A Review of the South Carolina Election Process
January 2024

REPORT (PDF)     SUMMARY (PDF)

Members of the S.C. General Assembly requested that we review the state’s overall process for handling elections.

Objectives

• Review South Carolina’s overall process for handling elections.
• Examine state/county relationship regarding the administration of elections.
• Review the process for maintaining voter registration records.
• Conduct a follow-up of the 2013 LAC report A Review of Voting Machines in South Carolina.

Background

The State Election Commission (SEC) is South Carolina’s chief election agency. The agency:

• Maintains the statewide voter registration system.
• Supervises 46 county boards of voter registration and elections.
• Performs audits and post‑election analyses of county boards of registration and elections.
• Conducts training and certification programs for local election officials.

While SEC has numerous responsibilities regarding South Carolina’s election system, elections in South Carolina are run by the 46 county boards of voter registration and election. Among the responsibilities of the county boards are the registration of voters and establishing voting locations.