SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – Election Day is just over two weeks away, but voters are already making their way to the polls in record numbers.
Early voting opened last week in North Carolina, and already more than 1 million ballots have been cast in the state, according to the North Carolina Board of Elections.
Early voting begins on Monday in South Carolina. Voters who want to cast their ballots before the November 5 Election Day can do so at select locations around the state.
Early voting ends in both states Saturday, Nov. 2.
What do I need to vote early?
In order to vote early in South Carolina you must be a registered voter and present a valid photo ID at your polling place. Examples of a valid ID include your driver’s license, a DMV ID card, including a REAL ID or S.C. concealed weapons permit, a voter registration card with photo, passport of military ID.
Starting this year, North Carolina voters are now required to provide a photo ID when voting in person or by mail.
Valid photo IDs include a driver’s license, a DMV ID card, a REAL ID, a passport, an approved college or university student ID, a voter ID card issued by your local board of elections, a tribal enrollment card with photo or a military or veterans ID card.
Vote by mail
Voters who live overseas, have a disability or some other physical barrier to voting in person can also request to vote by mail. Mail-in ballots have some restrictions on who can receive a mail-in ballot, who can drop off those ballots and photo ID requirements.
The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is 5 p.m. Oct. 25 in South Carolina, and 5 p.m. Oct. 29 in North Carolina. Ballots must be returned by Election Day at 7 p.m. in South Carolina, and 7:30 p.m. in North Carolina.
Mail-in ballots can be requested by contacting your local board of elections office.
Why vote early?
According to a 2013 report by the Brennan Center for Justice, early voting is a “crucial way to modernize” the electoral system. Early voting reduces long lines and wait times on Election Day, and offers flexibility and convenience to the voting process, which can encourage more voters to participate.
In some states, including North Carolina, voters who miss the deadline for voter registration would not be able to vote in person on Election Day, but can register and cast a ballot at an early voting site during the early voting period.
Early voting is also popular, especially during big elections like the 2024 general election. Multiple states, including North Carolina and Georgia have reported record turnout in the early voting period.
According to the state board of elections, in 2020, 65 percent of North Carolina voters chose in-person early voting, up from 62 percent of voters who voted early in 2016.
Where do I go to vote early?
Each county in North and South Carolina offers at least one polling place for people who want to vote early.
Here is a list of polling locations in the Upstate. North Carolina voters can find their polling place by clicking here.
All early voting sites in South Carolina are open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
See a full list of those sites below, broken down by county:
Abbeville County Admin. Complex
903 West Greenwood St, Suite 2500 Abbeville, SC 29620
Anderson County Board of Voter Registration & Elections
301 N. Main Street, Anderson, SC 29621
Pendleton Library
650 S Mechanic Street, Pendleton, SC 29670
Powdersville Library
4 Civic Ct. Powdersville, SC 29642
Watkins Community Center
2 Louisiana Street, Honea Path, SC 29654
Cherokee County Board of Voter Registration and Elections
110 Railroad Ave Gaffney, SC 29340
McAlister Square
225 S. Pleasantburg Dr. Greenville, SC 29607
Mauldin Senior Center
203 Corn Rd. Greenville, SC 29607
Mt. Pleasant Community Center
710 S Fairfield Rd. Greenville, SC 29605
Calvary Baptist Church – Student Center
207 Davenport Rd. Simpsonville, SC 29680
Travelers Rest Council Chambers – City Hall
125 Trailblazer Drive, Travelers Rest, SC 29690
Northwest Campus Greenville Technical College – Heritage Hall
8109 White Horse Road, Greenville, SC 29617
Benson Campus Greenville Technical College – Benson Pavilion
2522 Locust Hill Road, Taylors, SC 29687
Greenwood County Elections Office
600 Monument St, Suite 13 Greenwood, SC 29646
Greenwood County Library
600 Main St South, Greenwood, SC 29646
Ninety Six Visitor’s Center
97 Main St East, Ninety Six, SC 29666
Little River Multicultural Center
415 Riley Rd North, Hodges, SC 29653
Laurens County Board of Voter Registration & Elections
105 Bolt Dr. Laurens, SC 29360
Oconee County Board of Voter Registration & Elections
415 South Pine St, Walhalla, SC 2969
Pickens County Board of Voter Registration & Elections
222 McDaniel Ave Pickens, SC 29671
Capt. Kimberly Hampton Library
304 Biltmore Rd Easley, SC 29640
Central-Clemson Library
105 Commons Way, Central, SC 29630
Dacusville Community Center
2671 Earls Bridge Rd, Easley, SC, 29640
Holly Springs Center
120 Holly Springs School Rd, Pickens, SC, 29671
Spartanburg County Board of Voter Registration & Elections
366 N Church St #1630 Spartanburg, SC 29303
Woodruff Library
270 E Hayne St. Woodruff, SC 29388
Boiling Springs Library
871 Double Bridge Rd. Boiling Springs, SC 29316
Middle Tyger Library
170 Groce Rd Lyman, SC 29365
Union County Board of Voter Registration & Elections
1246 S. Duncan Bypass, Suite B Union, SC 29379
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