SCDems News
3 Things you should know about absentee balloting
January 4, 2008
Eligible S.C. voters can cast a ballot for the Jan. 19 Republican primary or the Jan. 26 Democratic primary now. Some campaigns are encouraging voters to cast absentee ballots.
Here are three things you should know about the absentee ballot.
1. YOU MUST QUALIFY
Absentee ballots are reserved for voters unable to cast a ballot on primary day. State law has specific qualifications for absentee voters.
Among those eligible for an absentee ballot:
• Employees working outside their home counties on election day
• Caretakers for the elderly or children who are unable to go to the polls
• College students who attend school outside their home counties
• Citizens living overseas
• Inmates who are eligible voters
2. ALL SENIORS ARE ELIGIBLE
S.C. law allows all voters 65 and older to cast an absentee ballot.
That means seniors — among the state’s most active voters and nearly 500,000 strong in South Carolina — can make a choice now if they like.
This week, the campaign for Democratic U.S. Sen. Barack Obama urged seniors and other eligible absentee voters to cast ballots.
3. VOTE BY MAIL OR IN PERSON
Absentee voters can pick up absentee ballots at their county election offices and mail them in at least four days before the vote. Voters also can cast their absentee ballots in person up to the day before the vote.
For more information on absentee balloting, go to thestate.com and click on this story.
The State
