Voter Registration and Elections

SCVOTES.ORG is now SCVOTES.GOV.

SCVOTES.GOV is the State of South Carolina's Official and Trusted site for Election Information.

The old .org domain extension will continue to exist indefinitely; visitors will be automatically redirected to the new SCVOTES.GOV address. The SEC encourages anyone using an SCVOTES.ORG link on their website or other materials to update those links to SCVOTES.GOV

The mission of the Fairfield County Board of Voter Registration and Elections is to ensure every eligible citizen has the opportunity to register to vote, participate in fair and impartial elections, and have the assurance that their votes will count.

Your Vote Matters: 2024 Statewide General Election is Rapidly Approaching

COLUMBIA, SC (September 24, 2024)
- The State Election Commission urges voters to get ready for the 2024 Statewide General Election as essential dates and deadlines are just around the corner. Voters should mark their calendars and familiarize themselves with the candidates and issues so that everyone can have a smooth voting experience.

“State and local election officials are fully prepared to ensure a smooth and secure Election Day this November, but the most important step starts with you,” said Howie Knapp, Executive Director of the SEC. “Your vote is your voice—don’t miss this critical opportunity to shape the future. Make your plan now to participate and make a difference.”

Key Registration Dates & Deadlines to Know:

The Statewide General Election is on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

    

• The deadline to register in person is Friday, October 4.
    

• The deadline to register to vote online or by fax or email is Sunday,   October 6.
    

• The deadline to register to vote by mail is Monday, October 7 (must be postmarked by this date).

There are several ways to register and it takes just a few minutes!

     • You can register to vote online at scVOTES.gov (requires a Driver’s License or DMV ID).

     • Download a voter registration form, complete it, and return it to your county voter registration office by mail, fax, or email.

     • Register in person by visiting your county voter registration office or while receiving services at the DMV and other various agencies.

Already registered? Make sure it’s up to date.

     • If you have moved from one county to another, you must register in your new county by the deadline to be eligible to vote.

There are three easy ways to cast your ballot. Choose one!

     • Vote Early
        o The early voting period starts on Monday, October 21 and ends Saturday, November 2. Early voting centers are open from                 8:30 a.m.  until 6:00 p.m.

     • Vote Absentee
        o The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is 5:00 p.m., Friday, October 25.

     • Vote on Election Day
         o Polling places are open on Election Day from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Stay Prepped for the Polls

     • Find FAQsand our Voter Go-To Guides for the 2024 Statewide General Election.

     • Find up-to-date voting locations and contact information at your county voter registration office.

     • Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, or X.

Fairfield County Board Of Canvassers

The Fairfield County Board of Elections will conduct a hand-count audit from the February 3, 2024, Democratic Presidential Preference Primary with results reported to the State Election Commission (SEC). This audit will start at 10:00 AM on Monday, February 5, 2024, at the County Elections Office located at 315 S Congress Street, Winnsboro, SC.

Photography/Videography is Prohibited

Article II §1 of the South Carolina Constitution states, “[a]ll elections by the people shall be by secret ballot, but the ballots shall not be counted in secret.”
To ensure secrecy of the ballot, photography/videography is prohibited during hand-count audits.

The Fairfield County Board of Canvassers will meet at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, February 8, 2024 at the Fairfield County Voter Registration and Elections Office located at 315 S. Congress Street, Winnsboro, SC 29180, to ensure that all proper procedures for canvassing votes in the Democratic Presidential Preference Primary have been followed, and to certify the results of the Fairfield County portion of this election.

The Fairfield County Board of Elections will conduct a hand-count audit from the February 24, 2024, Republican Presidential Preference Primary with results reported to the State Election Commission (SEC). This audit will start at 10:00 AM on Sunday, February 25, 2024, at the County Elections Office located at 315 S Congress Street, Winnsboro, SC.

The deadline to register to vote is 30 days prior to an election. 

Updating name and address changes prior to an election lessens your wait time to vote. 

Voter registration, name and address changes can ALL BE DONE ONLINE at scvotes.gov. 

You must register again in your new county of residence if you have moved from one county to another in the State of South Carolina if you choose to vote in the upcoming elections. 

You must register to vote if you moved from another state should you choose to vote in the upcoming elections. 

Your voter registration number can be found online at scvotes.gov.

Your voting districts can be found on scvotes.gov. 

Your polling location can be found on scvotes.gov. 

Your sample ballot can be found on scvotes.gov. 

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Curbside voting is available for those who are not able to go inside their polling location. 

ID is required for voting. You must have ONE of the following to vote: 

• SC Driver's License 
• SC DMV issued photo ID 
• Voter registration card with photo 
• Military photo ID 
• US passport 
• Concealed Weapon Permit 

Provisional ballots will be provided for any voter who does not have or has not been able to obtain one of the required photo id’s. You must have your voter registration card to vote a provisional ballot. 

EVERY VOTE MATTERS! EVERY VOTE COUNTS! 

All of this information can be found at our location, 315 S Congress Street, Winnsboro, SC 29180. Please call or come by the Voter Registration and Elections Office if you have any questions!

Straight Party is Optional

Whether to vote “Straight Party” is the first choice a voter must make on a General Election ballot. Voting straight party is optional. Each political party that has nominated a candidate appearing on the voter’s ballot is represented in the straight party selection area.

Straight Party Voting on Voting Machines

If a party is selected under straight party, every candidate of that party is automatically selected throughout the ballot. As the voter advances through the ballot, the voter has the option of changing his vote for any particular office to a candidate of another party, a petition candidate, or a write-in candidate (also known as “crossover voting”). To change your vote for any particular office, simply touch the candidate of choice for that office, and the candidate previously selected will be automatically deselected.

Straight Party Voting on Optical Scan (Absentee and Paper) Ballots

If the oval beside a party is shaded in under straight party, every candidate of that party will automatically receive a vote when that ballot is scanned unless it is overridden by a “crossover vote.” After shading in the straight party, a voter can override his straight party selection for a particular office by shading in the oval beside a candidate for that office.

Straight Party Doesn’t Cover Everything

Voters should be aware that when voting straight party, no selection is made for nonpartisan offices and questions.

Ex. In Fairfield County, County Council and School Board members do not run under a party. They are non-partisan petition candidates.

Also, your party may not have nominated candidates for all offices. In these cases, these contests must be voted individually. As always, voters should carefully review their choices before casting their ballot.