If you haven’t registered to vote in SC, deadline is looming for upcoming primary
South Carolina voters who hope to cast a ballot in the statewide June 9 primary but haven’t registered are racing against the clock.
By Sunday, South Carolinians must be registered to vote to have a say in next month’s election that’ll feature local, State House and congressional races. Voters can register in person, online or through a mail-in registration application.
To vote, residents must be 18 years old on or before Nov. 3.
Registering online at scVOTES.org requires a driver’s license or an identification card provided by the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. Applications must be received by the State Election Commission by 11:59 p.m. Sunday.
South Carolinians also can register in person at their local county voter registration office by 5 p.m. Friday, or mail in their application — available online or at their county voter registration office — which must be postmarked by Monday.
Applications also can be accepted over fax or email by 11:59 p.m. Sunday.
Though Gov. Henry McMaster last month postponed local elections in May, the governor has said the state has in place programs, such as absentee voting, to ensure South Carolina voters are safe when they head to their precinct in June.
As of Monday, officials reported the state has documented more than 6,700 cases and at least 283 deaths resulting from the coronavirus.
The spread of the virus, which is easy to catch, has raised concerns, including whether there will be enough poll workers, many of whom are older and, therefore, considered more vulnerable to the coronavirus and COVID-19, the sometimes severe disease the virus causes.
The State Election Commission published guidelines last month that say local volunteers will get extra training to keep themselves and voters safe, and will receive protective equipment including hand sanitizer, gloves and masks.
