SC Mail in Ballots 2024: Everything You Need to Know

In South Carolina, mail-in ballots for the 2024 election will be a convenient option for voters who want to cast their ballots from the comfort of their own homes.

To be eligible to vote by mail, you must be a registered voter in South Carolina.

Mail-in ballots will be sent to registered voters who request them, and the deadline to request a ballot will be 30 days before the election.

You can request a mail-in ballot by contacting your local election office or by filling out an application on the South Carolina Election Commission's website.

If this caught your attention, see: Can I Mail My Ballot at the Post Office

To vote by absentee ballot in South Carolina, you must meet one of the following requirements. You can vote by absentee ballot if you have employment obligations that prevent you from voting during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on Election Day.

You can also vote by absentee ballot if you're attending to a sick or physically disabled person, or if you're confined to a jail or pretrial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial. These situations prevent you from voting during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on Election Day.

If you're going to be absent from your county of residence during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on Election Day, you can also vote by absentee ballot. This includes being absent for work, travel, or other reasons.

Other eligible groups include those with physical disabilities, those 65 years of age or older, and members of the Armed Forces or the Merchant Marines of the United States, or their spouses or dependents.

Here are the specific reasons you can vote by absentee ballot in South Carolina:

To return your South Carolina absentee ballot, you can use the Absentee Ballot Tool to prepare your application if your state allows. Sign and date the form, and return it to your Local Election Office as soon as possible.

You can submit your completed application by mailing it or hand-delivering it to your Local Election Office. If your Local Election Official allows it, you can also fax or email the application.

Here are the ballot return options in South Carolina:

Double-check the deadlines to ensure your voted ballot is counted on time. If you have any questions, contact your Local Election Office for assistance.

In many states, the deadline to submit a mail ballot is the day before the election, while in others, it's on election day itself.

If you're mailing your ballot, make sure to allow plenty of time for it to be received by the deadline.

In California, for example, mail ballots must be postmarked by election day to be counted.

You can also drop off your mail ballot at a designated location, which can be a ballot drop box or an election office.

In some states, like Arizona, you can even drop off your mail ballot at a polling place on election day.

Make sure to check with your local election office to confirm their specific drop-off locations and hours.

In Oregon, mail ballots must be received by the county elections office by 8 PM on election day to be counted.

Check this out: Dropping off Mail at Post Office

You can mail your ballot with no postage required. Find your closest USPS Post Office or USPS Mailbox to drop it off.

USPS offers a locator tool to help you find your nearest post office or mailbox.

Standard USPS delivery times for mail-in ballots within Charleston County are 2-5 business days, so be sure to plan ahead to complete the absentee ballot process.

To ensure your vote is counted, absentee ballots are mailed approximately 30 days prior to each election, and the last day ballots are mailed is 11 days prior to the election.

All voted ballots must be received by the Board of Elections and Voter Registration Office no later than 7 pm on election day to be counted.

Here's a quick rundown of key deadlines to keep in mind:

To get in touch with your local election officials, you can start by checking their contact information online. You can find this information on your state or local election website.

Election officials are often responsible for overseeing the voting process and can provide information on voting requirements, deadlines, and locations.

You can also call or email your local election office to ask questions or request assistance with voting. Make sure to have your voter registration information handy when you call or email.

Some states also have a hotline or chat service for voters with questions or concerns. In some cases, you can even text your local election office to ask a question.

It's a good idea to save the contact information for your local election office in your phone or calendar so you can easily reach out if you have questions or need help.

To check your voter registration status, you can visit your state's election website or use a voter registration lookup tool. These resources can provide you with information on your registration status and even allow you to update your information if needed.

In most states, voter registration is open year-round, but some states have specific deadlines to register before an election. Be sure to check your state's deadline to ensure you're registered in time.

You can also contact your local election office to ask about your voter registration status. They can provide you with more information and help you resolve any issues with your registration.

In some states, you can even register to vote online, making the process even more convenient.

Additional reading: Us Post Office Hold Mail Form Online

Local laws limit when election officials can process mail-in ballots. This means they must be processed before they can be counted.

In most states, officials can't feed the ballot into the tabulator until the polls close on Election Day. This can be a challenge, especially when there's a large volume of ballots to process.

Consider reading: What Time Does the Post Office Start Delivering Mail

Forty-three states and the Virgin Islands allow election officials to begin processing these early ballots before Election Day. In Connecticut and Ohio, election officials can choose to start processing early ballots before at their discretion.

In seven states — Alabama, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, as well as Washington, D.C. — mailed-in ballots can be processed on Election Day and before the polls close.

This limited time available for processing ballots on Election Day can exacerbate delays, especially with a large volume of mail ballots.

In the 2024 election, mail-in ballots will play a significant role in shaping the outcome.

Forty-three states and the Virgin Islands allow election officials to begin processing these early ballots before Election Day.

This means that in many places, election officials will be working hard to get mail-in ballots ready for counting before the polls even open.

In fact, in 2020, Kathleen Hale, the director of Auburn University's Election Administration Initiative, likened the process to receiving a large number of gifts during the holiday season.

The technical steps involved in processing mail-in ballots may not be complicated, but the sheer volume of ballots can be overwhelming.

Here are the 12 states that allow processing and counting to start before Election Day:

These states are taking a proactive approach to handling mail-in ballots, which can help reduce delays on Election Day.