Early voting for SC primary starts as redistricting battle continues

• South Carolina's early voting period for the primary election runs from May 26 to June 5.
• The deadline to register for the June 9 primary has already passed.
• Registered voters can cast an early ballot by bringing a photo ID to any early voting center in their county.

This story has been updated with a photo gallery.

Early voting for the 2026 South Carolina primary starts today, May 26.

South Carolina voters have their first opportunity to cast ballots ahead of the June primary election through the state’s early‑voting period over the next two weeks. Voters will have the chance to vote in key races such as governor, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House, among other important state and local offices.

But as the redistricting debate continues in the South Carolina legislature, votes in some races could not count and voters would need to cast a ballot once again in a special election if lawmakers pass a bill to change some voting districts in the state.

Here's what to know about key dates and everything voters need to know.

South Carolina redistricting could mean a special election

The South Carolina Senate passed the second reading of the planned redistricting, but nothing is still set in stone about the changes in voter districts. If Republican lawmakers are able to pass their plans to change districts, many votes cast via absentee and early voting could need to be redone.

Lawmakers are set to reconvene on Tuesday, May 26, at 11 a.m., which is after early voting starts in the Palmetto State. The move could sway some Republican senators to back down on redistricting plans.

Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Berkeley, has been a proponent of the redistricting bill, but he told reporters on Friday, May 22 that he doesn't support redrawing congressional lines after early voting starts — and he expects some other Republicans feel the same.

"There are other members like me who are very supportive of this legislation, but not very supportive of passing this legislation after tens of thousands of South Carolinians have already cast votes in-person," Grooms said on May 22.

While there could be some sway, the question remains if it will be enough to override some GOP lawmakers who want to appease President Donald Trump's push for the state to redistrict.

If the redistricting plan passes through the South Carolina legislature, a special election will need to be held so that voters have a chance to key races in the U.S. House of Representatives. The special election would be held on Aug. 18.

When does early voting for the 2026 South Carolina primary start?

Early voting runs from May 26 through June 5, with centers open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, according to scvotes.gov.

Is it too late to register for South Carolina’s primary?

If you’re wondering whether you can still register for South Carolina’s upcoming primary election, you are out of luck. For the June 9 primary, the deadline has passed, meaning only new voters who completed their registration by early May are eligible to cast a ballot.

But there is still time to register for Election Day in November.

Voters must be registered at least 30 days before an election.

You can register now for future elections online at scvotes.gov or at your local election board. You can also register via e-mail, mail or fax, you can find a form at scvotes.gov.

What do you need to vote in the 2026 South Carolina primary?

If you are already registered, you can vote early with no additional steps; just bring your photo ID to any voting center in your county.

Once registered, you do not need to re‑register unless you move, change your name, or haven’t voted in several cycles and were removed from the rolls.

Where do I vote in South Carolina? Find your SC polling site online

Voters can find their polling location with the South Carolina Election Commission’s online tools, which give people access to their precinct information.

With Check My Polling Place, you can confirm where you'll vote during the primary and on Election Day by entering your name, county, and date of birth.

Where do I early vote in South Carolina?

Early voting sites are different than where you would typically vote on election days. You can find a county-by-county list for the state at scvotes.gov.

Here's where early voting polling locations can be found in Anderson, Greenville and Spartanburg counties:

Anderson

• County Voter Registration Office: 301 N. Main St., Anderson, SC 29621
• Powdersville Library: 4 Civic Court, Powdersville, SC 29642
• Pendleton Branch Library:650 S Mechanic St., Pendleton, SC 29670
• Watkins Community Center: 204 S Main St., Honea Path, SC 29654

Greenville

• McAlister Square (Back Entrance): 225 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, SC 29607
• Renfrew Church (Fellowship Hall): 951 Geer Hwy., Travelers Rest, SC 29690
• Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church (Gym): 206 Moore St., Simpsonville, SC 29681
• Mt. Pleasant Community Center: 710 S Fairfield Road, Greenville, SC 29605
• Praise Cathedral (Family Life Center): 3375 Brushy Creek Road, Greer, SC 29650

Spartanburg

• County Voter Registration Office: 366 N Church St,, Suite 1630, Spartanburg, SC 29303
• Boiling Springs Library: 871 Double Bridge Road, Boiling Springs, SC 29316
• Cowpens Library: 181 School St., Cowpens, SC 29330
• Woodruff Library: 270 E Hayne St., Woodruff, SC 29388
• Cyrill-Westside Library: 525 Oak Grove Road, Spartanburg, SC 29301
• Middle Tyger Library: 170 Groce Road, Lyman, SC 29365

When is South Carolina's 2026 primary election?

The primary election will be on Tuesday, June 9.

When are the 2026 midterm elections in South Carolina?

Election Day for the 2026 midterm elections is Nov. 3.

Travis Jacque Rose is the trending news reporter for the Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected].