official expects to be on the ballot on the date of the election. The notice also must contain specific instructions for how a voter is to indicate on the federal write-in absentee ballot the voter's choice for each office to be filled and for each ballot measure to be contested. (B) A covered voter may request a copy of an election notice. The executive director shall send the notice to the voter by facsimile, electronic mail, or regular mail, as the voter requests. (C) As soon as ballot styles are certified, and not later than the date ballots are required to be transmitted to voters pursuant to Article 5, Chapter 15, the executive director shall update the notice with the certified candidates for each office and ballot measure questions and make the updated notice publicly available. (D) A county board of voter registration and elections that maintains an online website shall make the election notice available by linking to the State Election Commission website.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-1620 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 15 / Section 7-13-1620
SECTION 7-13-1620. Voting system approval process.
Status: in_force

(A) Before any kind of voting system, including an electronic voting system, is used at an election, it must be approved by the State Election Commission, which shall examine the voting system and make and file in the commission's office a report, attested to by the signature of the commission's executive director, stating whether, in the commission's opinion, the kind of voting system examined may be accurately and efficiently used by electors at elections, as provided by law. A voting system may not be approved for use in the State unless certified by a testing laboratory accredited by the Federal Election Assistance Commission as meeting or exceeding the minimum requirements of the latest federal voting system standards and guidelines. If the federal voting system standards and guidelines have been amended less than thirty-six months prior to an election, then the State Election Commission may approve and certify a voting system that meets the prior standards after determining: (1) the effect that such approval would have on the integrity and security of elections; and (2) the procedure and cost involved to bring the voting system into compliance with the amended standards. (B) A person or company who requests an examination of any type of voting system shall pay a nonrefundable examination fee of one thousand dollars for a new voting system. A nonrefundable examination fee of five hundred dollars must be paid for an upgrade to any existing system. The State Election Commission may reexamine any voting system when evidence is presented to the commission that the accuracy or the ability of the system to be used satisfactorily in the conduct of elections is in question. (C) A person or company who seeks approval for any type of voting system in this State shall file with the State Election Commission a list of all states or jurisdictions in which that voting system has been approved for use. This list must state how long the system has been used in the state; contain the name, address, and telephone number of that state or jurisdiction's chief election official; and disclose any reports compiled by state or local government concerning the performance of the system. The vendor is responsible for filing this information on an ongoing basis. (D) A person or an individual who seeks approval for any type of voting system shall file with the State Election Commission copies of all contracts and maintenance agreements used in connection with the sale of the voting system. All changes to standard contracts and maintenance agreements must be filed with the State Election Commission. (E) A person or company who seeks approval for any voting system shall conduct, under the supervision of the State Election Commission and any county board of voter registration and elections, a field test for any new voting system, as part of the certification process. The field test must involve South Carolina voters and election officials, and must be conducted as part of a scheduled primary, general, or special election. This test must be held in two or more precincts, and all costs relating to the use of the voting system must be borne by the vendor. The test must be designed to gauge voter reaction to the system, problems that voters have with the system, and the number of units required for the efficient operation of an election. The test also must demonstrate the accuracy of votes reported on the system. (F) Before a voting system may be used in elections in the State, all source codes for the system must be placed in escrow by the manufacturer at the manufacturer's expense with the authority approved by the Federal Election Assistance Commission. These source codes must be available to the State Election Commission in case the company goes out of business, pursuant to court order, or if the State Election Commission determines that an examination of these source codes is necessary. The manufacturer shall place all updates of these source codes in escrow, and notify the State Election Commission that this requirement has been met. (G) After a voting system is approved, an improvement or change in the system must be submitted to the State Election Commission for approval pursuant to this section. This requirement does not apply to the technical capability of a general purpose computer, reader, or printer used for election preparation or ballot tally reporting. (H) If the State Election Commission determines that a voting system that was approved no longer meets the requirements of Title 7, the commission shall decertify that system. A decertified system must not be used in an election unless it is reapproved by the commission pursuant to the provisions of Title 7. (I)(1) A vendor of any voting system that has been approved by the State Election Commission shall report in writing to the Director of the State Election Commission any decertification, ethical, or technical violations against the voting system in any state within ninety days after the decertification, ethical, or technical violations are issued by the other state. If the vendor does not provide evidence to the State Election Commission's satisfaction that the voting system deficiencies have been corrected to comply with the provisions of South Carolina law, then the voting system may be decertified. (2) A vendor seeking the approval of a voting system by the State Election Commission shall report in writing to the Director of the State Election Commission any decertification, ethical, or technical violations issued against the voting system in any state that have occurred prior to or during the time the vendor seeks approval of the voting system by the State Election Commission. If the vendor does not provide evidence to the State Election Commission's satisfaction that the voting system deficiencies have been corrected to comply with the provisions of South Carolina law, then the voting system may not be approved. (J) A member of the State Election Commission, county board of voter registration and elections, custodian, or member of a county governing body may not have a pecuniary interest in any voting system or in the manufacture or sale of any voting system. Effect of Amendment 2022 Act No. 150, SECTION 15, in (A), in the second sentence, substituted "the latest federal voting system standards and guidelines" for "federal voting system standards", inserted the third sentence, and added (1) and (2); and in (G), in the second sentence, substituted "ballot tally reporting" for "ballot tallying".
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-7-190 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 7 / Article 1 / Section 7-7-190
SECTION 7-7-190. Designation of voting precincts in Clarendon County.
Status: in_force

(A) In Clarendon County there are the following voting precincts: Alcolu; Barrineau; Barrows Mill; Bloomville; Calvary; Davis Station; Harmony; Hicks; Home Branch; Jordan; Manning No. 1; Manning No. 2; Manning No. 3; Manning No. 4; Manning No. 5; New Zion; Oakdale; Paxville; Panola; Sardinia-Gable; Summerton No. 1; Summerton No. 2; Summerton No. 3; Summerton No. 4; Turbeville; and Wilson-Foreston. (B) The polling places for the above precincts must be determined by the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Clarendon County with the approval of a majority of the Clarendon County Legislative Delegation. (C) The precinct lines defining the precincts as provided in subsection (A) are as shown on the official map prepared by and on file with the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office designated as document P-27-25. Effect of Amendment 2025 Act No. 9, SECTION 1, in (A), inserted "Summerton No. 4" preceding "Turbeville"; and in (C), substituted "P-27-25" for "P-27-17".
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-15-690 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 15 / Article 9 / Section 7-15-690
SECTION 7-15-690. Duty of State Election Commission; regulations.
Status: in_force

(A) To ensure that all South Carolina residents eligible to vote as provided by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, set forth in the 42 U.S.C. Section 1973ff, et seq., or its successor, have the opportunity to receive and cast any ballot they would have been eligible to cast if they resided in and had remained in South Carolina, the State Election Commission must, in cooperation with United States government agencies, take all steps and action as may be necessary including, but not limited to, electronic transmissions of Standard Form 76A, or its successor form, issued by the federal government as an application for voter registration and an application for absentee ballots and electronic transmissions of absentee ballots for all elections for federal, state, and local offices to voters in accordance with his preferred method of transmission. (B) The State Election Commission shall promulgate regulations necessary for the implementation of this section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-1010 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 9 / Section 7-13-1010
SECTION 7-13-1010. Additional oath of voters.
Status: in_force

The managers at each box shall require every voter to take the following additional oath and pledge: "I do solemnly swear or affirm that I am duly qualified to vote at this primary election and that I have not voted before at this primary election or in any other party's primary election or officially participated in the nominating convention for any vacancy for which this primary is being held."
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-7-240 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 7 / Article 1 / Section 7-7-240
SECTION 7-7-240. Designation of voting precincts in Edgefield County.
Status: in_force

(A) In Edgefield County there are the following voting precincts: Edgefield No. 1 Edgefield No. 2 Johnston No. 1 Johnston No. 2 Trenton No. 1 Trenton No. 2 Merriweather No. 1 Merriweather No. 2 West Side Harmony North Side Brunson (B) The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on maps provided to the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Edgefield County as maintained by the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office and designated as document P-37-13. (C) Polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be determined by the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Edgefield County with the approval of a majority of the Edgefield County Legislative Delegation. Code Commissioner's Note Pursuant to the directive to the Code Commissioner in 2018 Act No. 246, SECTION 10, "Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office" was substituted for all references to "Office of Research and Statistics of the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office".
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-1780 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 15 / Section 7-13-1780
SECTION 7-13-1780. Placement of voting machines in polling places.
Status: in_force

At all elections at which voting machines are used the exterior of the voting machine and every part of the polling place shall be in plain view of the managers and clerks, if there be clerks of election. The voting machine shall be placed at least three feet from every wall or partition of the polling place and at least five feet from any table at which any of the election managers or clerks, if there be clerks, may be engaged or seated. The voting machine shall be so placed that the ballots on the face of the machine can be plainly seen by the managers of the election when not in use by voters. The managers of election shall not themselves be, or permit any other person to be, in any position or near any position that will permit them to see or ascertain how a voter votes or how he has voted.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-450 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 3 / Section 7-13-450
SECTION 7-13-450. Use of voting machines does not prohibit use of separate ballots on certain questions.
Status: in_force

The use of voting machines in an election shall not prohibit the use of a separate ballot for constitutional amendments and other public measures.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-1655 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 15 / Section 7-13-1655
SECTION 7-13-1655. "Voting system" defined; State Election Commission duties.
Status: in_force

(A) As used in this section, "voting system" means: (1) the total combination of mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic equipment, including the software, firmware, and documentation required to program, control, and support the equipment that is used to: (a) define ballots; (b) cast and count votes; (c) report or display election results; and (d) maintain and produce audit trail information; (2) the practices and associated documentation used to: (a) identify system components and versions of these components; (b) test the system during its development and maintenance; (c) maintain records of system errors and defects; (d) determine specific system changes to be made to a system after the initial qualification of the system; and (e) make available materials to the voter, such as notices, instructions, forms, or paper ballots. (B) The State Election Commission shall: (1) either approve and adopt one voting system to be used by authorities charged by law with conducting elections, or approve and adopt multiple voting systems if the commission, in its discretion, determines not to adopt one voting system; (2) support the authorities charged by law with conducting elections by providing basic level training for personnel in the operation of the voting system approved and adopted by the commission; (3) support all aspects of creating the ballots and the database of the voting system that is approved and adopted; and (4) comply with the provisions of Chapter 35 of Title 11 in procuring a voting system or systems, as defined in subsection (A).
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-15-710 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 15 / Article 9 / Section 7-15-710
SECTION 7-15-710. Ballot to include signed declaration by voter.
Status: in_force

A military-overseas ballot must include, or be accompanied by, a declaration signed by the voter that a material misstatement of fact in completing the ballot may be grounds for a conviction of perjury under the laws of the United States or this State.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-17-210 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 17 / Article 3 / Section 7-17-210
SECTION 7-17-210. State Election Commission constitutes board.
Status: in_force

The State Election Commission shall, ex officio, constitute the Board of State Canvassers.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-1040 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 9 / Section 7-13-1040
SECTION 7-13-1040. No person may vote in more than one primary on same day.
Status: in_force

No person shall be entitled to vote in more than one party primary election held the same day.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-1800 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 15 / Section 7-13-1800
SECTION 7-13-1800. Inspection of machines; covering of counter compartment kept locked; attendance at voting places.
Status: in_force

One of the managers of election may inspect the face of the machine after each voter has cast his vote, to see that the ballots on the face of the machine are in their proper places and that the machine has not been injured. During an election the door or other covering of the counter compartment of the machine shall not be unlocked or open or the counters exposed except for good and sufficient reasons, a statement of which shall be made and signed by the managers of election and attached to the returns of election. No person shall be permitted in or about the voting place except as otherwise provided by law in elections in which paper ballots and ballot boxes are used.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-25-65 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 25 / Section 7-25-65
SECTION 7-25-65. Unlawful acceptance of anything of value.
Status: in_force

(A) It is unlawful for a person to provide, offer to provide, or accept anything of value in exchange for requesting, collecting, or delivering an absentee ballot. A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars and imprisoned not more than five years. (B) This section does not apply to an election official in the course and scope of the election official's duties or a public or private mail service provider acting in the course and scope of the mail service provider's duties to carry and deliver mail.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-1-50 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-1-50
SECTION 7-1-50. Contesting election of Governor.
Status: in_force

In case of a contest of the election of Governor, if the General Assembly by concurrent resolution shall entertain the same, the Senate and House of Representatives shall, each separately, proceed to hear and determine the facts in the case, so far as they deem necessary, and decide thereon who is entitled to be declared elected. If the two branches of the General Assembly come to the same decision, they shall, by concurrent resolution, declare who is duly elected and entitled to enter upon and exercise the office of Governor; and such person thereupon shall, upon taking the oath prescribed in the Constitution, be inducted into office. If the two branches of the General Assembly do not come to the same decision, then an election shall be called by the Governor, to take place in not less than sixty nor more than ninety days, at which the qualified electors shall proceed to vote for a suitable person to fill the office of Governor.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-1760 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 15 / Section 7-13-1760
SECTION 7-13-1760. The boards of voter registration and elections shall see that machines and other equipment are in place and good order.
Status: in_force

The board of voter registration and elections or other electoral board, as the case may be, shall have the voting machines and all necessary furniture and equipment at the polling places before the time fixed for the opening of the polls, have the counters on the machines set at zero (000) and otherwise have the machines in good and proper order for use at such election.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-820 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 7 / Section 7-13-820
SECTION 7-13-820. Voting by person whose name is not on registration book.
Status: in_force

When any person presents himself with a valid South Carolina driver's license or other form of identification required by Section 7-13-710, if he is not licensed to drive, at the polling precinct and his name does not appear on the registration book a manager must call the county registration office from any phone available at or away from the polling precinct. The manager shall give only the name of the elector as it appears on the driver's license or other form of identification. The member of the board of voter registration and elections taking the call must check the records of the board and if the name of the person is found and he is eligible to vote in the precinct the date of birth of the person must be read to the manager who must then ask the person for such date. Upon answering correctly, the person may vote. When a manager is to make a call for such purpose, he must notify the poll watchers who may accompany the manager and have the information repeated to each of them. The manager must fill in the information on the driver's license or other form of identification on a form provided for that purpose before permitting such person to vote. In the event such call is a toll call it may be made collect and the registration office must accept the call. If the name cannot be verified by the board of voter registration and elections, or if a phone is not available, the poll manager or his designee may permit the person to vote after following the procedures set forth in Section 7-13-830, and the vote must be processed as a provisional vote. The poll manager must be listed as the challenger. The provisions of this section are in addition to the procedure provided in Section 7-5-440.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-19-90 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 19 / Section 7-19-90
SECTION 7-19-90. Meeting of electors; organization; balloting and certification of results.
Status: in_force

(A) The electors for President and Vice President shall convene at the capitol, in the office of the Secretary of State, at eleven in the forenoon, on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December next following their appointment, and shall proceed to effect a permanent organization by the election of a president and secretary from their own body. The electors shall next proceed to fill by ballot and by plurality of votes all vacancies in the electoral college occasioned by the death, refusal to serve, or neglect to attend, of any elector. The electors shall then and there vote by ballot for President and Vice President, one of whom at least shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves. (B) The electors shall make and sign six certificates of all the votes given by them for President and Vice President, each of which certificates shall contain two distinct lists, one of the votes for President and the other for Vice President, and shall annex to each of the certificates of votes one of the certificates of ascertainment of appointment of electors which shall have been furnished to them by direction of the Governor. (C) The electors shall seal up the certificates of votes so made by them, together with the annexed certificates of ascertainment of appointment of electors, and certify upon each that the list of all the votes of the State given for President, and of all of the votes given for Vice President, are contained therein. Effect of Amendment 2023 Act No. 27, SECTION 2, inserted the (A) and (B) designators; in (A), in the first sentence, substituted "Tuesday" for "Monday", and made a nonsubstantive change; rewrote (B); and added (C).
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-7-950 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 7 / Article 5 / Section 7-7-950
SECTION 7-7-950. Procedure when new precinct is established.
Status: in_force

When a new voting precinct is established by law, the county board of voter registration and elections must transfer from the books of registration the names of electors registered to vote in other voting precincts as should register and vote in the new voting precinct and shall notify electors of the change of polling precincts.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-15-420 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 15 / Article 7 / Section 7-15-420
SECTION 7-15-420. Receipt, tabulation, and reporting of absentee ballots.
Status: repealed

(A) The county board of voter registration and elections, municipal election commission, or executive committee of each municipal party in the case of municipal primary elections is responsible for the tabulation and reporting of absentee ballots. (B) Beginning no earlier than 7:00 a.m. on the second day immediately preceding election day, the managers appointed pursuant to Section 7-13-72 may begin the process of examining the return-addressed envelopes that have been received by the county board of voter registration and elections making certain that each oath has been properly signed and witnessed and includes the printed name, signature, and address of the witness. All return-addressed envelopes received by the county board of voter registration and elections before the time for closing the polls must be examined in this manner. A ballot may not be counted unless the oath is properly signed and witnessed nor may any ballot be counted which is received by the county board of voter registration and elections after time for closing of the polls. The printed instructions required by Section 7-15-370(2) to be sent each absentee ballot applicant must notify him that his vote will not be counted in either of these events. If a ballot is not challenged, the sealed return-addressed envelope must be opened by the managers, and the enclosed envelope marked "Ballot Herein" removed, placed in a locked box or boxes, and kept secure. (C) After all return-addressed envelopes have been emptied, but no earlier than 7:00 a.m. on election day, the managers shall remove the ballots contained in the envelopes marked "Ballot Herein", placing each one in the ballot box provided for the applicable contest. (D) Beginning no earlier than 7:00 a.m. on election day, the absentee ballots may be tabulated, including any absentee ballots received on election day before the polls are closed. If any ballot is challenged, the return-addressed envelope must not be opened, but must be put aside and the procedure set forth in Section 7-13-830 must be utilized; but the absentee voter must be given reasonable notice of the challenged ballot. (E) Results of the absentee ballot tabulation must not be publicly reported until after the polls are closed. An election official, election worker, candidate, or watcher who intentionally violates the prohibition contained in this subsection is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years. (F) The processes of examining the return-addressed envelopes, opening the sealed return-addressed envelopes to remove the "Ballot Herein" envelopes, and removing the ballots from the "Ballot Herein" envelopes for tabulation must be conducted in the presence of any candidate who elects to be present, and of any watchers who have been appointed pursuant to Section 7-13-860. Provided, any candidates or watchers present must be located a reasonable distance in order to maintain both the right to observe and the secrecy of the ballots." Editor's Note 2006 Act No. 284, SECTION 5, provides as follows: "This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and must not be put into practice until it receives preclearance by the United States Department of Justice." [preclearance received September 5, 2006] 2020 Act No. 133, SECTION 1.H., provides as follows: "[1.]H. The amendments contained in subsections A., B., and C. of this SECTION are repealed on December 31, 2021, and the text of these code sections therefore shall revert back to the language as contained in the South Carolina Code of Laws as of January 23, 2020." 2022 Act No. 150, SECTION 45.D, provides as follows: "[SECTION 45.]D. The requirement that the printed name of the witness be examined on return-addressed envelopes, pursuant to Section 7-15-420(B), as amended by this act, takes effect on July 1, 2022." Effect of Amendment 2020 Act No. 133, SECTION 1.B., rewrote the section, providing that the process of examining the return-addressed envelopes that have been received by the county board of voter registration and elections may begin at 9:00 a.m. on the calendar day immediately preceding election day. 2022 Act No. 150, SECTION 8, rewrote the section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-825 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 7 / Section 7-13-825
SECTION 7-13-825. Location of requirements to challenge a ballot.
Status: in_force

The State Election Commission and each county board of voter registration and elections must post the requirements to challenge a ballot pursuant to the provisions of Section 7-13-810 in a conspicuous location in their respective offices and on their respective websites.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-3-70 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-3-70
SECTION 7-3-70. Reports furnished by Department of Motor Vehicles.
Status: in_force

(a) The Department of Motor Vehicles must furnish the executive director a monthly report of all persons eighteen years of age or older who have surrendered their driver's license or identification card and obtained a driver's license or identification card in another state. All reports must contain the name of the driver or identification cardholder, social security number, date of birth, South Carolina county where previously a resident, and the state in which the license or identification card was surrendered. The department must provide this information at no charge. (b) The Department of Motor Vehicles must furnish the executive director a monthly report of all persons eighteen years of age or older who were reported as deceased by Social Security Administration. All reports must contain the name, social security number, date of birth, and date of death. The department must provide this information at no charge. (c) The Department of Motor Vehicles must furnish the executive director a monthly report of all non-United States citizens who are issued a driver's license or identification card. All reports must contain the name of the driver or identification cardholder, social security number, if any, and date of birth. The department must provide this information at no charge. Editor's Note 2012 Act No. 265, SECTION 9, provides as follows: "This act takes effect upon preclearance approval by the United States Department of Justice or approval by a declaratory judgment issued by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, whichever occurs first." Preclearance approval for 2012 Act No. 265 was received on October 1, 2012. 2022 Act No. 150, SECTION 32.B, provides as follows: "[SECTION 32.]B. The first monthly report provided by the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to this SECTION must include every non-United States citizen in this State with a driver's license or identification card." Effect of Amendment 2022 Act No. 150, SECTION 32.A, added (c).
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-340 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 3 / Section 7-13-340
SECTION 7-13-340. Printing and distribution of ballots.
Status: in_force

All ballots cast in general elections for national, State, county, municipal, district and circuit officers in the towns, counties, districts, circuits, cities and other political divisions shall be printed and distributed at public expense. The printing and distribution of all ballots, other than the county, State Senator, member of the House of Representatives, local or circuit ballots herein designated, the ballots for elections in cities and towns and the ballots for election on bonds or other local measures, shall be arranged and handled by the State Election Commission and shall be paid for by the State. The State Election Commission shall have all necessary ballots for elections for presidential electors, State officers, United States Senators and members of Congress printed, and shall deliver such ballots to the various county board of voter registration and elections at least ten days prior to the date of the election and the county board of voter registration and elections shall place such ballots in ballot boxes for distribution to the election managers of the various precincts. The printing and distribution of ballots in all State Senate, member of the House of Representatives, county, local and circuit elections shall be arranged and handled by the board of voter registration and elections members of the several counties and shall be paid for by the respective counties, and the board members shall place such ballots in ballot boxes for distribution to the election managers of the various precincts. The printing and distribution of ballots in all municipal elections shall be arranged and handled by the municipal authorities conducting such elections and shall be paid for by the municipalities. The terms "municipal" and "municipalities" as used in this section shall be construed to include school districts, public service districts and like political subdivisions.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-160 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 1 / Section 7-13-160
SECTION 7-13-160. Peace officers shall enter polling place only on request or to vote.
Status: in_force

No sheriff, deputy sheriff, policeman or other officers shall be allowed to come within the polling place except to vote unless summoned into it by a majority of the managers. On failure of any sheriff, deputy sheriff, policeman or other officer to comply with the provisions of the preceding sentence, the managers of election, or one of them, shall make affidavit against such sheriff, deputy sheriff, policeman or other officer for his arrest.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-120 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 1 / Section 7-13-120
SECTION 7-13-120. Candidates and their relatives may not be managers or clerks.
Status: in_force

(1) It shall be unlawful for a candidate or the spouse, parents, children, brothers or sisters of a candidate for public office to work as a manager or clerk of election at a polling place where such candidate's name appears on the ballot. (2) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-17-300 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 17 / Article 3 / Section 7-17-300
SECTION 7-17-300. Secretary of State shall record result of canvass.
Status: in_force

The Secretary of State shall record in his office, in a book to be kept by him for that purpose, each certified statement and determination which shall be delivered to him by the Board of State Canvassers and every dissent or protest that shall have been delivered to him by a canvasser.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-1-80 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-1-80
SECTION 7-1-80. Liability of broadcasting station for defamatory statement by candidate.
Status: in_force

The owner, licensee or operator of a visual or sound radio broadcasting station or network of stations and the agents or employees of any such owner, licensee or operator shall not be liable for any damages for any defamatory statement published or uttered in or as a part of a visual or sound radio broadcast by a candidate for political office in those instances where, under the acts of Congress or the rules and regulations of the Federal Communications Commission, the broadcasting station or network of stations, is prohibited from censoring the material broadcast by such candidate, provided the owner, licensee, or operator shall cause to be made at the conclusion of the broadcast the following announcement in substance; "The broadcast you have just heard was not censored in accord with the immunity from censorship extended legally qualified political candidates."
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-17-10 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 17 / Article 1 / Section 7-17-10
SECTION 7-17-10. Meeting and organization of county boards of canvassers.
Status: in_force

The commissioners of election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, state officers, circuit solicitors, members of the General Assembly, and county officers or any of these officers shall meet in some convenient place at the county seat on the Friday next following the election, before one o'clock in the afternoon of that day, and shall proceed to organize as the county board of canvassers. They may appoint some competent person as secretary. The chairman then shall proceed to administer the constitutional oath to each member of the board, as canvassers, and shall administer the constitutional oath to the secretary, and the secretary shall administer to the chairman the same oath that he has administered to the other members of the board. The commissioners of election for members of Congress and presidential electors or any of these officers likewise shall meet at the same time at the county seat and in the same manner shall proceed to organize as the county board of canvassers for the election of the federal officers. Effect of Amendment 2019 Act No. 1, SECTION 87, in the first sentence, substituted "Governor and Lieutenant Governor" for "Governor, Lieutenant Governor", and made nonsubstantive changes.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-2210 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 19 / Section 7-13-2210
SECTION 7-13-2210. General or special election.
Status: in_force

If any general election or special election, other than a nonpartisan municipal election, results in a tie vote and no candidate withdraws, the election officials who conducted the tie election shall conduct a runoff election to break the tie two weeks following the tie election. In the tie-breaking runoff, the laws of this State apply, mutatis mutandi. If the date for the tie-breaking runoff falls on a legal holiday, it must be held on the same day of the first week following which is not a legal holiday.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-380 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 3 / Section 7-13-380
SECTION 7-13-380. Reprinting ballots to delete name of deceased or withdrawn candidate is optional.
Status: in_force

After the official ballots have been printed by the proper officer, board of voter registration and elections, or other authority, the death or withdrawal of a candidate whose name is printed on the official ballot does not require the officer, board of voter registration and elections, or other authority to reprint the official ballots, but the officer, board of voter registration and elections, or other authority having jurisdiction over the printing and distribution of the ballots concerned may (1) cause the ballots to be reprinted and be substituted in all respects for the first printed ballots if this substitution is considered feasible and advisable or (2) affix a blank label to cover the name of the deceased or withdrawn candidate on voting systems where possible or appropriate.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-850 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 7 / Section 7-13-850
SECTION 7-13-850. Closing polls; voters waiting may vote.
Status: in_force

At the time for closing the polls the chairman of the managers shall announce that the polls are closed, but any voters who are in the process of voting or are present waiting to vote shall be allowed to vote before the polls close.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-17-710 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 17 / Article 7 / Section 7-17-710
SECTION 7-17-710. Continuation of protest in event of death of candidate in special or general election.
Status: in_force

If any candidate in a special or general election dies after the election but before the time for filing a protest or dies after a protest has been timely filed, his political party or a representative duly appointed by the court may file or continue the protest on his behalf. The authority reviewing the protest may then certify the results and deny the protest or uphold the protest in which case it must order a new election. In this event, additional filings of candidacy are allowed and a new election held in the manner the authority responsible for conducting the election provides.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-11-71 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 11 / Article 1 / Section 7-11-71
SECTION 7-11-71. Petitions in election for commissioners of public service districts.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7-11-70, petitions to nominate candidates elected in the general election to serve as commissioners of public service districts shall require signatures of not less than two hundred fifty qualified electors of the district concerned or five percent of the total number of electors of the district, whichever is the lesser, if such petitions are otherwise in compliance with this chapter.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-5-240 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 5 / Article 3 / Section 7-5-240
SECTION 7-5-240. Proceedings on appeal in court of common pleas.
Status: in_force

Any person denied registration or restoration of his name on the registration books and desiring to appeal must within ten days after written notice to him of the decision of the county board of voter registration and elections file with the board a written notice of his intention to appeal therefrom. Within ten days after the filing of such notice of intention to appeal, the board shall file with the clerk of court of common pleas for the county the notice of intention to appeal and any papers in its possession relating to the case, together with a report of the case if it deem proper. The clerk of the court shall file the same and enter the case on a special docket to be known as calendar number four. If the applicant desires the appeal to be heard by a judge at chambers he shall give every member of the board four days' written notice of the time and place of the hearing. On such appeal the hearing shall be de novo.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-1110 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 11 / Section 7-13-1110
SECTION 7-13-1110. Counting ballots and declaration of result; volunteer personnel may assist.
Status: in_force

At the close of the election the managers and clerk shall immediately proceed publicly to open the ballot boxes and count the ballots therein and shall continue such count, without adjournment or interruption, until it is completed. They shall then make and sign such statement of the result thereof as the nature of the election shall require. At the completion of the vote counting a duplicate of the statement and return of votes must be published by posting it in a conspicuous site at the polling places, except in counties where vote recorders are used for voting. Managers of election are authorized to use additional volunteer personnel in counting the ballots. None of such personnel shall be a candidate or watcher for a candidate for an office voted on in the election and shall be required to take the following oath prior to assuming their duties: "I do solemnly swear or affirm that I am not a candidate or watcher in this election, am a qualified elector of this county, that I will count the ballots entrusted to my care in a fair and impartial manner, and make to the best of my ability a correct tabulation of the results." The managers shall be required to make a list of all such counters and turn such list in with other election material. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the counting of ballots at any precinct using vote recorders which require the ballot cards to be counted with the use of a tabulating machine.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-7-940 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 7 / Article 5 / Section 7-7-940
SECTION 7-7-940. Procedure upon removal of elector from one precinct to another.
Status: in_force

In case of the moving of a registered elector from one precinct to another in the same county, the elector must notify the board of voter registration and elections of the county. The board must note the fact upon the proper book and give the elector a notification of the precinct into which he is moved.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-1640 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 15 / Section 7-13-1640
SECTION 7-13-1640. Voting machine requirements.
Status: in_force

(A) Any kind or type of voting machine may be approved by the State Board of Voting Machine Commissioners which is so constructed as to fulfill the following requirements. It shall: (1) provide facilities for voting for all candidates of as many political parties or organizations as may make nominations of candidates at any election, for or against as many questions as may be submitted at any election, and at all general or special elections, permit the voter to vote for all of the candidates of one party or in part for the candidates of one or more parties; (2) permit the voter to vote for as many persons for any office as he is lawfully entitled to vote for, but no more; (3) prevent the voter from voting for the same person more than once for the same office; (4) permit the voter to vote for or against any question he may have the right to vote on, but no other; (5) if used at a primary election, be so equipped that all rows except those of the voter's party can be locked out by the managers of election by means of an adjustment on the outside of the machine; (6) correctly register or record and accurately count all votes cast for any and all candidates and for or against all questions; (7) be provided with a "protective counter" or "protective device" whereby any operation of the machine before or after the election will be detected; (8) be provided with a counter which shows at all times during an election how many persons have voted; (9) be provided with either an illustration or a mechanical model, illustrating the manner of voting on the machine, suitable for the instruction of voters; and (10) ensure voting in absolute secrecy. (B) A machine must be provided with a device for each party and for each nomination by petition for voting for presidential and vice-presidential candidates in one operation and listing the candidates by name and by party or indicating the candidate is nominated by petition. (C) If approved after July 1, 1999, or if an upgrade in software, hardware, or firmware is submitted for approval as required by Section 7-13-1620(B), the voting system must be able to electronically transmit vote totals for all elections from the county board of voter registration and elections to the State Election Commission in a format and time frame specified by the commission. (D) Anytime a voter is eligible to cast a ballot, the voting machine and any counting device must have disabled: (1) a connection to the Internet or an external network; (2) the capability of establishing a wireless connection; (3) the establishment of a connection to an external network through a cable, a wireless modem, or any other mechanism or process; and (4) automatic resolution functionality for ballots flagged for further review. (E) All electronic records for a statewide election must be preserved for not less than twenty-four months following the election. Effect of Amendment 2022 Act No. 150, SECTION 16, in (C), inserted "from the county board of voter registration and elections" following "for all elections"; and added (D) and (E).
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-15-630 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 15 / Article 9 / Section 7-15-630
SECTION 7-15-630. Application for special write-in absentee ballot; qualifications; issuance.
Status: in_force

(A) A qualified elector of this State who is eligible to vote as provided by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, set forth in the 42 U.S.C. Section 1973ff, et seq., or its successor, may apply not earlier than ninety days before an election for a special write-in absentee ballot. This ballot must be used for each general and special election and primaries for federal offices, statewide offices, and members of the General Assembly. (B) The application for a special write-in absentee ballot may be made on the federal postcard application form, or its electronic equivalent or on a form prescribed by the State Election Commission. (C) In order to qualify for a special write-in absentee ballot, the voter must state that he is unable to vote by regular absentee ballot or in person due to requirements of military service or due to living in isolated areas or extremely remote areas of the world. This statement may be made on the federal postcard application or on a form prepared by the State Election Commission and supplied and returned with the special write-in absentee ballot. (D) Upon receipt of this application, the county board of voter registration and elections shall issue the special write-in absentee ballot which must be prescribed and provided by the State Election Commission. The ballot shall list the offices for election in the general election. It may list the candidates for office if known at the time of election. This ballot shall permit the elector to vote by writing in a party preference for each federal, state, and local office, the names of specific candidates for each federal, state, and local office, or the name of the person whom the voter prefers for each office. (E) A qualified elector may alternatively submit a federal write-in absentee ballot for any federal, state, or local office or state or local ballot measure.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-19-10 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 19 / Section 7-19-10
SECTION 7-19-10. Election of United States Senators.
Status: in_force

A United States Senator shall be elected at the general election next preceding the expiration of the term of any United States Senator from this State.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-7-40 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 7 / Article 1 / Section 7-7-40
SECTION 7-7-40. Designation of voting precincts in Aiken County.
Status: in_force

(A) In Aiken County there are the following voting precincts: Aiken No. 1 Aiken No. 2 Aiken No. 3 Aiken No. 4 Aiken No. 5 Aiken No. 6 Aiken No. 47 Anderson Pond No. 69 Ascauga Lake Ascauga Lake No. 84 Bath Beech Island Belvedere No. 9 Belvedere No. 44 Belvedere No. 62 Belvedere No. 74 Breezy Hill Breezy No. 87 Carolina Heights Cedar Creek No. 64 China Springs Clearwater College Acres Community No. 86 Couchton Creek No. 85 Eureka Fox Creek No. 58 Fox Creek No. 73 Gem Lakes No. 60 Gem Lakes No. 77 Gloverville Graniteville Hammond Hammond No. 81 New Holland Hitchcock No. 66 Hollow Creek Jackson Langley Levels No. 52 Levels No. 72 Levels No. 83 Lynwood Midland Valley No. 51 Midland Valley No. 71 Midlands No. 88 Millbrook Misty Lakes Monetta Montmorenci No. 22 Montmorenci No. 78 New Ellenton North Augusta No. 25 North Augusta No. 26 North Augusta No. 27 North Augusta No. 28 North Augusta No. 29 North Augusta No. 54 North Augusta No. 55 North Augusta No. 67 North Augusta No. 68 North Augusta No. 80 Oak Grove Perry Redds Branch Salley Sandstone No. 70 Sandstone No. 79 Shaws Fork Shiloh Silver Bluff Six Points No. 35 Six Points No. 46 Sleepy Hollow No. 65 South Aiken No. 75 South Aiken No. 76 South Creek No. 89 Tabernacle Talatha Pine Forest Vaucluse Wagener Ward Warrenville White Pond Willow Springs Windsor Windsor No. 82 (B) Precinct lines defining the precincts provided in subsection (A) of this section are as shown on the official map on file with the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office designated as document P-03-24 and as shown on certified copies of the official map provided by the office to the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Aiken County. (C) Polling places for the precincts provided in subsection (A) of this section must be established by the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Aiken County with the approval of a majority of the county legislative delegation. Editor's Note 2022 Act No. 153, SECTION 2, provides as follows: "SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and first applies to the 2022 General Election." Effect of Amendment 2022 Act No. 153, SECTION 1, in (A), inserted "Community No. 86" and "Creek No. 85"; and in (B), substituted "P-03-22" for "P-03-16". 2024 Act No. 115, SECTION 2, in (A), inserted "Breezy No. 87", "Midlands No. 88", and "South Creek No. 89"; and in (B), deleted "prepared by and" following "official map", substituted "P-03-24" for "P-03-22", and deleted "State Election Commission and the" following "office to the".
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-1700 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 15 / Section 7-13-1700
SECTION 7-13-1700. Instruction of managers and clerks in use of machines; appointment of manager or clerk in emergency.
Status: in_force

Not more than thirty days before each primary or general election, the board of voter registration and elections or other electoral board must instruct the managers and clerks appointed to serve in the election in the use of the machine and their duties in connection therewith; and the board of voter registration and elections shall not permit a person to serve as a manager or clerk, if there are clerks, who is not fully qualified to conduct an election with the machine. However, nothing in this section may be construed to prevent the appointment of a person as a manager or clerk of election to fill a vacancy in an emergency.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-72 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 1 / Section 7-13-72
SECTION 7-13-72. Managers of election.
Status: in_force

For the general election held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year, the members of the county board of voter registration and elections must appoint three managers of election for each polling place in the county for which they must respectively be appointed for each five hundred electors, or portion of each five hundred electors, registered to vote at the polling place. For primary elections held on the second Tuesday in June of each general election year, the members of the county board of voter registration and elections must appoint three managers of election for each polling place in the county for which they must respectively be appointed for the first five hundred electors registered to vote in each precinct in the county, and may appoint three additional managers for each five hundred electors registered to vote in the precinct above the first five hundred electors, or portion thereof. The members of the county board of voter registration and elections must also appoint from among the managers a clerk for each polling place in the county, and none of the officers may be removed from office except for incompetence or misconduct. All clerks appointed from among the managers must be residents and registered electors of the respective counties in which they are appointed to work or in an adjoining county. For all other primary, special, or municipal elections, the authority charged by law with conducting the primary, special, or municipal elections must appoint three managers of election for the first five hundred electors registered to vote in each precinct in the county, municipality, or other election district and one additional manager for each five hundred electors registered to vote in the precinct above the first five hundred electors. The authority responsible by law for conducting the election must also appoint from among the managers a clerk for each polling place in a primary, special, or municipal election. All clerks appointed from among the managers must be residents and registered electors of the respective counties in which they are appointed to work or in an adjoining county. Forty-five days prior to any primary, except municipal primaries, each political party holding a primary may submit to the county board of voter registration and elections a list of prospective managers for each precinct. The county board of voter registration and elections must appoint at least one manager for each precinct from the list of names submitted by each political party holding a primary. However, the county board of voter registration and elections may refuse to appoint any prospective manager for good cause. No person may be appointed as a manager in a primary, general, or special election who has not completed a training program approved by the State Election Commission concerning his duties and responsibilities as a poll manager and who has not received certification of having completed the training program. The training program and the issuance of certification must be carried out by the county board of voter registration and elections. After their appointment, the managers and clerks must take and subscribe, before any officer authorized to administer oaths, the following oath of office prescribed by Section 26 of Article III of the Constitution: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am duly qualified, according to the Constitution of this State, to exercise the duties of the office to which I have been appointed, and that I will, to the best of my ability, discharge the duties thereof, and preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of this State and of the United States. So help me God". The oath must be immediately filed in the office of the clerk of court of common pleas of the county in which the managers and clerks are appointed, or if there is no clerk of court, in the office of the Secretary of State. Before opening the polls, the managers of election must take and subscribe the oath provided for in Section 7-13-100. Upon the completion of the canvassing of votes, this oath must be filed with the members of the county board of voter registration and elections along with the ballots from that election precinct. Effect of Amendment 2019 Act No. 54, SECTION 1, in the first and second undesignated paragraphs, added the third sentences, providing that clerks appointed from among the managers for each polling place must be a resident and registered elector of the respective county in which they are appointed to work or in an adjoining county.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-15-720 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 15 / Article 9 / Section 7-15-720
SECTION 7-15-720. Electronic free-access system.
Status: in_force

The Executive Director of the State Election Commission, in coordination with the county boards of voter registration and elections shall implement an electronic free-access system by which a covered voter may determine whether: (1) the voter's federal postcard application or other registration or military-overseas ballot application has been received and accepted; or (2) the voter's military-overseas ballot has been received and the current status of the ballot.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-1150 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 11 / Section 7-13-1150
SECTION 7-13-1150. Accounting for ballots after election; returns; delivery of poll lists and other matters; unused ballots.
Status: in_force

When the canvassing and counting of the votes are completed, the chairman of the managers, or one of them to be designated in writing by the managers, shall deliver to the board of voter registration and elections the poll list, the boxes containing the ballots and a written return of the result of the election in the voting precinct. Managers shall account to the board of voter registration and elections of the county for all ballots delivered to them and make the following returns, (a) the number of official ballots furnished to each voting precinct, (b) the number of official ballots spoiled and returned by voters, (c) the number of official ballots returned to the board of voter registration and elections and (d) the number of official ballots actually voted. The board of voter registration and elections shall keep in possession all unused ballots, as well as those that have been spoiled, until the time for contesting the election has expired. Any ballot that has been lost must be accounted for by a certificate from the chairman of the managers of the particular precinct covering the circumstances.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-830 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 7 / Section 7-13-830
SECTION 7-13-830. Procedure when voter challenged.
Status: in_force

When any person is so challenged, the manager must explain to him the qualifications of an elector and may examine his as to the same. If the person insists that he is qualified and the challenge is not withdrawn, his provisional vote must be received and placed in an envelope on which must be written the name of the voter and that of the challenger. The provisional votes must be kept separate and apart and not counted but turned over to the board of voter registration and elections or other authority having supervision of the election. At the meeting specified in either Section 7-17-10 or 7-17-510, whichever is applicable, this authority must hear all objections to these votes, and when no person appears or offers evidence before the meeting to sustain an objection made at the polls, the ballot is no longer a provisional ballot. When the challenger appears or produces witnesses or evidence in support of the challenge, the authority in charge must proceed to hear and determine the question. Its decision is final. Each provisional ballot which is no longer challenged and each ballot whose challenge was decided in favor of the voter must be removed from the envelope, mingled, and counted and the totals added to the previously counted regular ballot total of all precincts without attribution to a particular precinct. If the voting at the voting place is being done upon a voting machine, the managers must provide a paper ballot which must be placed in an envelope and treated as provided in this section. Where, pursuant to Section 7-13-820, a person's name could not be verified by the board of voter registration and elections or where a telephone was not available and the person was allowed to vote a provisional ballot, the board of voter registration and elections, before the meeting, must certify to the authority in charge whether or not the voter is a qualified elector of the precinct in which he voted his provisional ballot. If the board certifies the person challenged is not a qualified elector of the precinct, this certification is considered an administrative challenge and is clear and convincing evidence for the meeting authority to disallow the ballot. Nothing in this section prohibits the county board of voter registration and elections from continuing any challenge administratively as long as it has evidence to sustain the challenge.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-5-350 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 5 / Article 4 / Section 7-5-350
SECTION 7-5-350. Annual voter list maintenance report.
Status: in_force

The State Election Commission shall report to the General Assembly annually regarding the commission's actions taken to maintain the accuracy of the statewide voter registration database and voter registration list maintenance. This report shall include, but is not limited to, the number of: (1) voters removed from the voter registration list and the reason for the removal; (2) voters placed on inactive status; (3) voters placed on archive status; (4) new voter registrations; and (5) voter registration updates, including elector address changes. This annual report must be delivered to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by January fifteenth of each year.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-1480 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 13 / Section 7-13-1480
SECTION 7-13-1480. Custody, storage, and care of vote recorders.
Status: in_force

The county election officials shall designate a person who shall have the custody of the vote recorders of the county when they are not in use at an election and shall provide for his compensation and for the safe storage and care of the vote recorders. All vote recorders when not in use shall be properly covered and stored in a suitable place or places.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-170 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 1 / Section 7-13-170
SECTION 7-13-170. Procedure when managers fail to attend, take charge of, or conduct election.
Status: in_force

If all of the managers fail to attend at the same time and place appointed for holding the poll, or shall refuse or fail to act, or if no manager has been appointed for the poll, it is lawful for the voters present at the precinct voting place on that day to appoint from among the qualified voters of the precinct the managers to act as managers in the place and stead of the absent managers, and any one of the managers appointed shall administer the oath to the other managers. But if the duly appointed managers attend in a reasonable time, they shall take charge of and conduct the election.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-370 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 3 / Section 7-13-370
SECTION 7-13-370. Death, withdrawal, or disqualification of candidate after name printed on ballot.
Status: in_force

If any candidate dies, withdraws or otherwise becomes disqualified after his name has been printed on an official election ballot and if any person is nominated, as authorized by law, to fill such vacancy, the name of the candidate so nominated to fill such vacancy need not be printed upon the ballots, but the name of such candidate so nominated shall be certified by the party executive committee making the nomination to the officer, commissioners or other authority charged with the duty of printing such ballots and a vote cast by a voter for the name of the candidate printed on the ballot who has either died, withdrawn or otherwise become disqualified shall be counted as a vote for the candidate subsequently nominated to fill such vacancy whose name is on file with such officer, board of voter registration and elections, or other authority.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-7-10 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 7 / Article 1 / Section 7-7-10
SECTION 7-7-10. Voting precincts established.
Status: in_force

For the purpose of holding any general, primary, or special election in this State, the voting precincts and voting places in the several counties of the State shall be designated, fixed, and established by the General Assembly. Nothing in this chapter prohibits a county board of voter registration and elections from establishing multiple polling places within a precinct, provided that voters are assigned to these polling places alphabetically or geographically as determined by the county board of voter registration and elections and approved by a majority of that county's legislative delegation. A voter must be notified in writing of his transfer to a new polling place and the location of the new polling place.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-1430 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 13 / Section 7-13-1430
SECTION 7-13-1430. Counting stations; processing and counting of ballots and preparation of summary sheets.
Status: in_force

In counties where marking devices and automatic tabulating equipment have been adopted, the county board of voter registration and elections shall establish one or more counting stations to receive voted ballots and other precinct election supplies after the polling precincts are closed. Such stations shall be under the supervision and direction of the board of voter registration and elections. Processing and counting of voted ballots and the preparation of summary sheets shall be done in the presence of witnesses approved by the board of voter registration and elections.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-11-420 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 11 / Article 5 / Section 7-11-420
SECTION 7-11-420. Amounts and proration of assessments to be paid by candidates for State Senator in multi-county districts.
Status: in_force

In multi-county senatorial districts, the amounts of assessments to be paid by candidates for the office of State Senator at the time and place of filing notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7-11-410, shall be fixed by a majority of the county chairmen of the counties in the respective districts and shall be prorated among the county committees of the counties comprising the district in proportion to the number of precincts in each county. Provided, if such chairmen of any district fail to reach agreement within three days after the opening for entries the state executive committee shall fix the fee. Provided, further, that in 1966 only the chairmen shall have seven days in which to reach such agreement.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-7-130 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 7 / Article 1 / Section 7-7-130
SECTION 7-7-130. Designation of voting precincts in Calhoun County.
Status: in_force

(A) In Calhoun County there are the following voting precincts: Bethel Cameron Center Hill Creston Dixie Fall Branch Fort Motte Lone Star Midway Murph Mill Sandy Run St. Matthews (B) The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on maps filed with the clerk of court of the county and also on file with the State Election Commission as provided and maintained by the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office and designated as document P-17-17.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-1920 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 15 / Section 7-13-1920
SECTION 7-13-1920. Tampering with voting machine.
Status: in_force

Any person who wilfully tampers with or attempts to tamper with, disarrange, deface or impair, in any manner whatsoever, or destroy any such voting machine while it is in use at any election or who shall, after such machine is locked in order to preserve the registration or record of any election made by it, tamper with or attempt to tamper with such machine or who instigates, aids or abets any other person in any case herein mentioned, with intent to destroy or change the record of votes on a voting machine, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned for not less than three months nor more than three years.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-7-80 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 7 / Article 1 / Section 7-7-80
SECTION 7-7-80. Designation of voting precincts in Anderson County.
Status: in_force

(A) In Anderson County there are the following voting precincts: Appleton-Equinox Barker's Creek-McAdams Belton Belton Annex Bishop's Branch Bowling Green Broadview Broadway Brushy Creek Cedar Grove Center Rock Centerville Station A Centerville Station B Chiquola Mill Concrete Cox's Creek Craytonville Denver-Sandy Springs Edgewood Station A Edgewood Station B Five Forks Flat Rock Fork No. 1 Fork No. 2 Friendship Glenview Gluck Mill Green Pond Station A Hall Hammond School Hammond Annex High Point Homeland Park Honea Path Hopewell Hunt Meadows Iva Jackson Mill LaFrance Lakeside Melton Mount Tabor Mountain Creek Mt. Airy Neal's Creek North Pointe Pelzer Pendleton Piedmont Piercetown Powdersville Rock Mill Rock Spring Shirley's Store Simpsonville South Fant Starr Three and Twenty Toney Creek Town Creek Townville Varennes West Pelzer West Savannah White Plains Williamston Williamston Mill Wright's School Anderson 1/1 Anderson 1/2 Anderson 2/1 Anderson 2/2 Anderson 3/1 Anderson 3/2 Anderson 4/1 Anderson 4/2 Anderson 5/B Anderson 6/1 Anderson 6/2 (B) The precinct lines defining the precincts in Anderson County are as shown on the official map prepared by and on file with the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office designated as document P-07-19 and as shown on official copies furnished to the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Anderson County. (C) The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be established by the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Anderson County subject to the approval of the majority of the Anderson County Legislative Delegation. Code Commissioner's Note Pursuant to the directive to the Code Commissioner in 2018 Act No. 246, SECTION 10, "Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office" was substituted for all references to "Office of Research and Statistics of the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office". Effect of Amendment 2019 Act No. 7, SECTION 1, in (A), deleted "Grove School" following "Green Pond Station A", inserted "South Fant" following "Simpsonville", deleted "Anderson 5/A" following "Anderson 4/2"; and in (B), substituted "document P-07-19" for "document P-07-14".
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-355 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 3 / Section 7-13-355
SECTION 7-13-355. Time for submitting question to election commission for submission as referendum to electors.
Status: in_force

No question may be submitted to the qualified electors in a referendum held at the time of a general election unless the question is submitted to the appropriate election commission to be placed on the ballot no later than 12:00 noon on August fifteenth or, if August fifteenth falls on Saturday or Sunday, not later than 12:00 noon on the following business day.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-1170 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 11 / Section 7-13-1170
SECTION 7-13-1170. Ordering of new election by Governor.
Status: in_force

When any election official of any political subdivision of this State charged with ordering, providing for, or holding an election has neglected, failed, or refused to order, provide for, or hold the election at the time appointed, or if for any reason the election is declared void by competent authority, and these facts are made to appear to the satisfaction of the Governor, he shall, should the law not otherwise provide for this contingency, order an election or a new election to be held at the time and place, and upon the notice being given which to him appears adequate to insure the will of the electorate being fairly expressed. To that end, he may designate the existing election official or other person as he may appoint to perform the necessary official duties pertaining to the election and to declare the result.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-1-110 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 1 / Section 7-1-110
SECTION 7-1-110. Election law challenges.
Status: in_force

(A) The President of the Senate, on behalf of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, on behalf of the House of Representatives, have an unconditional right to intervene on behalf of their respective bodies in a state court action that challenges the validity of an election law, an election policy, or the manner in which an election is conducted. (B) In a federal court action that challenges the validity of an election law, an election policy, or the manner in which an election is conducted, the President of the Senate, on behalf of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, on behalf of the House of Representatives, have standing to intervene as a party on behalf of their respective bodies, to file an amicus brief, or to provide evidence or argument, written or oral, in accordance with the federal rules of procedure, irrespective of whether any other officer of the State has appeared in the action. (C) A federal court presiding over an action that challenges the validity of an election law, an election policy, or the manner in which an election is conducted is requested to allow the President of the Senate, on behalf of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, on behalf of the House of Representatives, to intervene in any such action as a party. (D) A request to intervene or the participation of the President of the Senate, on behalf of the Senate, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, on behalf of the House of Representatives, as a party or otherwise, in an action that challenges the validity of an election law, an election policy, or the manner in which an election is conducted does not constitute a waiver of: (1) legislative immunity or legislative privilege for any individual legislator, legislative officer, or legislative staff member; or (2) sovereign immunity or any other rights, privileges, or immunities of the State that arise under the United States Constitution or the South Carolina Constitution. (E) The State Election Commission and the Attorney General must notify the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives within twenty-four hours of the receipt of service of a complaint that challenges the validity of an election law, an election policy, or the manner in which an election is conducted. (F) In an action in which the Senate or the House of Representatives intervenes or participates pursuant to this section, the Senate and the House of Representatives must function independently from each other in the representation of their respective bodies, unless otherwise agreed to by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. (G) The Senate and the House of Representatives may employ attorneys other than the Attorney General to defend any action that challenges the validity of an election law, an election policy, or the manner in which an election is conducted. (H) The President of the Senate, on behalf of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, on behalf of the House of Representatives, have standing to bring an action in mandamus in the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to compel an election official to faithfully apply, enforce, and defend the election laws of the State.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-460 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 3 / Section 7-13-460
SECTION 7-13-460. Use of paper ballots.
Status: in_force

(A) In special elections to fill vacancies in office, if the use of voting machines is not practicable or cost efficient, the county election officials may use paper ballots in these elections. (B) If paper ballots are used, the procedure for their use and the counting of these ballots must be in accordance with the provisions of law governing the use of paper ballots, mutatis mutandis.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-7-300 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 7 / Article 1 / Section 7-7-300
SECTION 7-7-300. Designation of voting precincts in Hampton County.
Status: in_force

(A) In Hampton County there are the following voting precincts: Black Creek Bonnett Brunson Crocketville-Miley Cummings Early Branch Estill Furman Garnett Gifford Hampton No. 1 Hampton No. 2 Hopewell Horse Gall Rivers Mill Scotia Varnville Yemassee. (B) The precinct lines defining the precincts provided in subsection (A) are as shown on the map prepared by and on file with the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office designated as document P-49-12 and as shown on copies provided to the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Hampton County. (C) The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be established by the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Hampton County subject to the approval of a majority of the Hampton County Legislative Delegation. Code Commissioner's Note Pursuant to the directive to the Code Commissioner in 2018 Act No. 246, SECTION 10, "Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office" was substituted for all references to "Office of Research and Statistics of the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office".
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-5-155 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 5 / Article 3 / Section 7-5-155
SECTION 7-5-155. Registration of electors by mail.
Status: in_force

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the following procedures may be used in the registration of electors in addition to the procedure otherwise provided by law. (1) Subject to the provision of Section 7-5-150, any qualified citizen may register to vote by mailing or having delivered a completed state registration by mail application form or a completed national registration by mail application form prescribed by the Federal Election Commission not later than thirty days before any election to his county board of voter registration and elections. The postmark date of a mailed application is considered the date of mailing. If the postmark date is missing or illegible, the county board of voter registration and elections must accept the application if it is received by mail no later than five days after the close of the registration books before any election. (2) If the county board of voter registration and elections determines that the applicant is qualified and his application is legible and complete, the board shall mail the voter written notification of approval on a form to be prescribed and provided by the State Election Commission pursuant to Section 7-5-180. When the county board of voter registration and elections mails the written notification of approval, it must do so without requiring the elector to sign anything in the presence of a member of the board, a deputy member, or a registration clerk, and the attestation of the elector's signature is not required so long as the conditions set forth above are met. (3) Any application must be rejected for any of the following reasons: (i) any portion of the application is not complete; (ii) any portion of the application is illegible in the opinion of a member and the clerk of the board; (iii) the board is unable to determine, from the address stated on the application, the precinct in which the voter should be assigned or the election districts in which he is entitled to vote. (4) Any person whose application is rejected must be notified of the rejection together with the reason for rejection. The applicant must further be informed that he still has a right to register by appearing in person before the county board of voter registration and elections or by submitting the information by mail necessary to correct his rejected application. The form for notifying applicants of rejection must be prescribed and provided by the State Election Commission pursuant to Section 7-5-180. (b) Every application for registration by mail shall contain spaces for the home and work telephone numbers of the applicant and the applicant shall enter the numbers on the application where applicable. (c) The State Election Commission shall furnish a sufficient number of application forms to the county boards of voter registration and elections and voter registration agencies specified in Section 7-5-310(B) so that distribution of the application forms may be made to various locations throughout the counties and mailed to persons requesting them. County boards of voter registration and elections shall distribute application forms to various locations in their respective counties, including city halls and public libraries, where they must be readily available to the public. (d) The original applications must remain on file in the office of the county board of voter registration and elections. (e) The State Election Commission may promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this section.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-15-230 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 15 / Article 3 / Section 7-15-230
SECTION 7-15-230. Marking and return of ballot; ballot shall not be counted unless oath signed and ballot returned prior to closing of polls.
Status: in_force

Upon receipt of the ballot or ballots the absentee ballot applicant shall mark each ballot on which he wishes to vote, fold it so that its contents cannot be distinguished without unfolding it and mail it in compliance with the instructions received by him with the ballot. Enclosed with the ballot or ballots shall be the oath set forth in Section 7-15-220. No ballot shall be counted unless the oath is properly signed and enclosed therewith nor shall any ballot be counted which is received by the board of voter registration and elections or other officials charged with the conduct of the election after time for closing of the polls, and the printed instructions required by item (3) of Section 7-15-200 to be sent each absentee ballot applicant shall notify him that his vote will not be counted in either of these events.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-21-50 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 21 / Section 7-21-50
SECTION 7-21-50. Application of provisions of this Title to office of State Senator and member of House of Representatives.
Status: in_force

All of the provisions of Title 7 of the 1976 Code governing a State office shall apply to the offices of State Senator and of member of the House of Representatives except in those instances in which special provision is made for such offices and in those instances such special provisions shall control.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-7-420 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 7 / Article 1 / Section 7-7-420
SECTION 7-7-420. Designation of voting precincts in Newberry County.
Status: in_force

(A) In Newberry County there are the following voting precincts: Beth-Eden Bush River Chappells Fairview Hartford Helena Johnstone Kinards-Jalapa Little Mountain Maybinton Mt.Bethel-Garmany Consolidated Number 5 Newberry Ward 1 Newberry Ward 2 Newberry Ward 3 Newberry Ward 4 Newberry Ward 5 Newberry Ward 6 Oakland O'Neal Peak Pomaria Prosperity City Prosperity Outside St.Phillips-Jolly Street Silverstreet Stoney Hill Wheeland Whitmire City Whitmire Outside (B) The precinct lines defining the precincts provided in subsection (A) in Newberry County are as shown on the official map prepared by and on file with the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office designated as document P-71-18A and as shown on copies of the official map provided by the office to the State Election Commission and the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Newberry County. (C) The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be established by the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Newberry County subject to the approval of the majority of the Newberry County Delegation. Code Commissioner's Note At the direction of the Code Commissioner, the amendments of this section made by 2018 Act No. 137 and 2018 Act No. 157 were read together. Effect of Amendment 2018 Act No. 137, SECTION 1, in (A), deleted "Prosperity", inserted "Prosperity City" and "Prosperity Outside", and made a nonsubstantive change, and in (B), substituted "P-71-18" for "P-71-17". 2018 Act No. 157, SECTION 1, in (A), deleted "Midway" following "Maybinton", and in (B), substituted "P-71-18A" for "P-71-18".
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-15-390 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 15 / Article 5 / Section 7-15-390
SECTION 7-15-390. Absentee balloting in primary and special elections; municipal elections.
Status: in_force

Absentee balloting in the primary, special, and municipal elections must be in accordance with the provisions of Title 7.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-15-680 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 15 / Article 9 / Section 7-15-680
SECTION 7-15-680. Sending absentee ballot to covered voter.
Status: in_force

An absentee ballot must be sent to a covered voter, upon the voter's request, at least forty-five days prior to any election. However, if a ballot application from a covered voter arrives within the forty-five day period, an absentee ballot must be sent to the covered voter no later than five o'clock p.m. on the next business day after the application arrives.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-15-110 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 15 / Article 3 / Section 7-15-110
SECTION 7-15-110. Persons qualified to register to vote by absentee ballot.
Status: in_force

The following persons are qualified to register to vote using the Standard Form 76, or any subsequent form replacing it, provided by the federal government: (1) members of the Armed Forces of the United States; (2) members of the Merchant Marine of the United States; (3) a person serving with the American Red Cross or the United Service Organizations (USO) attached to and serving with the Armed Forces of the United States outside of the county of his residence in South Carolina; (4) members or employees of any department of the United States Government serving overseas; (5) a citizen of the United States residing outside the United States: (a) if he last resided in South Carolina immediately before his departure from the United States; (b) if he could have met all qualifications to vote in federal elections in South Carolina even though while residing outside the United States he does not have a place of abode or other address in South Carolina; even if his intent to return to South Carolina may be uncertain, as long as he has complied with all applicable South Carolina qualifications and requirements which are consistent with the Uniformed And Overseas Absentee Voting Act (Public Law 99-410).
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-11-50 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 11 / Article 1 / Section 7-11-50
SECTION 7-11-50. Substitution when party nominee dies, becomes disqualified, or resigns for legitimate nonpolitical reason.
Status: in_force

If a party nominee who was nominated by a method other than party primary election dies, becomes disqualified after his nomination, or resigns his candidacy for a legitimate nonpolitical reason as defined in this section and sufficient time does not remain to hold a convention to fill the vacancy or to nominate a nominee to enter a special election, the respective state or county party executive committee may nominate a nominee for the office, who must be duly certified by the respective county or state chairman. "Legitimate nonpolitical reason" as used in this section is limited to: (a) reasons of health, which include any health condition which, in the written opinion of a medical doctor, would be harmful to the health of the candidate if he continued; (b) family crises, which include circumstances which would substantially alter the duties and responsibilities of the candidate to the family or to a family business; (c) substantial business conflict, which includes the policy of an employer prohibiting employees being candidates for public offices and an employment change which would result in the ineligibility of the candidate or which would impair his capability to carry out properly the functions of the office being sought. A candidate who withdraws based upon a legitimate nonpolitical reason which is not covered by the inclusions in (a), (b) or (c) has the strict burden of proof for his reason. A candidate who wishes to withdraw for a legitimate nonpolitical reason shall submit his reason by sworn affidavit. This affidavit must be filed with the state party chairman of the nominee's party and also with the board of voter registration and elections of the county if the office concerned is countywide or less and with the State Election Commission if the office is statewide, multi-county, or for a member of the General Assembly. A substitution of candidates is not authorized, except for death or disqualification, unless the election commission to which the affidavit is submitted approves the affidavit as constituting a legitimate nonpolitical reason for the candidate's resignation within ten days of the date the affidavit is submitted to the commission. However, where this party nominee is unopposed, each political party registered with the State Election Commission has the privilege of nominating a candidate for the office involved. If the nomination is certified two weeks or more before the date of the general election, that office is to be filled at the general election. If the nomination is certified less than two weeks before the date of the general election, that office must not be filled at the general election but must be filled in a special election to be held on the second Tuesday in the month following the election, provided that the date of the special election to be conducted after the general election may be combined with other necessary elections scheduled to occur within a twenty-eight day period in the manner authorized by Section 7-13-190(D).
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-9-110 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 9 / Section 7-9-110
SECTION 7-9-110. Conducting elections or primaries in facilities receiving state funds.
Status: in_force

A political party or the State Election Commission may conduct a primary or election, without charge, in any facility that receives state funds for support or operation. The use of the facility, pursuant to the provisions of this section, is subject to the availability of the facility as determined by the facility's governing entity.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-5-670 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 5 / Article 7 / Section 7-5-670
SECTION 7-5-670. Use and custody of registration books.
Status: in_force

The books of registration must be prepared and turned over to the managers of each voting place within the ward or precinct for use in conducting all municipal elections, but immediately following a municipal election the books must be turned over to the county board of voter registration and elections.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-15-375 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 15 / Article 5 / Section 7-15-375
SECTION 7-15-375. Return envelope for absentee ballot.
Status: in_force

The return-addressed envelope required by item (4) of Section 7-15-370 to be sent to each absentee ballot applicant shall have printed on its face in the upper left hand corner the words 'Absentee ballots for __________ County, __________ (county seat), South Carolina.' All blanks on the face of the envelope shall be filled in by the county board of voter registration and elections prior to the issuance of the ballot to the absentee ballot applicant. On the back shall appear blanks which the voter shall fill in with his name and address.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-7-350 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 7 / Article 1 / Section 7-7-350
SECTION 7-7-350. Designation of voting precincts in Lancaster County.
Status: in_force

(A) In Lancaster County there are the following voting precincts: 521 North Antioch Black Horse Run Buford Camp Creek Chesterfield Avenue College Park Douglas Elgin Erwin Farm Flat Creek Gold Hill Harrisburg Heath Springs Hyde Park Jim Wilson Kershaw McIlwain Osceola Pleasant Hill Pleasant Valley Possum Hollow Rich Hill River Road Riverside Six Mile Creek Springdale Sun City-Carolina Lakes Tradesville Unity Van Wyck (B) The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on maps filed with the clerk of court of the county and also on file with the State Election Commission as provided and maintained by the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office designated as document P-57-25. (C) The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be established by the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Lancaster County subject to approval by a majority of the Lancaster County Legislative Delegation. Code Commissioner's Note The Carmel voting precinct was removed at the direction of the Code Commissioner. The voting precinct was deleted by 2024 Act No. 150; however, it was inadvertently carried over into 2025 Act No. 52. Effect of Amendment 2018 Act No. 150, SECTION 1, in (A), inserted "College Park", and in (B), substituted "P-57-18" for " P-57-16". 2022 Act No. 125, SECTION 1, rewrote (A); and in (B), substituted "document P-57-22" for "document P-57-18". 2023 Act No. 14, SECTION 1, in (A), inserted "Jim Wilson" following "Hyde Park", deleted "Lancaster West" following "Lancaster East", and substituted "Six Mile Creek" for "Shelley Mullis"; and in (B), substituted "P-57-23A" for "P-57-22". 2024 Act No. 150, SECTION 1, in (A), deleted "Carmel" following "Camp Creek"; and in (B), substituted "P-57-24" for "P-57-23A". 2025 Act No. 52, SECTION 1, in (A), substituted "Kershaw" for "Kershaw North", "Kershaw South", "Lake House", and "Lancaster East"; substituted "Sun City-Carolina Lakes" for "The Lodge"; and deleted "University" following "Unity"; and in (B), substituted "P-57-25" for "P-57-24".
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-25-60 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 25 / Section 7-25-60
SECTION 7-25-60. Procuring or offering to procure votes by bribery.
Status: in_force

(A) It is unlawful for a person at any election to: (1) procure, or offer or propose to procure, another, by the payment, delivery, or promise of money or other article of value, to vote for or against any particular candidate or measure; or (2) vote, offer, or propose to vote for or against any particular candidate or measure for the consideration of money or other article of value paid, delivered, or promised, vote or offer or propose to vote for or against any particular candidate or measure. (B) A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a felony. Upon conviction for a first offense, the person must be fined in the discretion of the court and imprisoned not more than five years. Upon conviction for a second or subsequent offense, the person must be fined in the discretion of the court and imprisoned not more than ten years.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-15-730 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 15 / Article 9 / Section 7-15-730
SECTION 7-15-730. Request for electronic-mail address; standing request for electronic delivery of ballot.
Status: in_force

(A) The county board of voter registration and elections or the State Election Commission, as appropriate, shall request an electronic-mail address from each covered voter who registers to vote after the effective date of this article. An electronic-mail address provided by a covered voter may not be made available to the public or any individual or organization other than an employee or official with the county board of voter registration and elections or the State Election Commission, and is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act of this State. The electronic-mail address may be used only for official communication with the covered voter about the voting process, including transmitting military-overseas ballots and election materials if the voter has requested electronic transmission, and verifying the covered voter's mailing address and physical location. The request for an electronic-mail address must describe the purposes for which the electronic-mail address may be used and include a statement that any other use or disclosure of the electronic-mail address is prohibited. (B) A covered voter who provides an electronic-mail address may request that the voter's application for a military-overseas ballot be considered a standing request for electronic delivery of a ballot for all elections held through December thirty-first of the year following the calendar year of the date of the application or another shorter period the voter specifies, including for any runoff elections that occur as a result of those elections. An election official or employee shall provide a military-overseas ballot to a covered voter who makes a standing request for each election to which the request is applicable. A covered voter who is entitled to receive a military-overseas ballot for a primary election under this subsection is entitled to receive a military-overseas ballot for the general election.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-1350 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 13 / Section 7-13-1350
SECTION 7-13-1350. Payment for vote recorders.
Status: in_force

The governing body of any county which adopts vote recorders in the manner provided for by this article shall, upon the purchase thereof, provide for payment therefor by the county.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-7-120 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 7 / Article 1 / Section 7-7-120
SECTION 7-7-120. Designation of voting precincts in Berkeley County.
Status: in_force

(A) In Berkeley County there are the following voting precincts: Alvin Bethera Beverly Hill Bonneau Bonneau Beach Boulder Bluff Bushy Park Central Cainhoy Cane Bay Cane Bay East Cane Bay North Cane Bay South Carnes Cross Road 1 Carnes Cross Road 2 Cobblestone Cordesville Cross Daniel Island 1 Daniel Island 2 Daniel Island 3 Daniel Island 4 Devon Forest 1 Devon Forest 2 Discovery Eadytown Fifty-two Foster Creek 1 Foster Creek 2 Foster Creek 3 Foxbank Hanahan 1 Hanahan 2 Hanahan 3 Hanahan 4 Hanahan 5 Harbour Lake Hilton Cross Roads Horseshoe Howe Hall 1 Howe Hall 2 Huger Jamestown Lebanon Liberty Hall Live Oak Macedonia Macedonia 2 McBeth Medway Moncks Corner 1 Moncks Corner 2 Moncks Corner 3 Moncks Corner 4 Moultrie Nexton Old 52 Pimlico Pine Grove Pinopolis Pomflant Royle Russellville Sangaree 1 Sangaree 2 Sangaree 3 Sedgefield 1 Sedgefield 2 Sedgefield 3 Seventy Eight Shulerville St. James St. Stephen 1 St. Stephen 2 Stone Lake Stratford 1 Stratford 2 Stratford 3 Stratford 4 Stratford 5 The Village Tramway Wassamassaw 1 Wassamassaw 2 Weatherstone Westview 1 Westview 2 Westview 3 Westview 4 Whitesville 1 Whitesville 2 Wildcat Trail Yeamans Club Yellow House (B) The precinct lines defining the precincts provided in subsection (A) are as shown on the official map prepared by and on file with the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office designated as document P-15-19 and as shown on copies provided to the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Berkeley County. (C) The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be established by the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Berkeley County subject to the approval of a majority of the Senators and a majority of the House members of the Berkeley County Delegation. Editor's Note 2019 Act No. 40, SECTION 2, provides as follows: "SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and applies to elections conducted in Berkeley County after June 30, 2019." Effect of Amendment 2019 Act No. 40, SECTION 1, in (A), inserted "Boulder Bluff", "Bushy Park", "Cane Bay East", "Cane Bay North", "Cane Bay South", "Fifty-two", "Horseshoe", "Live Oak", "Macedonia 2", "Nexton", "Pine Grove", "Pomflant", "Sedgefield 3", "Wildcat Trail", and "Yeamans Club", and substituted "Cobblestone" for "Carnes Cross Road 3" and "Pimlico" for "Pimlico 1" and "Pimlico 2"; and in (B), substituted "document P-15-19" for "document P-15-17".
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-1930 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 15 / Section 7-13-1930
SECTION 7-13-1930. Other provisions of this Title applicable to use of voting machines.
Status: in_force

All of the provisions of this Title not inconsistent with the provisions of this article shall apply with full force and effect to elections in counties, cities and towns adopting and using voting machines.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-7-370 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 7 / Article 1 / Section 7-7-370
SECTION 7-7-370. Designation of voting precincts in Lee County.
Status: in_force

(A)(1) In Lee County there are the following voting precincts: Ashland/Stokes Bridge Ashwood Bishopville No. 1 Bishopville No. 2 Bishopville No. 3 Bishopville No. 4 Cedar Creek Cypress Elliott Hickory Hill Ionia Lynchburg Manville Mt. Clio Rattlesnake Springs Schrocks Mill/Lucknow South Lynchburg Spring Hill St. Charles St. Matthews Turkey Creek Woodrow. (2) The division line between the voting precincts at Bishopville is Main Street and Church Street, Bishopville No. 1 being the southwest corner, Bishopville No. 2 the southeast corner, Bishopville No. 3 the northeast corner, and Bishopville No. 4 the northwest corner. (B) The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on maps filed with the Clerk of Court of the county and also on file with the State Election Commission as provided and maintained by the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office designated as document P-61-04. (C) The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be established by the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Lee County upon approval of the Lee County Legislative Delegation. Code Commissioner's Note Pursuant to the directive to the Code Commissioner in 2018 Act No. 246, SECTION 10, "Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office" was substituted for all references to "Office of Research and Statistics of the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office".
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-15-620 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 15 / Article 9 / Section 7-15-620
SECTION 7-15-620. Eligible voters may utilize absentee ballot process.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding other provisions of law, a voter who meets the requirements of this article may utilize the absentee ballot process established by this article, or as otherwise permitted by state or federal law.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-1420 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 13 / Section 7-13-1420
SECTION 7-13-1420. Observation by poll watchers after polls close.
Status: in_force

Poll watchers shall be allowed to remain in the polling place after the polls close and may observe the processing of the ballots and the sealing of the containers.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-2220 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 19 / Section 7-13-2220
SECTION 7-13-2220. Primary election.
Status: in_force

If any primary election, other than a nonpartisan municipal primary election, results in a tie vote and no candidate withdraws, the party officials shall conduct a runoff election to break the tie two weeks following that election. In the tie-breaking election, the laws of this State apply, mutatis mutandi. If the date for the tie-breaking runoff election falls on a legal holiday, it must be held on the same day of the first week following which is not a legal holiday. If a tie-breaking runoff election is required, any remaining primary elections required are postponed for two weeks. If the date for a postponed election falls on a legal holiday, it must be set for the same day of the first week following which is not a legal holiday.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-110 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 1 / Section 7-13-110
SECTION 7-13-110. Residency requirements of chairmen, clerks, and managers of elections.
Status: in_force

Each chairman and clerk appointed from among the managers of election for the various polling places must be a resident and registered elector of the respective county in which he is appointed to work or in an adjoining county. All managers of election who are not appointed to serve as chairmen or clerks for the various polling places in the State must be residents and registered electors of the State of South Carolina. Any person qualified to serve as a manager who requests to work in his resident county or an adjoining county must be given priority over qualified persons from other counties for appointment to work in the resident county or an adjoining county. Any person at least sixteen years of age who has completed the training required by Section 7-13-72 and who is not otherwise disqualified by law may be appointed as a poll manager's assistant by the appropriate county board of voter registration and elections. A sixteen- or seventeen-year-old appointed as a poll manager's assistant may not serve as chairman of the managers or clerk in the polling place to which he or she is appointed. Sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds must serve under supervision of the chairman of the managers of the polling place, and their specific duties must be prescribed by the county board of voter registration and elections. One sixteen- or seventeen-year-old assistant poll manager may be appointed for every two regular poll managers appointed to work in a precinct. Effect of Amendment 2019 Act No. 54, SECTION 3, inserted the first sentence, rewrote the second sentence, providing that a manager who is not appointed to serve as a chairman or clerk must be a resident and registered elector of the State of South Carolina, inserted the third sentence, and made a nonsubstantive change.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-15-750 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 15 / Article 9 / Section 7-15-750
SECTION 7-15-750. Effect of mistakes or omissions in document completion; notarization.
Status: in_force

(A) If a covered voter's mistake or omission in the completion of a document pursuant to this article does not prevent determining whether a covered voter is eligible to vote, the mistake or omission does not invalidate the document. Failure to satisfy a nonsubstantive requirement, such as using paper or envelopes of a specified size or weight, does not invalidate a document submitted pursuant to this article. In a write-in ballot authorized by this article or in a vote for a write-in candidate on a regular ballot, if the intention of the voter is discernable pursuant to the laws of this State, an abbreviation, misspelling, or other minor variation in the form of the name of a candidate or a political party must be accepted as a valid vote. (B) Notarization is not required for the execution of a document pursuant to this article. An authentication, other than the declaration specified in Section 7-15-710, or the declaration on the federal postcard application and federal write-in absentee ballot, is not required for execution of a document pursuant to this article. The declaration and any information in the declaration may be compared with information on file to ascertain the validity of the document.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-7-90 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 7 / Article 1 / Section 7-7-90
SECTION 7-7-90. Designation of voting precincts in Bamberg County.
Status: in_force

(A) In Bamberg County the voting precincts are as follows: Colston East Denmark Edisto Ehrhardt Govan Hightower's Mill Hunter's Chapel Kearse Little Swamp North Bamberg Olar South Bamberg West Denmark. (B) The precinct lines defining the precincts in subsection (A) are as shown on the official map prepared by and on file with the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office. (C) The polling places for the precincts in subsection (A) must be determined by the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Bamberg County with the approval of a majority of the Bamberg County Legislative Delegation. Code Commissioner's Note Pursuant to the directive to the Code Commissioner in 2018 Act No. 246, SECTION 10, "Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office" was substituted for all references to "Office of Research and Statistics of the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office".
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-23-10 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 23 / Section 7-23-10
SECTION 7-23-10. Expenses of general election officers.
Status: in_force

Each commissioner or board member of state and county general elections shall receive as expenses an amount as appropriated in the annual state general appropriations act, payable quarterly, and is entitled to election-day mileage as provided by law for state employees. Managers and clerks of general elections shall receive a per diem as is provided in the annual state general appropriations act.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-7-200 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 7 / Article 1 / Section 7-7-200
SECTION 7-7-200. Designation of voting precincts in Colleton County.
Status: in_force

(A) In Colleton County there are the following voting precincts: Ashton-Lodge Bells Berea-Smoaks Canadys Cottageville Edisto Green Pond Hendersonville Horse Pen Hudson Mill Jacksonboro Maple Cane Mashawville Peniel Peeples Petits Rice Patch Ritter Round O Ruffin Sidneys Sniders Stokes Walterboro No. 1 Walterboro No. 2 Walterboro No. 3 Walterboro No. 4 Walterboro No. 5 Walterboro No. 6 Williams Edisto Beach Wolfe Creek (B) The precinct lines defining the precincts provided for in subsection (A) are as shown on maps filed with the Colleton County Board of Voter Registration and Elections as provided and maintained by the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office designated as document P-29-15. (C) The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be determined by the Colleton County Board of Voter Registration and Elections with the approval of a majority of the Colleton County Legislative Delegation.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-7-270 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 7 / Article 1 / Section 7-7-270
SECTION 7-7-270. Designation of voting precincts in Georgetown County.
Status: in_force

(A) In Georgetown County there are the following voting precincts: Andrews Andrews Outside Bethel Black River Brown's Ferry Carvers Bay Choppee Dream Keepers Folly Grove Georgetown No. 1 Georgetown No. 3 Georgetown No. 4 Georgetown No. 5 Kensington Lambert Town Murrells Inlet No. 1 Murrells Inlet No. 2 Murrells Inlet No. 3 Murrells Inlet No. 4 Myersville Pawleys Island No. 1 Pawleys Island No. 2 Pawleys Island No. 3 Pawleys Island No. 4 Pawleys Island No. 5 Pee Dee Pennyroyal Plantersville Pleasant Hill Potato Bed Ferry Sampit Santee Spring Gulley Winyah Bay (B) The precinct lines defining the above precincts in Georgetown County are as shown on the official map prepared by and on file with the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office designated as document P-43-17 and as shown on copies of the official map provided by the office to the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Georgetown County. (C) The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be established by the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Georgetown County subject to approval by a majority of the Georgetown County Legislative Delegation.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-7-520 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 7 / Article 1 / Section 7-7-520
SECTION 7-7-520. Designation of voting precincts in Williamsburg County.
Status: in_force

(A) In Williamsburg County there are the following voting precincts: Black River Bloomingvale Cades Cedar Swamp Central Earles Greeleyville Harmony Hebron Hemingway Henry-Poplar Hill Indiantown Kingstree No. 1 Kingstree No. 2 Kingstree No. 3 Kingstree No. 4 Lane Morrisville Mount Vernon Muddy Creek Nesmith Pergamos Piney Forest Salters Sandy Bay Singletary Suttons Trio. (B) The precinct lines defining the precincts provided in subsection (A) are as shown on maps filed with the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Williamsburg County as provided and maintained by the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office designated as document P-89-12. (C) The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be established by the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Williamsburg County subject to the approval of a majority of the Williamsburg County Delegation, including the Senators. Code Commissioner's Note Pursuant to the directive to the Code Commissioner in 2018 Act No. 246, SECTION 10, "Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office" was substituted for all references to "Office of Research and Statistics of the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office".
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-9-70 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 9 / Section 7-9-70
SECTION 7-9-70. County conventions.
Status: in_force

A county convention must be held during a twelve-month period ending March thirty-first of each general election year during a month determined by the state committee as provided in Section 7-9-100. The county committee shall set the date, time, and location during the month designated by the state committee for the county convention to be held. The date set by the county committee for the county convention must be at least two weeks before the state convention. When a month in a nongeneral election year is chosen for the county convention, it must be held for the purpose of reorganization only. The date, time, and location that the county convention must be reconvened during the general election year to nominate candidates for public office to be filled in the general election must be set by county committee. Effect of Amendment 2021 Act No. 10, SECTION 1, deleted the sixth sentence, which required publication of notices for county conventions for reorganization and reconvened county conventions to nominate candidates.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-351 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 3 / Section 7-13-351
SECTION 7-13-351. Nominees by petition.
Status: in_force

Any nominee by petition for one or more of the national, state, circuit, multi-county district, countywide, or less than countywide offices, to be voted on in the general election must be placed upon the appropriate ballot by the officer, commissioners, or other authority charged by law with preparing the ballot if the petition is submitted to the officer, commissioner, or other authority, as the case may be, for general elections held under Section 7-13-10, not later than twelve o'clock noon on July fifteenth or, if July fifteenth falls on Saturday or Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday. At the time the petition is submitted, the authority charged with accepting it shall issue a receipt to the person submitting the petition which must reflect the date it was submitted and the total number of signatures contained in the petition. The county board of voter registration and elections of each respective county must check the petition at the request of the authority charged with printing the ballot for that office and must certify the results to the authority not later than twelve o'clock noon August fifteenth or, if August fifteenth falls on Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday. The petition of any candidate in any special election, including municipal special elections, must be submitted to the authority charged with printing the ballot for those offices not later than twelve o'clock noon on the sixtieth day prior to the date of the holding of the election, or if the sixtieth day falls on Sunday, by not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday. At the time a petition is submitted, the authority charged with accepting it must issue a receipt to the person submitting the petition which must reflect the date the petition was submitted and the total number of signatures contained in the petition. The candidate submitting the petition must certify, on a form designed and provided by the State Election Commission, that he meets, or will meet by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, the qualifications for the office sought. The board of voter registration and elections of each respective county must check the petition at the request of the authority charged with printing of the ballots for that office and must certify the results thereof to the authority not later than twelve o'clock noon on the forty-fifth day prior to the date of holding the election, or if the forty-fifth day falls on Sunday, by twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday. Once submitted for verification, a petition for nomination of a candidate for any office may not be returned to the petitioner, but must be retained by the authority to whom the petition was submitted and must become a part of the records of the election for which the petition was submitted. In the event of an emergency declared by the Governor and the conditions precipitating the emergency declaration prevent a candidate from filing the nominating petition within the time required by this section, the candidate has an additional five days to submit the nominating petition to the appropriate office. The authority to whom a petition is submitted must verify that qualifications of each potential petition candidate prior to certification of that candidate to be placed on the ballot. The written certification required by this section must contain a statement that each candidate certified meets, or will meet by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, the qualifications for the office for which the petition is submitted. Any candidate who does not, or will not by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, meet the qualifications for the office sought shall not have his name placed on the ballot.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-5-620 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 5 / Article 7 / Section 7-5-620
SECTION 7-5-620. Production of identification and proof of residence.
Status: in_force

The production of a valid South Carolina driver's license or other form of identification required by Section 7-13-710, if he is not licensed to drive, and proof of the residence of the elector within the limits of the municipality for thirty days preceding any election constitutes conditions prerequisite to the right of any elector to vote.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-17-530 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 17 / Article 5 / Section 7-17-530
SECTION 7-17-530. Hearing by county executive committee.
Status: in_force

The executive committee shall hear the protest or contest on Thursday following the deadline for filing the protest or contest. Testimony at the hearing of the protest shall be limited to the grounds stated in the written protest. The protestant and each other candidate in the protested race have the right to be present at the hearing set by the committee, to be represented by counsel, to examine and cross-examine witnesses, and to produce evidence relevant to the grounds of protest. The chairman of the committee must conduct the hearing as nearly as possible in accordance with the procedures and rules of evidence observed by the circuit courts of this State. The chairman has authority to administer oaths and subpoena witnesses. Upon the conclusion of the hearing on the protests, the committee shall determine all issues by majority vote and forthwith certify the results of the election. The State Election Commission shall pay for the costs of the court reporter and the transcript of the hearing. This transcript must be filed with the appropriate state executive committee no later than 10:00 a.m. Saturday next following the decision of the county executive committee. The committee must remain in session until a conclusion has been reached. All candidates in the protested or contested race and the chairman of the state executive committee must be immediately notified of the decision.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-1840 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 15 / Section 7-13-1840
SECTION 7-13-1840. Assistance may be given to voters.
Status: in_force

The provisions of this Title relating to the assistance to be given to voters shall also apply where voting machines are used.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-11-25 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 11 / Article 1 / Section 7-11-25
SECTION 7-11-25. Advisory primaries conducted by political party.
Status: in_force

Nothing in this chapter nor any other provision of law may be construed as either requiring or prohibiting a political party in this State from conducting advisory primaries according to the party's own rules and at the party's expense.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-15-400 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 15 / Article 5 / Section 7-15-400
SECTION 7-15-400. Issuing absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots.
Status: in_force

No absentee ballot application or absentee ballot may be provided by an election official to a qualified elector unless pursuant to a provision of this article or Article 9 of this chapter.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-7-360 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 7 / Article 1 / Section 7-7-360
SECTION 7-7-360. Designation of voting precincts in Laurens County.
Status: in_force

(A) In Laurens County there are the following precincts: Bailey Barksdale-Narnie Brewerton-Princeton Clinton Mill Clinton 1 Clinton 2 Clinton 3 Cooks Cross Hill Ekom Gray Court Greenpond Hickory Tavern Joanna Jones Laurens 1 Laurens 2 Laurens 3 Laurens 4 Laurens 5 Laurens 6 Long Branch Lydia Mill Madden Martins-Poplar Springs Mount Olive Mountville Ora-Lanford Owings Trinity Ridge Waterloo Wattsville Youngs (B) The precinct lines defining the precincts in subsection (A) are as shown on the official map designated as P-59-24 and on file with the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office and as shown on certified copies provided to the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Laurens County. (C) The polling places for the precincts listed in subsection (A) must be established by the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Laurens County with the approval of a majority of the Laurens County Legislative Delegation. Effect of Amendment 2020 Act No. 124, SECTION 1, in (A), substituted "Brewerton-Princeton" for "Brewerton", deleted "Princeton" following "Owings", and made a nonsubstantive change; and in (B), substituted "P-59-20" for "P-59-15". 2022 Act No. 152, SECTION 1, in (B), substituted "P-59-22" for "P-59-20". 2024 Act No. 170, SECTION 1, in (B), substituted "P-59-24" for "P-59-22".
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-50 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 1 / Section 7-13-50
SECTION 7-13-50. Second and other primaries.
Status: in_force

A second primary, when necessary, must be held two weeks after the first and is subject to the rules governing the first primary. At the second primary the two candidates among those who do not withdraw their candidacies and who received more votes in the first primary than any other remaining candidate alone shall run for any one office and if only one candidate remains, he is considered nominated, except that if there are two or more vacancies for any particular office, the number of candidates must be double the number of vacancies to be filled if so many candidates remain. In all second primaries the candidate receiving the largest number of votes cast for a given office must be declared the nominee for the office whether or not he has received a majority of the votes cast for that office, and when there are several candidates for several different offices, then the several candidates receiving the largest number of votes for the several positions are considered as nominated for the offices whether or not they received a majority of the votes cast. Other primaries, if necessary, must be ordered in a similar manner by the county board of voter registration and elections or the State Election Commission, as appropriate.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-150 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 1 / Section 7-13-150
SECTION 7-13-150. Penalty for failure to assist in maintaining order.
Status: in_force

Any person who, when summoned or called upon by peace officers shall fail or refuse to assist him in maintaining the peace and good order at the polls shall be fined in a sum not to exceed one hundred dollars or imprisoned not to exceed thirty days.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-5-130 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 5 / Article 3 / Section 7-5-130
SECTION 7-5-130. Time and place where books must be kept open for registration.
Status: in_force

The books of registration shall be open at each county courthouse, or at such other place as may be provided by the governing body of the county, during the same hours as other county offices are normally open, except as provided for in Section 7-5-150.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-17-580 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 17 / Article 5 / Section 7-17-580
SECTION 7-17-580. Appeal of protests and contests in municipal primaries.
Status: in_force

In every political primary election held by any political party, organization or association in any of the cities or towns of this State for the purpose of choosing candidates for offices therein or the election of delegates to conventions thereof, the decision of any protest or contest that may arise shall be subject to appeal to the Board of State Canvassers of Municipal Primaries of this State herein provided for, and upon such appeal it shall be the duty of the committee or canvassing officers from whose decision such appeal may be made to transmit to said Board any protest and all papers relating to the election, with a copy of any evidence taken before them within ten days from their first meeting to canvass the returns of managers of such election.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-17-230 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 17 / Article 3 / Section 7-17-230
SECTION 7-17-230. Power to adjourn; procedure when all certified statements have not been received.
Status: in_force

The Board shall have power to adjourn from day to day for a term not exceeding fifteen days. In case all the certified statements for the election of electors for President and Vice-President shall not have been received on the day set for the meeting of the Board, the Board may adjourn from day to day until the same shall have been received, not exceeding five days; and if at the expiration of four days certified copies of the statements of the county canvassers shall not have been received from any county, the Board shall proceed to canvass upon such of the statements as shall have been received.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-25-100 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 25 / Section 7-25-100
SECTION 7-25-100. Allowing ballot to be seen, removing ballot from voting place, improper assistance, and related offenses.
Status: in_force

(A) It is unlawful in any election for a voter to: (1) allow his ballot to be seen by a person, except as provided by law; (2) take, remove, or attempt to take or remove a ballot from the polling place before the close of the polls; (3) place a mark upon his ballot by which it may be identified; (4) take into the election booth a mechanical device to enable him to mark his ballot; or (5) remain longer than the specified time allowed by law in the booth or compartment after having been notified that his time has expired and requested by a manager to leave the compartment or booth. (B) It is unlawful for a person to: (1) interfere with a voter who is inside of the polling place or is marking his ballot; (2) unduly influence or attempt to influence unduly a voter in the preparation of his ballot; (3) endeavor to induce a voter to show how he marks or has marked his ballot; or (4) aid or attempt to aid a voter by means of any mechanical device in marking his ballot. (C) A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than one year.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-25-170 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 25 / Section 7-25-170
SECTION 7-25-170. Wilful neglect or corrupt conduct by officers other than managers.
Status: in_force

An officer, other than a manager at any election, on whom a duty is imposed by this title, except under Section 7-13-1170, Articles 1 and 3 of Chapter 17 and Chapters 19 and 23 of this title, who wilfully neglects such duty or engages in corrupt conduct in executing it is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars and imprisoned not more than five years. Effect of Amendment 2022 Act No. 150, SECTION 26.E, substituted "felony" for "misdemeanor" and "less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars and imprisoned not more than five years" for "more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than three years".
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-1790 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 15 / Section 7-13-1790
SECTION 7-13-1790. Lights and screens.
Status: in_force

Every voting machine shall be furnished with a lantern or other proper light, if necessary, to enable the voters while voting to read the ballots. All voting machines used in any election shall be provided with screen, hood or booth which shall conceal the voter and his action while voting.
S.C. Code Ann. § 7-13-771 — SC Code / Title 7 / Chapter 13 / Article 7 / Section 7-13-771
SECTION 7-13-771. Voting by handicapped and elderly electors who cannot enter the polling place or cannot stand in line to vote.
Status: in_force

(A) Any elector who, because of physical handicap or age, cannot enter the polling place in the precinct in which he is registered to vote, or is unable to stand in line to vote, may vote outside that polling place in the closest available parking area utilizing the vehicle in which he has been driven, or has driven to the polls. (B) When the managers are informed that a handicapped or elderly voter cannot enter the polling place or cannot stand in line to vote, the voter's identification required by Section 7-13-710 must be presented to the managers who must verify that the voter is eligible to vote. Upon verification of the voter's eligibility, two managers shall take the poll list and the voter's ballot to the voter in his vehicle outside the polling place. The managers shall notify any poll watchers present who, at their discretion, may accompany the managers as observers. Where the polling place uses machines for the purposes of voting, the poll managers must use the ballots provided under Sections 7-13-1470 or 7-13-1870 for those voters who cannot enter the polling place. (C) No person other than the voter is permitted in the vehicle in which the voter is casting his ballot unless the voter is entitled to assistance as provided in Section 7-13-770. (D) After the voter has voted his ballot, he must fold it so that the secrecy of the ballot is preserved and return it to the managers waiting outside the vehicle. The managers shall carry the ballot to the ballot box, taking care not to violate the secrecy of the ballot, and after detaching the stub, deposit the ballot in the ballot box.