Don’t want to wait? Here’s a look at how to vote early in the GOP, Democratic presidential races
By Abraham Kenmore
COLUMBIA – This year marks the first time South Carolinians can vote their preference for the presidential contest during a true, no-excuse-needed early voting period.
Early voting is under way for Democrats’ Feb. 3 presidential primary. The voting period started Monday and runs through Friday, Feb. 2, with the exception of Jan. 28.
For Republicans’ Feb. 24 primary, early voting starts Feb. 12 and ends Feb. 22. There are three days excluded before that one: Sunday, Feb. 18; Monday, Feb. 19 (Presidents’ Day), and Feb. 23.
By law, Sundays and holidays must be excluded from the early voting window.
Additionally, there’s no voting on the Friday before the GOP contest because the state Republican Party agreed with election officials’ request to provide a one-day breather so they can prepare before precincts opened for regular voting, according to the state Election Commission.
Otherwise, all early voting locations are open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Under the 2022 law that created a uniform early voting system statewide, counties can open up to seven locations to vote early.
For next month’s primaries, most of South Carolina’s 46 counties are opening just one location, generally at their main offices. The maximum number in any county is four.
In counties that offer a choice, voters can go to whatever location is most convenient for them, whether it’s closest to work, school or shopping. For early voting, all locations are open to all registered voters within that county.
Four counties offer four places to vote early: Beaufort, Georgetown, Greenville and York. Five counties offer three: Berkeley, Charleston Hampton, Horry, and Spartanburg. And 12 counties offer two.
Voters can find their early voting locations on the state Election Commission’s website at scvotes.org. Voters will need to bring their photo ID to cast a ballot, just as they would on Election Day.
Three candidates will appear on the Democratic primary ballot: President Joe Biden and two long-shot candidates, U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota and self-help author Marianne Williamson. It’s the nation’s first Democratic primary this year with Biden on the ballot.
On the Republican side, seven candidates are listed on the ballot, but three have dropped out since it was finalized. The only major contenders left in the race are former President Donald Trump and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. Also still in the race are Pastor Ryan Binkley of Texas and veteran Air Force combat pilot David Stuckenberg of Florida.
An early voting first
South Carolina law had long allowed de facto early voting, both in person and by mail.
However, anyone voting in the month ahead of an election had to check off a reason for why they couldn’t vote at their precinct on Election Day. The various excuses to pick from included needing to work, being on vacation, having a disability or being 65 or older. In 2020, the Legislature temporarily suspended those rules, with legislators saying voters shouldn’t have to lie to vote early.
How early voting was handled in 2020 varied widely from county to county.
The law creating a two-week window for true, no-excuse-needed early voting took effect just in time for the June 2022 primaries. That November, which featured Gov. Henry McMaster versus Democrat Joe Cunningham at the top of the ballot, was the first general election under the law.
“It all went very smoothly, we expect it to go smoothly this time as well,” Howard Knapp, director of the State Election Commission, told a House budget-writing panel last week.
Abraham Kenmore is a reporter covering elections, health care and more. He joins the S.C. Daily Gazette from The Augusta Chronicle, where he reported on Georgia legislators, military and housing issues.
Vote early in Democratic Presidential Primary
The State Election Commission is encouraging voters to seize the opportunity to vote early in the upcoming Democratic Presidential Primary.You don’t have to wait until Election Day, February 3,to vote.
Vote early
- The early voting period started on Monday, Jan. 22 and ends Friday, Feb. 2.Voting is closed Sunday, Jan. 28.
- Early voting centers are open 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the early voting period.
- Voters will be asked to present Photo ID when checking in to vote.
Where to vote
There are four places to vote in Beaufort County:
- Beaufort (Main office), 15 John Galt Road, Beaufort, S.C. 29906
- Bluffton Recreation Center Gymnasium, 61A Ulmer Road, Bluffton, S.C. 29910
- Hilton Head Government Complex,539 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island, S.C. 29928
- St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Rd., St. Helena Island, S.C. 29920
