Here’s how to vote in SC and use the machines at the polls on Election Day

Election Day is finally here.

The polls in South Carolina will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., during which time, registered voters can cast their ballots for the U.S. president and a host of other state and local offices.

But how familiar are you with voting in the state? For many, this will be their first time voting. While for others, it has been many years since they decided to enter a polling place.

In any case, here’s a last-minute refresher course on how to navigate South Carolina’s modern voting system and cast a ballot, according to the South Carolina Election Commission.

How to vote in SC

1. When you reach your assigned polling place and show proper photo identification, a poll worker will hand you a blank ballot card and point you to an open voting machine. Once there, insert your ballot card into the machine as instructed, with the corner cut at the top right.
   
   
2. Once the ballot card is inserted, you can start making your candidate selections on the machine’s touch screen interface. Selections will be checked and highlighted. To cast a write-in vote, touch the ‘write-in’ button. There is also a ‘zoom’ icon that will make the ballot larger if you have trouble reading it. After selecting the candidates you want on the screen, touch ‘next’ to move to the next slate of candidates for another office.
   
   
3. Once you’ve finished the last page, touch ‘next’ to review your selections. The machine will notify you on the screen if you have not voted for a particular position or selected fewer candidates than allowed. To change a selection, simply touch that selection to return to that contest. If you’re satisfied, press the ‘print card’ button at the bottom of the screen. The machine will then return your ballot card.
   
   
4. Make sure to review your selections on the printed ballot card. If you need to make any changes, notify a poll manager and ask for a replacement ballot card.
   
   
5. If everything on your ballot card looks acceptable, take it to the scanner machine and insert it face down on the green arrow. The scanner machine will count your vote and drop it into a locked ballot box.
   
   

This story was originally published November 5, 2024 at 6:00 AM.

Patrick McCreless

The State

803-771-8353

Patrick McCreless is the Southeast service journalism editor for McClatchy, who leads and edits a team of six reporters in South Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi. The team writes about trending news of the day and topics that help readers in their daily lives and better informs them about their communities. He attended Jacksonville State University in Alabama and grew up in Tuscaloosa, AL.