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Contact and Office Information
Voter Registration
Voting
FAQ
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Candidates and Campaigns
Poll Managers
Media Resources
iVotronic Voting System Instructions:
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Upcoming Elections
Click here to view precinct names, polling locations and sample ballots for each election.
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Mission Statement
To conduct orderly, fair, and legal elections for the citizens of Charleston County.
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About Us
The Board of Elections and Voter Registration is responsible for conducting all county, state, and federal elections that are held in Charleston County. The Board also serves as a resource for election support for Municipal Election Commissions.
The nine-member Board of Elections and Voter Registration is appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the Charleston County Legislative Delegation. An Executive Director is appointed by the Board to oversee the day-to-day operations of the Board of Elections and Voter Registration Office. Board Members The Board meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Lonnie Hamilton, III Public Service Building. Meeting Schedule
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Duties and Responsibilities
- Conduct local, state, and federal elections:
- Recruit and train poll managers
- Prepare Election Definition and Voting System for voting
- Election Results Tabulation
- Educate citizens on the use of voting system
- Serve as Absentee Precinct for all elections
- Maintain database of all registered voters in Charleston County
- Coordinate with more than 20 outside Voter Registration Sites
- Petition Verification
- Public Relations:
- Keep citizens of Charleston County up to date on all Election News
- Speak to civic groups, students, etc. about election procedures
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Office Information
Board of Elections and Voter Registration
Street Address:
4367 Headquarters Road
North Charleston, SC 29405
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 71419
North Charleston, SC 29415
(843) 744-VOTE (8683)
(843) 974-6419 (Fax)
Email: bevr@charlestoncounty.org
ABSENTEE VOTER LOCATION:
Board of Election and Voter Registration Headquarters
4367 Headquarters Road
North Charleston, SC 29405
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Service Centers:
East Cooper Service Center
1189 Iron Bridge Road
Room 400
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
North Area Service Center
Lonnie Hamilton, III Public Services Building
4045 Bridge View Drive
North Charleston, SC 29405
St. Paul's Service Center
5962 Highway 165, Suite 300
Ravenel, SC 29470
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Office Hours
Monday-Friday
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
7 a.m.-7 p.m. (all election days)
Additional Hours:
Monday, Oct 6, 2008 - Thursday, Oct 30 - 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
Saturday, November 1st - 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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How can I register to vote in Charleston County?
You may register in person by visiting one of our Voter Registration Sites.
You may also register to vote by mail. Simply contact the Board of Elections and Voter Registration for a copy of the application, or download the application from http://www.scvotes.org/Charleston. The printed application must be signed and mailed to the Charleston County Board of Elections and Voter Registration. Faxed or emailed copies are not accepted.
The application lists all eligibility requirements for voter registration (citizenship, etc).
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Do I have to choose a political party when I register to vote?
No, South Carolina voters are not registered by party.
However, voters must choose which political party’s primary they want to participate in for each Primary Election. If you participate in one party’s primary, you cannot participate in the other party’s Primary Runoff. If you do not vote in the Primary Election, you may vote in either party’s Primary Runoff. Regardless of Primary Election participation, you will be able to vote for any desired candidates in the General Election.
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Is there a deadline for registration?
Voters must be registered 30 days prior to any election you wish to vote in. Registration by mail applications must be postmarked no later than 30 days before the election.
Be sure to submit your registration application at least 30 days before the election in which you wish to vote.
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I will be 18 years old by Election Day, but am currently only 17 years of age. When can I submit my voter registration application?
You may register 120 days prior to the Primary or General Election, even though you are only 17 years old, as long as you will be 18 on General Election Day. You may also vote in the Primary as a 17 year old, as long as you will be 18 years old by the related General Election.
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I completed a voter registration form, but have not received a voter registration card. What should I do?
You may search HERE to see whether you are a registered voter. You should contact the Board of Elections and Voter Registration to ensure that your application was received and processed.
Be sure to confirm your registration within 30 days of any election in which you wish to vote.
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I have moved into Charleston County from another SC County. What should I do?
You must register to vote in Charleston County, following the instructions above. You will receive a new registration card.
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I am moving from one SC County to another SC County within 30 days of a Primary or General Election. Will I be able to vote?
Yes! On the day of the election, you may do one of the following:
If you were registered in your former county of residence, you may go to your former county and vote a limited ballot (National/Statewide/Countywide offices only) at the precinct where you were registered.
Or, you may go to the Voter Registration Office in your new county of residence, register to vote, and cast a complete ballot at the Voter Registration Office.
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My registration card is inaccurate, because I have moved within the county, changed my name, or because of an error. How can I update this information?
All corrections must be submitted in writing, as your signature is required. You may simply fax or mail your corrections to the Board of Elections and Voter Registration, including your voter registration number or social security number. If you have moved outside of Charleston County, you must submit a voter registration application to your new county of residence.
You may also use the registration application to update registration by marking “Change in Registration Information.” The application may be downloaded from http://www.scvotes.org/Charleston.
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I have moved within the county, and have not updated my address. Will I be able to vote in an upcoming election?
Please submit your address change as soon as possible! If you change your address at least two weeks before the election date, you will be issued a new registration card and will be able to vote in your new precinct.
During the two weeks before the election, including Election Day, you may go to the Board of Elections and Voter Registration to change your address and vote for all offices.
On Election Day, you may go to the Board of Elections and Voter Registration to change your address and vote for all offices. OR you may go to your OLD voting precinct indicated by your registration card, change address, and vote only for national, state-wide, and county-wide offices on a Fail-safe Provisional ballot.
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How can I find out where I am supposed to vote, or what districts I am registered in?
This information is printed on your voter registration card. It is also available HERE.
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Which Elected Officials am I represented by?
County Officials can be found at: http://www.charlestoncounty.org/elected/index.htm.
State Representatives can be found at: http://www.scstatehouse.org/cgi-bin/zipcodesearch.exe.
Other State Officials can be found at: http://www.sc.gov/Portal/Category/GOVERNMENT.
Please contact your municipality for local information.
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What identification is required on Election Day?
According to South Carolina Law, each voter must present one of the following:
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Voter Registration Card (signed)
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South Carolina Driver’s License (current name and residential address)
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South Carolina Identification Card issued by the DMV (current name and address)
Additional identification may be required if proof of residence was not provided at time of registration. Voters who register by mail, without providing proof of residence, are given instructions to bring proof of residence on Election Day, such as a current & valid photo ID, current utility bill, current bank statement, current government check, or other current government document (other than your registration card.)
Other forms of identification are NOT accepted on Election Day including passports, military id, police id, birth certificates, or Social Security cards.
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I cannot go to the polls on Election Day. How will I be able to vote?
You may vote in person, prior to Election Day, by visiting the Board of Elections and Voter Registration. The deadline for in-person absentee voting is 5:00 pm the day before the election.
You may also vote absentee by mail. You, or an immediate family member, must request an application for absentee voting. You may request an application by mail using the request form, by calling the Board of Elections and Voter Registration at 744-8683, or by sending an e-mail to Absentee@charlestoncounty.org.
When requesting an application, please be prepared to provide:
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Your relationship to the applicant (self or family member)
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Applicant’s full name
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Applicant’s voter registration number, social security number, and/or birth date
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Mailing address where the application should be mailed
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Phone number
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The election(s) in which the applicant would like to vote absentee. If the applicant is interested in voting absentee in a Primary Election, please specify the Political Party.
The application will be mailed upon request. The complete, signed application must be submitted to the Board of Elections and Voter Registration at least 4 days before the election. For example, if the election is on Tuesday, the application must be received before 5:00 pm on Friday. However, it is highly recommended that absentee voters submit their application early, in order to allow ample time for mail delivery and return.
Completed absentee ballots must be returned to the Board of Elections and Voter Registration on or before Election Day. The applicant may return the absentee ballot by mail or in person. The applicant may also authorize another individual to return the absentee ballot, by carefully following all instructions provided with the ballot.
ABSENTEE VOTER LOCATION:
Board of Election and Voter Registration Headquarters
4367 Headquarters Road
North Charleston, SC 29405
The following people are eligible to vote absentee:
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Students, their spouses and dependents residing with them outside their county of residence
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Armed Forces, Merchant Marines, their spouses, and dependents residing with them
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Persons serving with the American Red Cross or with the United Service Organizations who are attached to and serving with the Armed Forces
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Employment: Those persons who are required by their employment obligations to be absent from their county of residence or at their place of employment in their county of residence on election day during the hours the polls are open and who will be unable to vote in person
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Persons with physical disabilities
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Governmental employees, their spouses, and dependents residing with them who are out of their county of residence on election day during the hours the polls are open
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Persons with a death in the family, or persons attending a funeral within a three day period before the election
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Persons on vacation (who by virtue of vacation plans will be absent from their county of residence and unable to vote in person)
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Poll managers, certified poll watchers, County Registration Board members and staff, and County Election Commission members and staff working on election day
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Overseas citizens
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Persons attending to a sick or physically disabled person
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Persons serving as jurors in state or federal court on election day
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Persons admitted to hospital as an emergency patient on the day of an election or within a four-day period before an election
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Persons sixty-five-years old or older
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Persons confined to a jail or pre-trial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial
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What if I wish to vote for someone not listed on the ballot?
Voters may write-in candidates of their choice in General and Municipal Elections. However, voters may not write-in candidates for the office of President or Vice president.
Write-in candidates are not allowed in Primary Elections.
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In a recent election, I voted an absentee or provisional ballot (Challenged/Fail-safe). How do I know if my ballot counted?
You may look up the status of your ballot HERE.
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When is the list of absentee voters available?
The list is available at 9 am the day before each election.
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I have been convicted of a felony. When will I be able to vote again?
You may register to vote once you have served your entire sentence, including probation time. Documentation of completion must be provided in order to register.
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Where can I find maps of election districts?
For Municipal or School District Maps, please contact the relevant agency.
For example, the City of Charleston produces Charleston City Council Maps, and the City of North Charleston produces North Charleston City Council Maps.
Federal and State Election District Maps can be obtained from the SC Office of Research and Statistics. Electronic maps are available online. Printed or customized maps may be ordered for a fee.
Charleston County Council Maps are available online from Charleston County. Additional geographic information is available online through the GIS Department.
Maps of Charleston County Voting Precincts can be produced by the Charleston County Planning Department.
The Planning Department is also able to generate some types of customized maps, although fees will apply.
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Where can I find more information about elections?
SCVotes.org – The website of the SC State Election Commission provides comprehensive information about registering and voting in South Carolina, as well as information about past election results and voter participation statistics.
US Federal Voting Assistance Program - Provides Voter Registration and Absentee Voting information to Military and Overseas Citizens (UOCAVA) voters.
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