Elections & Voting
Elections & Voting
Understanding our elections, our voting rights, and the history that shaped them in South Carolina and the Lowcountry.
2026 General Election
Explore candidates, statewide and local contests, school board elections, ballot questions, and election information for the Lowcountry.
Your 2026 Election Guide
Find federal, state, and Tri-County races, school board candidates, ballot questions, voting resources, and election results.
Find Your Civic Information
Your representatives and voting locations, starting with one residential address.
The Road to the Ballot
Voting rights and elections in South Carolina have undergone profound changes. The state's history includes periods of expanded participation, deliberate restrictions, and efforts to protect access to the ballot.
More Than a Century of Change
Elections tell part of the story of who could participate in government, who was excluded, and how the rules changed over time.
From Reconstruction through the civil rights movement, South Carolina's voting history reflects both progress and setbacks.
The expansion of voting rights did not guarantee equal access for everyone. Legal restrictions, discrimination, and intimidation continued to shape elections long after constitutional amendments were adopted.
A Timeline of Voting in South Carolina
Key milestones that helped shape voting rights and political participation in the state.
A New Constitution During Reconstruction
South Carolina adopted a constitution that expanded voting rights for Black men and removed property and education requirements for male voters.
Explore the historyThe Eight Box Law
South Carolina enacted a complicated ballot system that created barriers to voting, particularly for Black citizens.
Read the historical backgroundA Constitution Restricting the Vote
A new state constitution imposed literacy tests, poll taxes, and other requirements that disenfranchised many Black voters.
Read more about the changeThe Nineteenth Amendment
The amendment prohibited denying the vote on the basis of sex throughout the United States. Discriminatory barriers still prevented many women from voting.
Learn about the amendmentThe Voting Rights Act
Federal legislation challenged longstanding discriminatory voting practices, prohibited literacy tests, and established new protections for voting rights.
Read the historical recordElections in Our Communities
Local elections help determine representation in Congress, state government, county councils, and school boards. Which contests appear on a person's ballot depends on their registered address and voting districts.
Explore voter resourcesSouth Carolina State House photograph: Thomas Kirchel / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Background faded for presentation.
Official Voting Resources
Use South Carolina's official election tools to confirm your registration, view your personal sample ballot, and find your polling place.
What's Up Summerville provides election information for educational purposes. Official election authorities are the source for ballot eligibility, polling locations, voting rules, and certified results.