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Ballot by Mail
ballotbymail.org · nonpartisan
November 3, 2026 general election

Voting by mail in South Carolina

Only with a qualifying reason. You need an approved reason, such as travel, illness or disability, age, or work. Check your state's list. If you don't qualify, early in-person voting is usually an option.

Key dates

Register to vote byMon, Oct 5
Mail ballot request received byFri, Oct 23, 5 p.m.
Early in-person votingMon, Oct 19 – Sat, Oct 31
Mail your ballot byTue, Oct 27 (USPS: allow 7 days)
Election DayTue, Nov 3
Return ruleReceived by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Steps

  1. Check the excuse list on your state's site. Common ones: away on Election Day, illness or disability, 65 or older, work hours.
  2. If you qualify, request now and include the reason exactly as the form asks.
  3. If you don't qualify, look up early in-person voting. It's available in most excuse states.
  4. When your ballot arrives, fill it out in blue or black ink and sign the envelope.
  5. Return it the way your state requires and track it until it shows received.

Don't get rejected

  • Extra step in your state: a witness must sign the envelope. This is the #1 reason ballots get tossed where it applies.
  • Sign the envelope. An unsigned envelope is the most common fixable mistake.
  • Use the secrecy sleeve if one is included, then the return envelope. Don't tape anything.
  • Keep the phone and email on your registration current. If there's a problem, that's how they reach you to fix it.
Official election office
https://scvotes.gov/
Track your ballot
https://vrems.scvotes.sc.gov/Voter/Login?PageMode=AbsenteeInfo
This page, with live updates
ballotbymail.org/state/sc

Trouble voting? 866-OUR-VOTE (English) · 888-VE-Y-VOTA (Español) · 888-API-VOTE (Asian languages) · 844-YALLA-US (العربية)

Rules checked 2026-09-09; deadlines checked 2026-09-09. Sources: NCSL, Vote.org, CEIR, state election offices. The official site wins if anything differs. Free to copy and post.