Last Content Update:

Voting in South Carolina

Early Voting Now in Effect in South Carolina

COLUMBIA, SC (May 13, 2022) – Governor McMaster, on Friday, May 13, 2022, signed into law legislation passed by the General Assembly that establishes early voting in South Carolina. Any voter can visit an early-voting location in their county and vote like they would at their polling place on Election Day. Absentee By-Mail balloting is available but with significant changes to the application and balloting processes.

South Carolina State Election Commission Press Release on Early Voting
SCStatehouse.gov - S 0108 {Rat #165} General Bill Amendment

In-person absentee voting is no longer allowed by SC State Law and has been replaced
with a two-week early voting period. 

Voters planning on voting prior to Election Day must vote during the Early Voting period or apply for Absentee By-Mail ballot.

SC Voters now have three methods of voting:

  • Absentee ( BY- MAIL ONLY )
  • Early Voting
  • Election Day


York County Government Center
Board of Voter Registration and Election Office of York County
6 South Congress Street, Suite 1201
York SC 29745
803.684.1242

Email Voter Registration and Elections

Election Day Voting

Polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. Anyone in line at 7:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote. On Election Day, Voters must cast their ballot at their registered polling location or precinct. Check your voter registration information at scvotes.gov. Absentee By Mail Ballots cannot be returned or surrendered at the polls on election day.

complete_voting_process_ExV_DS200_v3

Curbside Voting

Any voter, who because of physical handicap or age (65 or older), cannot enter the polling place in which he is registered to vote, or is unable to stand in line to vote, may vote outside that polling place in the vehicle in which he has driven or has been driven to the polls. Outside every precinct is a designated Curbside Voting parking space that the voter will need to park in and a Poll Manager will bring the voting machine to the vehicle in order for the voter to cast his/her ballot.

Curbside Voting is an option on Election Day that is available to any voter that may need this service; however, voting an Absentee Ballot by Mail can eliminate driving to the polls on election day.

Moved Within the County or Name Changes

If you move within York County or have a name change you need to correct your voter registration information. If you have your paper Voter Registration Card, please complete the back of the card with the correct information and return to our office. If you do not have your card, you can mail, email or fax the following information to the Registration and Elections Office:

  • Birthday
  • First and Last Name
  • New Address
  • Old Address
  • Signature (if using mail)
  • Telephone Number
  • Voter Registration Number

A new voter registration card will be mailed to you after corrections are made. The name of your precinct will appear on the white stub attached to your card and also includes the election districts you are eligible to vote in.

Register to Vote

Straight Party Voting

Voting straight party will record a vote for all candidates within the same political party of your choice. A straight party vote does not include school board, nonpartisan, petition candidates, or questions.

Nonpartisan Offices & Candidates

School Board Trustees, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Watershed Conservation Districts, Mayors, and City/Town Councils are Nonpartisan Offices. Candidates for these offices will be listed on the ballot after the partisan offices in alphabetical order by last name.

Voting For Individual Candidates

Vote for the candidates you choose regardless of party affiliation.

Combination of Straight Party & Individual Candidate Voting

Vote straight party but you may also vote for one or more candidates that are not affiliated with your straight party vote. A vote will be recorded for each candidate listed under the party you choose except where you indicated another preference.

Voting Before Election Day in South Carolina

Absentee Voting begins 30 days prior before all elections. 


Absentee voting is allowed if you are unable to go to the polls for a number of reasons. Qualifications can be found at SCVotes.org.

Absentee In-Person Voting Location

York County Government Center
Board of Voter Registration and Elections of York County
6 South Congress St, Level 1, Suite 1201
York SC 29745

Contact Information:
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
Phone: (803) 684-1242 or (803) 909-7194
Fax:(803) 684-7801
Email: [email protected]

Absentee By-Mail Voting

  1. Print your application from SCVotes.gov
  2. Request by Email or Call Us: 803.684.1242
Voting Absentee By Mail is a multi-part & time sensitive process:
  1. Voter must request, complete, & return an application for an absentee ballot.
  2. This office receives the completed application then mails the ballot to the voter.
  3. Voters must return the completed ballot packet by 7pm on election day.

DON'T WAIT! - USPS mailing times have changed and may take longer.

Requesting an Absentee Application

When requesting an Absentee Ballot Application, please have the following information ready:

  • Voter’s Name
  • Voter Registration Certificate Number or Date of Birth
  • Home address and telephone number
  • Absentee address of voter, if applicable

Requests for an Absentee Application can be submitted by several methods:

  1. Online Absentee Application Request from SCVotes.gov
    VOTERS MUST PRINT, SIGN, & RETURN THE APPLICATION WHEN USING THE ONLINE REQUEST
    ---> If you were unable to print your application, contact our office immediately.

  2. Regular Mail, Email, Phone, Fax, or In-Person

Absentee Voting Methods

Voters may vote Absentee by two methods: By Mail or In-Person

Voting By Mail

The Absentee Voting by Mail is a time-sensitive process, please make all efforts to return applications and/or ballots back to our office as soon as possible.

To vote absentee by mail, a voter will need to complete a 4-step mailing process:

  1. The voter, or an immediate family member, requests an application be mailed to the voter. The requester must also be a registered voter in York County and provide their voter registration number, address and relationship to voter.
  2. The voter is mailed an application to complete, sign and returned.
  3. The ballot is mailed only after the Registration and Elections Office has received the completed application.
  4. The voter mails the ballot back to the Registration and Elections Office so it is received no later than 7 p.m. on the day of the election.
Voting In Person

In-Person Absentee Voting is available until 5pm on the day before the Election.

  1. Visit the Registration and Elections Office.
  2. Complete an Absentee Ballot Application
  3. Mark and Cast your Absentee Ballot