CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – Monday marks the first day of early voting in South Carolina, so voters in Charleston County can now cast their ballots at any of seven different early voting locations.

More than 100,000 early voters are expected in Charleston County alone, which would be a record-breaking number under a recent law change, according to Charleston County Board of Elections Executive Director Issac Cramer.

“We expect early voting to break records for Charleston County due to voter excitement. They want to vote, it’s a presidential election and also (for convenience reasons),” Cramer said.

In 2022, the Early Voters Bill was passed, allowing early voters to cast their ballot without giving a reason. This makes this the first major election in which the law comes into force. All that is required for check-in is a valid photo ID.

“The Early Voters Bill passed in 2022 gives every voter in Charleston County the opportunity to cast their vote without an excuse, in person, and early…We’re trying to get the message out that they don’t need a reason anymore. If they just want to vote early, they can,” Cramer said.

Acceptable forms of photo ID include a South Carolina driver’s license, a South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles identification card, a South Carolina Concealed Weapons Permit, a South Carolina photo voter registration card, a U.S. military ID card, and a U.S. passport.

Cramer encourages people to vote early because it is the easier option because voters can choose the location, time and date they want to vote, rather than being limited to 12 hours on Election Day and only one assigned to go to the polling station.

“We have received a lot of great feedback about our vote centers across the county and want our voters to know they can vote in an accessible location. We offer curbside voting at every location,” Cramer said.

Early voting is open Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and continues through November 2nd. CARTA does not offer free rides to the polls during early voting, but these will take place on Election Day.

Early voters can vote at any of the following seven locations:

• Baxter-Patrick James Island Library, 1858 S Grimball Road, Charleston, SC, 29412
• Election Center, 4340 Corporate Road, North Charleston, SC, 29405
• Essex Village Church of Christ, 736 Savage Road, Charleston, SC, 29414
• Main Library – Downtown Charleston, 68 Calhoun Street, Charleston, SC, 29401
• Seacoast Church – Mount Pleasant, 750 Long Point Road, Mount Pleasant, SC, 29464
• St. John’s Episcopal Church, 3673 Maybank Highway, Johns Island, SC, 29455
• St. Paul’s Hollywood Library, 5130 SC-165, Hollywood, SC, 29449

Click here to find early voting locations across the state.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.