Voting, Voter Registration & Education

Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections applications for new registrations must be received by the Board of Elections and Voter Registration Office or postmarked no later than 30 days prior to election.

17 year olds who will be 18 years of age as of the date of the next General Election may register to vote prior to 18th birthday and may also participate in primary elections prior to 18th birthday.

You will receive a voter registration certificate confirming that your voter registration application has been approved and processed. Click here to verify your registration. Please contact the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections Office by calling (843) 744-8683 or by sending an email to VoterRegistration@CharlestonCounty.org if you do not receive this certificate.

Voting Info

Register to Vote
Look-up Registration Info
Update My Registration Info
Where Do I Vote?
What Do I Need to Bring?
How to Cast Your Ballot
Municipalities

Voter Registration Applications or Change of Address Requests

Please send your requests to:

Mail

PO Box 71419, N. Charleston, SC 29405

Phone: (843) 974-6419

Email: VoterRegistration@CharlestonCounty.org

(must provide signature)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Answer: To be eligible to register to vote in South Carolina, you must:

  • Be a citizen of the United States
  • Be at least eighteen years old by the next election
  • Be a resident of the County in which you are registering
  • Not be under a court order declaring you mentally incompetent
  • Not be confined in any public prison resulting from a conviction of a crime
  • Have never been convicted of a felony or offense against election laws
  • If previously convicted, have served your entire sentence, including probation and parole time, or have received a pardon for the conviction

Answer: You must be registered at least 30 days prior to an election to vote in that election.

Registration by mail applications must be postmarked at least 30 days prior to the election to be eligible. If the deadline falls on a Sunday or U.S. Postal Service holiday, the postmark deadline is extended to the next day that is not a Sunday or holiday.

Citizens who are not yet 18-years-old but will turn 18 before the next ensuing General Election, and who otherwise qualify to vote, have the right to register beginning 120 days prior to the closing of the books of a preceding primary (see S.C. Code of Laws 7-5-180).

For voter registration deadlines, see our Election Schedule.

Answer: Registering online requires a S.C. Driver's License or DMV ID. Click here to register to vote online.

Answer: In South Carolina, we do not register by party.

During primary elections, voters can choose to vote in any party's primary. This does NOT constitute registering with that party.

Answer: To review your voter registration information, visit the State Election Commission's webpage.

You can also give us a call at (843) 744-8683, Monday through Friday between 8:30AM and 5PM.

Answer: To change your address online, you will need to update your information with the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles.

Afterward, you can submit an online voter registration form to update your address.

Answer: Voters in South Carolina have three options to cast their ballot:

Answer: Yes.

Any eligible South Carolina voter can now vote early. For information on early voting locations, dates, and hours, visit Early Voting.

Answer: Yes.

Due to a recent change in South Carolina state law, early voting is available for all elections. Dates and times vary based on the type of election:

Statewide General Elections
Monday – Saturday two weeks prior to the week of the election 8:30AM – 6:00PM
Closed Sundays and state holidays
All Other Elections/Primaries
Monday – Friday two weeks prior to the week of the election 8:30AM – 5:00PM
Closed Saturdays, Sundays, and state holidays
Runoffs
Wednesday – Friday the week prior to the election 8:30AM – 5:00PM

Answer: Yes, if you qualify to vote absentee, you can absentee vote by mail.

  1. Get your application to request an absentee ballot in person, by phone, or by mail.
    • By Phone: Call our office at (843) 744-8683) Monday through Friday, 8:30AM to 5PM
    • In Person: Visit our office at 4340 Corporate Road, North Charleston, SC 29405, Monday through Friday, 8:30AM to 5PM.
    • By Mail: Send us a letter that includes your name, date of birth, last four of your Social Security number, and the elections for which you are requesting an absentee ballot application.
  1. Complete, sign and return the application to us as soon as possible by mail or in person.
    • By Mail: You can return your application by mail through the United States Postal Service. Drop your application off at your closest USPS Post Office or USPS mailbox—no postage required! To find your closest USPS location, you can use the USPS Locator Tool.
    • In Person: You can also return your application in person by dropping it off at our office or an Early Voting Center. A valid, unexpired photo ID is required.

The Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections is open Monday through Friday from 8:30AM to 5:00PM. We are located at 4340 Corporate Road, North Charleston, SC 29405.

Return your application as soon as possible to provide time for receiving and returning your ballot by mail. Applications must be received by 5PM 11 days before the election. Applying late puts your ballot at risk of not being returned by the deadline.

  1. Receive your absentee ballot in the mail. Voters who have applied early will be mailed their absentee ballot approximately 30 days before the election.
  2. Vote and place the ballot in the "ballot here-in" envelope and place the "ballot here-in" envelope in the return envelope. Be sure to sign the voter's oath, and have a witness sign and print their name and address. Anyone who is at least eighteen years of age can witness your signature. A notary is not necessary.
  3. Return your absentee ballot to us by mail or in person.
    • By Mail: You can return your ballot by mail through the United States Postal Service. Drop your ballot off at your closest USPS Post Office or USPS mailbox—no postage required! To find your closest USPS location, you can use the USPS Locator Tool.
    • In Person: You can also return your ballot in person by dropping it off at our office or an Early Voting Center. A valid, unexpired photo ID is required if you choose to drop it off at an Early Voting Center.

The Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections is open Monday through Friday from 8:30AM to 5:00PM. We are located at 4340 Corporate Road, North Charleston, SC 29405.

Ballots must be received by our office by 7:00PM on Election Day. Ballots will not be accepted at polling locations on Election Day. If you choose to return your ballot in person, you must return it to our office or an Early Voting Center.

Ballots returned by mail should be mailed no later than one week prior to election day to help ensure timely delivery.

Answer: You must vote at your polling location.

You can find your polling location through the State Election Commission's webpage.

Answer: You can find your polling location through the State Election Commission's webpage.

Answer: Polls are open between 7AM and 7PM on Election Day.

If you are in line at 7PM, you have the right to vote.

Answer: No, if you have another form of valid, unexpired photo ID, you do not need your voter registration card to vote.

However, feel free to bring it with you. It can help us locate your voter profile and has information on your voting districts.

Answer: You can get a free photo ID at our office located at 4340 Corporate Road, North Charleston, SC 29405. We are open between 8:30AM and 5:00PM Monday through Friday.

If you do not have a photo ID and wish to vote, you will be required to vote a provisional ballot after signing an affidavit that you had a reasonable impediment to obtaining a photo ID. A reasonable impediment is something that prevented you from getting a photo ID.

Examples include:

  • Lack of transportation
  • Disability or illness
  • Lack of documents necessary to obtain a photo ID

Your provisional ballot will count unless evidence is presented to the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections that you are lying about your identity or your reasonable impediment.

Answer: A valid, unexpired photo ID that falls under one of the falling categories:

  • SC Driver's License
  • SC Department of Motor Vehicles ID Card
  • SC Voter Registration Card with Photo
  • Federal Military ID
  • US Passport

Answer: If you do not have your photo ID and wish to vote, you will be required to vote a provisional ballot.

Your ballot will only be counted if you present your photo ID at the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections prior to the certification of the election.

For the 2025 General Election, the certification will take place on Friday, November 11, at 10AM.

Answer: No.

Cameras are prohibited in the voting booth.

Answer: You can get a sample ballot through the State Election Commission's webpage.

Answer: Yes.

You can vote in all the races or in only one; either way, your vote will be counted.

Answer: No.

Campaigning is not allowed within 500 feet of a polling location. Anyone displaying political clothing or accessories will be asked to cover or remove their items. If they cannot or will not remove their political clothing or accessories, they will be asked to leave the polling location.

Answer:

  • If the polls close while you're still in line, stay in line - you have the right to vote.
  • If you make a mistake on your ballot prior to scanning it, you can ask for a new ballot.
  • Voters are entitled to a provisional ballot, even if they aren't in the poll book.
  • If you run into any problems or have questions on Election Day, call the Election Protection Hotline:
    • English: 1-866-OUR-VOTE / 1-866-687-8683
    • Spanish: 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA / 1-888-839-8682
    • Arabic: 1-844-YALLA-US / 1-844-925-5287
    • For Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Urdu, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, or Vietnamese: 1-888-274-8683