Instructions to Register to vote in South Carolina

Who Can Use the Application

Request application from:
State Election Commission
P.O. Box 5987
Columbia, SC 29250-5987

SC State Election Commission Home Page

If you are a U.S. citizen who lives or has an address within the United States, you can use an application to:
_ Register to vote in your State,
_ Report a change of name to your voter
registration office,
_ Report a change of address to your voter
registration office, or
_ Register with a political party.
How to Find Out If You Are Eligible to Register to Vote in Your State
Each State has its own laws about who may register and vote. Check the information
under your State in the State Instructions. Note: All States require that you be a
United States citizen by birth or naturalization to register to vote in federal and State elections. Federal law makes it illegal to falsely claim U.S. citizenship to register to vote in any federal, State, or local election. Also Note: You cannot be registered to vote in more than one place at a time.
When to Register to Vote
You must register 30 days prior to an election; you will become a registered voter 30 days after filing your application in South Carolina.
How to Fill Out an Application
Use both the Application Instructions and State Instructions to guide you in filling out the application. First, read the Application Instructions. These instructions will give you important information that applies to everyone using this application. Next, find your State under the State Instructions. Use these instructions to fill out Boxes 6, 7, and 8. Also refer to these instructions for information about voter eligibility and any oath required for Box 9.
How to Submit Your Application
Mail your application to the address listed under your State in the State Instructions. Or, deliver the application in person to your local voter registration office.
Box 1 - Name
Put in this box your full name in this order - Last, First, Middle. Do not use nicknames or
initials. Note: If this application is for a change of name, please tell us in Box A (on the bottom half of the form) your full name before you changed it.
Box 2 - Home Address
Put in this box your home address (legal address). Do not put your mailing address here if it is different from your home address. Do not use a post office box or rural route without a box number. Note: If you were registered before but this is the first time you are registering from the address in Box 2, please tell us in Box B (on the bottom half of the form) the address where you were registered before. Please give us as much of the address as you can remember.
Also Note: If you live in a rural area but do not have a street address, or if you have no address, please show where you live using the map in Box C (at the bottom of the form).
Box 3 - Mailing Address
If you get your mail at an address that is different from the address in Box 2, put your mailing address in this box. Note: If you have no address in Box 2, you must write in Box 3 an address where you can be reached by mail.
Box 4 - Date of Birth
Put in this box your date of birth in this order - Month, Day, Year. Be careful not to use today's date!
Box 5 - Telephone Number
Most States ask for your telephone number in case there are questions about your application. However, you do not have to fill in this box.
Box 6 - ID Number
Many States use an ID number for record keeping purposes. To find out what ID number, if any, you need to put in this box, see item 6 in the instructions under your State.
Application Instructions
Box 7 - Choice of Party
In some States, you must register with a party if you want to take part in that party's primary election, caucus, or convention. To find out if your State requires this, see item 7 in the instructions under your State. If you want to register with a party, print in the box the full name of the party of your choice. If you do not want to register with a party, write "no party" or leave the box blank. Do not write in the word "independent" if you mean "no party," because this might be confused with the name of a political party in your State. Note: If you do not register with a party, you can still vote in general elections and nonpartisan (nonparty) primary elections.
Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group
A few States ask for your race or ethnic group, in order to administer the Federal Voting Rights Act. To find out if your State asks for this information, see item 8 in the instructions under your State. If so, put in Box 8 the choice that best describes you from the list below:
American Indian or Alaskan Native
Asian or Pacific Islander
Black, not of Hispanic Origin
Hispanic
Multi-racial
White, not of Hispanic Origin
Other
Box 9 - Signature
Review the information in item 9 in the instructions under your State. Before you sign or make your mark, make sure that:
(1) You meet your State's requirements, and
(2) You understand all of Box 9.
Finally, sign your full name or make your mark, and print today's date in this order - Month,
Day, Year.
Box 10 - Name of Assistant
If the applicant is unable to sign, put in this box the name, address, and telephone number (optional) of the person who helped the applicant.
State Instructions
South Carolina
6. ID Number. Your social security number is required. It is required by the South Carolina Code of Laws and is used for internal purposes only. Social security number does not appear on any report produced by the State Election Commission nor is it released to any unauthorized individual.
7. Choice of Party. You do not have to register with a party if you want to take part in that party's primary election, caucus, or convention.
8. Race or Ethnic Group. You are required to fill in this box. Your application may be rejected if you fail to do so. See the list of choices under the Application Instructions for Box 8 (on page 2).
9. Signature. To register in South Carolina you must:
_ be a citizen of the United States
_ be at least 18 years old on or before the next election
_ be a resident of South Carolina, your county and precinct
_ not be confined in any public prison resulting from a conviction of a crime
_ never have been convicted of a felony or offense against the election laws, or if previously convicted, have
served your entire sentence, including probation or parole, or have received a pardon for the conviction
_ not be under a court order declaring you mentally incompetent
_ claim the address on the application as your only legal place of residence and claim no other place as your legal residence.

Mailing address:
State Election Commission
P.O. Box 5987
Columbia, SC 29250-5987

_ not be under a sentence of imprisonment for a felony conviction
_ not have been adjudged mentally incompetent by a court.