Deadline for absentee voting
Persons qualified to vote an absentee ballot in the January Presidential Primaries
• Persons who will be outside their county of residence on
Election Day
• Members of the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine, and
their spouses and dependents residing with them
• Persons who, for reasons of employment, will not be able to
vote on election day
• Physically disabled persons
• Persons 65 years of age or older
• Persons serving as a juror in state or federal court on Election
Day
• Persons admitted to the hospital as emergency patients on day
of election or within a four- day period before the election
• Persons with a death or funeral in the family within three days
before the election
• Persons confined to a jail or pre- trial facility pending disposition
of arrest or trial
• Persons attending sick or physically disabled persons
• Certified poll watchers, poll managers, and county election officials
working on Election Day
• Persons who, for religious reasons, do not wish to take part in
the electoral process on a Saturday
How to vote an absentee ballot: In person - Visit your county voter registration office, complete an application, and cast your ballot. You may vote absentee in person up until 5 pm on the day before the primary. The deadline for the Republican Presidential Primary is 5 pm, Friday, January 18. The deadline for the Democratic Presidential Primary is 5 pm, Friday, January 25.

By mail Step 1: Contact your county voter registration office to request an absentee ballot application. Voters (or their immediate family members) may make the request in person or by phone, mail, email, or fax. An authorized representative may also make the request, but only in person or by mail. An authorized representative is a registered voter who, with a voter's permission, can request an absentee ballot application on behalf of a voter who qualifies because of illness or disability. Candidates and paid campaign workers, who are not family, may not serve as authorized representatives.

Step 2: Return the application to your county voter registration office by 5 pm, four days prior to the corresponding primary. The deadline for the Republican Primary is 5 pm, Tuesday, January 15. The deadline for the Democratic Primary is 5 pm, Tuesday, January 22.

Step 3: You will be mailed an absentee ballot. Follow ballot instructions and return it to your county voter registration office by 7 pm on the day of the corresponding primary. Ballot may be mailed or hand-delivered. If hand- delivered by someone other than the voter or post office, that person must complete an authorization form. Candidates and paid campaign workers, who are not family, may not hand deliver absentee ballots.

As a reminder, South Carolina does not have registration by party. Registered voters may vote in either party's primary, but not both.

For further absentee voting information, and to check your absentee ballot status, visit www.SCVotes.org.