The Herald has received a number of questions as to who can register to vote. This information from www.scvotes.org answers these questions.
From www.scvotes.org
How to Register
A citizen who wishes to register to vote may:
* Register in person at their county board of voter registration, or
* Download a form from www.scvotes.org, complete it, and mail it to their county board of voter registration, or
* Download a form, complete it, and fax it to their county board of voter registration, or
* Download a form from www.scvotes.org, complete it, scan it, and email it as a file attachment to their county voter registration office.
Registration is closed for thirty days prior to any election. The last day to register to vote in any election is the 31st day prior to the election.
The address for the Dillon County Board of Registration is Dillon County Board of Voter Registration, 401 West Main Street, Room 306, Post Office Box 973 Dillon SC 29536, (843) 774-1403, Fax 841-3728.
Who Can Register?
In order to vote, South Carolina law requires one must first register to vote at least 30 days prior to the election. To be eligible to register in South Carolina you MUST:
* be a United States citizen -be at least eighteen years old on or before the next election
* be a resident of South Carolina, this county and precinct
* not be under a court order declaring you mentally incompetent
* not be confined in any public prison resulting from a conviction of a crime
* have never been convicted of a felony or offense against the election laws OR if previously convicted, have served the entire sentence, including probation or parole, or have received a pardon for the conviction.
There is no length of residency requirement in South Carolina in order to register to vote. You can register at any time.
You must be registered at least 30 days prior to any election in order to vote in that election. Registration by mail applications must be postmarked at least 30 days prior to that particular election to be eligible.
Students
Students may register to vote where they reside while attending college.
Many college students who live on campus receive their mail at a campus post office box. These students must register at the physical address of their dormitory. The student’s P.O. Box can be provided for mailing and contact purposes.
Convicted Felons
Any person who is convicted of a felony or an offense against the election laws is not qualified to register or to vote, unless the disqualification has been removed by service of the sentence, or unless sooner pardoned. Service of sentence includes completion of any prison/jail time, probation, parole, and payment of restitution.
Federal and state courts provide the SEC with lists of persons convicted of felonies or crimes against the election laws. Those persons are deleted from the state’s list of active, registered voters. The SEC notifies each voter whose name is deleted from the list. Voters have 20 days from the date the notice is mailed to appeal. Appeals must be made to the SEC.
Once a person who was convicted of a felony or offense against the election laws serves his sentence; he may register to vote.
To register, the applicant must submit a new voter registration application to his county voter registration office. To participate in any particular election, the applicant must submit the application prior to the 30-day voter registration deadline for that election.
In applying, the registrant is swearing under penalty of perjury that he is qualified to register, including having completed his entire sentence. County voter registration boards must be satisfied that the applicant meets the qualifications; and in some cases, could require a person who has lost his voting rights due to conviction to provide some proof that he has completed his sentence.
Update Your Voter
Registration Information
If your voter registration information has changed (name, address, etc.), and you still live within the same county, you may update your voter registration information. If you have moved to a different county, you will need to re-register in your new county.
For more information, visit www.scvotes.org or call the Dillon County Voter Registration Office at 774-1403.
