Conducting a Voter Registration Drive in South Carolina

Voter Registration Deadlines

  • Applications must be received or postmarked 30 days before Election Day.
    • If the deadline falls on a Sunday or U.S. Postal Service holiday, the postmark deadline is extended to the next day that is not a Sunday or holiday.

Getting Started

Training Requirement: South Carolina does not require training for registration drives.

Notification and Registration Requirements: South Carolina does not have notification requirements for registration drives.

Compensation Restrictions: Do not pay registration drive participants based on how many registrations they collect. Do not offer an applicant any incentive of monetary value to register to vote.

Obtaining Applications

State Form: The state voter registration application can be found on the State Election Commission website: scvotes.gov/voters/register-to-vote

Federal Form: The federal mail-in voter registration application may be used in voter registration drives: eac.gov/voters/national-mail-voter-registration-form/

Photocopying Blank Forms: South Carolina law does not forbid photocopying blank forms for use in voter registration drives.

Handling Applications

Incomplete Applications: Do not fill in any missing information on a registration form unless you have permission from the applicant.

Photocopying Completed Applications: There is no law or rule prohibiting photocopying or retaining information from completed registration applications. As a best practice, a voter’s full or partial Social Security number and/or driver’s license number should not be retained.

Submitting Completed Applications: Return completed applications to the county elections office where the applicants are registering: scvotes.gov/contact/county-voter-registration-election-offices

Applications must be either received by the county of the voter’s residence (if delivered in person) or postmarked (if mailed) at least 30 days before the next election.

Fair Elections Center and its Campus Vote Project intend the information contained herein to be used only as a general guide. This document should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensed South Carolina legal professional.

Last updated May 2025