Important Voter Information
SC General Election - November 3, 2020
In-Person Absentee Voting:
October 5, 2020 - Nov 2, 2020
Voter Registration Deadlines:
By-mail must be postmarked by Mon Oct 5,2020
In-Person Voter Registration Request :By Fri Oct 2, 2020 5:00 pm EDT
By Email or Fax: By Sun Oct 4, 2020 11:59 EDT
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Fri Oct 30, 2020 5:00PM EDT
Deadline for Completed Absentee Ballot: Must be Received by Election Office by Tuesday, Nov 3, 2020 7:00PM
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Hi Folks - One more update.
I've had inquiries regarding whether a witness of your signature on your absentee ballot envelope is required. That's actually an excellent question. This issue has gone back and forth in the SC courts recently, but the bottom line is that your signature does need to be witnessed. It can be witnessed by a spouse or anyone else. A notary is not required. Be sure to sign your ballot return envelope, and have a witness sign where indicated. Also when filling out your ballot be sure to carefully fill in the ovals next to your choices on the ballot with a black or blue pen. Stay inside the lines.
Source: From the scvotes.org website: "COLUMBIA, S.C. (September 24, 2020) – South Carolinians voting absentee by mail must now have their signatures on ballot return envelopes witnessed, after the United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals today issued an order reversing a lower court’s ruling."
Marion Farina
From Neighborlink
“To ensure your absentee by mail ballot counts, voters must:
● Sign the voter’s oath on the ballot return envelope.
● Have a witness sign and provide address. Any other person can be a witness.
● Return your ballot before 7:00 p.m. on November 3. Ballots can be returned in person or by mail. You should mail your ballot as soon as possible and at least a week before election day to allow time for delivery before the deadline.”
We have also been informed that registered voters who elect to cast absentee ballots at the McCormick County Office of Voter Registration and Elections (610 South Mine St., McCormick) should do so in the conference/lunch room at this address. It is located just down the hall from their office at the County Administration Building. Just follow the signs at the front door. The side door at the north end of the building is normally locked, even during business hours.
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To find out if you are REGISTERED and READY to vote, and have not been placed in the INACTIVE STATUS, follow these easy steps.
First, go to http://www.scvotes.org.
Next, in the upper right of this page, below "MYscVotes", click on "Check my voter registration." This will open a simple form. On this form, select McCormick County, enter your first name, your last name, and your date of birth. Then, click on the Submit button under the form. If you are registered, this submission will show your active information.
If you haven't VOTED in the last TWO General Elections, that’s November 2012 and 2016, you should have been mailed a card telling you that you will be placed in the Inactive Status unless you visit the SC Election Commission website, http://www.scvotes.org, or visit the county registration office at 201 E. Augusta street in McCormick.
Did you receive a jury duty summons and fail to respond to it? If so, you are likely to have been placed in Inactive Status.
Persons are removed from the list of registered voters if they move away from South Carolina, if they are convicted of a felony or die.
A convicted felon who has finished his/her parole can register to vote under certain conditions. Contact the Voter Registration Office for information on this. The number is 864-852-2089.
It is NOT necessary to have voted in the primary election to be able to vote in the general election.
All 11 McCormick county precincts will be open for voting on primary and presidential election days from 7am until 7pm.
When voting in person, you will need to show ONE of the following:
A reminder that absentee voting will begin for the 2020 general election on October 5.
Voters can visit the McCormick County Voter Registration and Elections Office
in the county Administrative Office Building, at 601 S. Mine St., to fill out an
application to cast an absentee ballot before leaving.
Yesterday, Wednesday, September 16, 2020, the SC legislature passed a bill signed by Governor McMaster authorizing absentee no-excuse voting. In-person absentee voting begins October 5 and ends Nov. 2, 2020 (County Administration Building/610 South Mine Street). That means any registered voter can go in person, fill
out an absentee application and vote right then and there. If you are not yet registered to vote, you can also do so at the same location.
Note: The Administration Building is being disinfected twice a week and every precaution is being taken to insure our safety. Masks are required. Or you can opt to do your absentee ballot vote by mail.
Applications are also available by mail by calling the office at (864) 852-2089,
or they can be downloaded from the state Election Commission web site at
www.scvotes.org. Applications received by mail should be filled out and
mailed back as soon as possible. They can also be returned in person to the
county Elections Office.
It’s important to note that absentee voting is not the same as early voting, which South Carolina
does not offer, and applicants must meet at least one of several requirements to qualify for an
absentee ballot. Requirements are listed on the application and below. More information about
absentee voting, eligibility requirements and other primary election topics can
be found on the Election Commission web site, www.scvotes.org.
Info. provided by Dave Lorenzatti, Member, County Board of Voter Registration and Elections.
The former qualifications for Absentee Voting Are:
- Being Age 65 or Older
- Being disabled- including illnesses and injuries
- Attending a disabled person
-Member of Armed Forces or Merchant Marine serving outside their county of
residence and their spouses and dependents residing with them
-Persons who for reasons of employment will not be able to vote on Election Day
-Persons who plan to be on vacation outside their county of residence on Election
Day
- Persons serving with American Red Cross or with the USO who are attached to
and serving with Armed Forces outside their county of residence and their
spouses and dependents residing with them
-Overseas citizens
-Students attending school outside their county of residence and their spouses
and dependents residing with them
-Persons who serving as a juror in state or federal court on Election Day
-Persons admitted to the hospital as emergency patients on Election Day or within
a 4 day period before the election
-Persons with a death or funeral in the family within 3 days before the election
-Persons confined to a jail or pre-trial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial
-Certified poll watchers, poll managers, and county election officials working on
Election Day
-Government employees serving outside their county of residence on Election Day
and their spouses and dependents residing with them
You can also check the status of your absentee ballot online at SCVOTES.ORG
Note Self- isolating due to the pandemic does NOT qualify you to Absentee Vote.
Absentee Ballots MUST be returned to the County Elections office in person or by
mail by 7:00PM on Election Day. It cannot be returned to your normal polling
place. If you do not want to vote absentee after applying, you must return your
unvoted absentee ballot to the County Elections office and receive a letter
authorizing you to vote at the polls.
You must take to the polls and in person absentee voting the following items:
- A valid Photo ID
- A valid, unexpired SC Driver’s License
- A SC DMV ID Card- includes SC Concealed Weapons Permit
- SC Voter Registration Card with Photo\
- US Passport that has not expired
- Federal Military ID- includes all DOD Photo IDs and the Dept. Of VA Benefits
Card
-Voters are asked to wear their own mask if they have one and to being their
own pen ( preferably blue or black) for signing the polling list. Hand sanitizer will
be provided and cotton swab will be provided to make screen selections.
Managers should sanitize common surfaces throughout the day and check in and
voting machines should be 6 ft. apart. Managers should have masks, face shields,
and gloves.
Note: Absentee Voting by mail does not require a photo id or copy be included.
CURBSIDE VOTING
Any voter who because of physical handicap or 65 or older who cannot enter the
polling place in which he is registered to vote (including to Absentee Vote at the
County Election office) or is unable to stand in line to vote may vote outside that
polling place in the closest available parking area (marked at regular polling
places) utilizing the vehicle in which he has driven or has been driven to the polls.
However anyone not meeting these requirements must exit the vehicle while the
person votes unless assistance has been required according to the rules. The
voter’s photo id will be taken inside and validated before a machine will be
brought to the vehicle. The voted ballot will be placed in an envelope and
scanned inside by a poll worker. You must still have a valid ID therefore.
Sojourner Jennings said that if you come to the County Elections office to vote,
please call her at 864-852-2089 and someone will come out to where you are if
you need curbside voting.
NOTE BE SURE TO CHECK AT SCVOTERS. ORG or CALL Sojourner Jennings at (864)
852-2089 to be sure you are REGISTERED to vote. If not, please go ahead and
register so you can vote in the November elections even if you cannot vote in the
primaries.
DEMOCRATS ELECT REPUBLICANS EVERY TIME THEY DON'T VOTE!
SC General Election - November 3, 2020
In-Person Absentee Voting:
October 5, 2020 - Nov 2, 2020
Voter Registration Deadlines:
By-mail must be postmarked by Mon Oct 5,2020
In-Person Voter Registration Request :By Fri Oct 2, 2020 5:00 pm EDT
By Email or Fax: By Sun Oct 4, 2020 11:59 EDT
Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot: Fri Oct 30, 2020 5:00PM EDT
Deadline for Completed Absentee Ballot: Must be Received by Election Office by Tuesday, Nov 3, 2020 7:00PM
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Hi Folks - One more update.
I've had inquiries regarding whether a witness of your signature on your absentee ballot envelope is required. That's actually an excellent question. This issue has gone back and forth in the SC courts recently, but the bottom line is that your signature does need to be witnessed. It can be witnessed by a spouse or anyone else. A notary is not required. Be sure to sign your ballot return envelope, and have a witness sign where indicated. Also when filling out your ballot be sure to carefully fill in the ovals next to your choices on the ballot with a black or blue pen. Stay inside the lines.
Source: From the scvotes.org website: "COLUMBIA, S.C. (September 24, 2020) – South Carolinians voting absentee by mail must now have their signatures on ballot return envelopes witnessed, after the United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals today issued an order reversing a lower court’s ruling."
Marion Farina
From Neighborlink
“To ensure your absentee by mail ballot counts, voters must:
● Sign the voter’s oath on the ballot return envelope.
● Have a witness sign and provide address. Any other person can be a witness.
● Return your ballot before 7:00 p.m. on November 3. Ballots can be returned in person or by mail. You should mail your ballot as soon as possible and at least a week before election day to allow time for delivery before the deadline.”
We have also been informed that registered voters who elect to cast absentee ballots at the McCormick County Office of Voter Registration and Elections (610 South Mine St., McCormick) should do so in the conference/lunch room at this address. It is located just down the hall from their office at the County Administration Building. Just follow the signs at the front door. The side door at the north end of the building is normally locked, even during business hours.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
To find out if you are REGISTERED and READY to vote, and have not been placed in the INACTIVE STATUS, follow these easy steps.
First, go to http://www.scvotes.org.
Next, in the upper right of this page, below "MYscVotes", click on "Check my voter registration." This will open a simple form. On this form, select McCormick County, enter your first name, your last name, and your date of birth. Then, click on the Submit button under the form. If you are registered, this submission will show your active information.
If you haven't VOTED in the last TWO General Elections, that’s November 2012 and 2016, you should have been mailed a card telling you that you will be placed in the Inactive Status unless you visit the SC Election Commission website, http://www.scvotes.org, or visit the county registration office at 201 E. Augusta street in McCormick.
Did you receive a jury duty summons and fail to respond to it? If so, you are likely to have been placed in Inactive Status.
Persons are removed from the list of registered voters if they move away from South Carolina, if they are convicted of a felony or die.
A convicted felon who has finished his/her parole can register to vote under certain conditions. Contact the Voter Registration Office for information on this. The number is 864-852-2089.
It is NOT necessary to have voted in the primary election to be able to vote in the general election.
All 11 McCormick county precincts will be open for voting on primary and presidential election days from 7am until 7pm.
When voting in person, you will need to show ONE of the following:
- A South Carolina Driver’s License
- SC Department of Motor Vehicles ID
- SC Registration Card with photo
- A U.S. Passport
- Federal Military ID
A reminder that absentee voting will begin for the 2020 general election on October 5.
Voters can visit the McCormick County Voter Registration and Elections Office
in the county Administrative Office Building, at 601 S. Mine St., to fill out an
application to cast an absentee ballot before leaving.
Yesterday, Wednesday, September 16, 2020, the SC legislature passed a bill signed by Governor McMaster authorizing absentee no-excuse voting. In-person absentee voting begins October 5 and ends Nov. 2, 2020 (County Administration Building/610 South Mine Street). That means any registered voter can go in person, fill
out an absentee application and vote right then and there. If you are not yet registered to vote, you can also do so at the same location.
Note: The Administration Building is being disinfected twice a week and every precaution is being taken to insure our safety. Masks are required. Or you can opt to do your absentee ballot vote by mail.
Applications are also available by mail by calling the office at (864) 852-2089,
or they can be downloaded from the state Election Commission web site at
www.scvotes.org. Applications received by mail should be filled out and
mailed back as soon as possible. They can also be returned in person to the
county Elections Office.
It’s important to note that absentee voting is not the same as early voting, which South Carolina
does not offer, and applicants must meet at least one of several requirements to qualify for an
absentee ballot. Requirements are listed on the application and below. More information about
absentee voting, eligibility requirements and other primary election topics can
be found on the Election Commission web site, www.scvotes.org.
Info. provided by Dave Lorenzatti, Member, County Board of Voter Registration and Elections.
The former qualifications for Absentee Voting Are:
- Being Age 65 or Older
- Being disabled- including illnesses and injuries
- Attending a disabled person
-Member of Armed Forces or Merchant Marine serving outside their county of
residence and their spouses and dependents residing with them
-Persons who for reasons of employment will not be able to vote on Election Day
-Persons who plan to be on vacation outside their county of residence on Election
Day
- Persons serving with American Red Cross or with the USO who are attached to
and serving with Armed Forces outside their county of residence and their
spouses and dependents residing with them
-Overseas citizens
-Students attending school outside their county of residence and their spouses
and dependents residing with them
-Persons who serving as a juror in state or federal court on Election Day
-Persons admitted to the hospital as emergency patients on Election Day or within
a 4 day period before the election
-Persons with a death or funeral in the family within 3 days before the election
-Persons confined to a jail or pre-trial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial
-Certified poll watchers, poll managers, and county election officials working on
Election Day
-Government employees serving outside their county of residence on Election Day
and their spouses and dependents residing with them
You can also check the status of your absentee ballot online at SCVOTES.ORG
Note Self- isolating due to the pandemic does NOT qualify you to Absentee Vote.
Absentee Ballots MUST be returned to the County Elections office in person or by
mail by 7:00PM on Election Day. It cannot be returned to your normal polling
place. If you do not want to vote absentee after applying, you must return your
unvoted absentee ballot to the County Elections office and receive a letter
authorizing you to vote at the polls.
You must take to the polls and in person absentee voting the following items:
- A valid Photo ID
- A valid, unexpired SC Driver’s License
- A SC DMV ID Card- includes SC Concealed Weapons Permit
- SC Voter Registration Card with Photo\
- US Passport that has not expired
- Federal Military ID- includes all DOD Photo IDs and the Dept. Of VA Benefits
Card
-Voters are asked to wear their own mask if they have one and to being their
own pen ( preferably blue or black) for signing the polling list. Hand sanitizer will
be provided and cotton swab will be provided to make screen selections.
Managers should sanitize common surfaces throughout the day and check in and
voting machines should be 6 ft. apart. Managers should have masks, face shields,
and gloves.
Note: Absentee Voting by mail does not require a photo id or copy be included.
CURBSIDE VOTING
Any voter who because of physical handicap or 65 or older who cannot enter the
polling place in which he is registered to vote (including to Absentee Vote at the
County Election office) or is unable to stand in line to vote may vote outside that
polling place in the closest available parking area (marked at regular polling
places) utilizing the vehicle in which he has driven or has been driven to the polls.
However anyone not meeting these requirements must exit the vehicle while the
person votes unless assistance has been required according to the rules. The
voter’s photo id will be taken inside and validated before a machine will be
brought to the vehicle. The voted ballot will be placed in an envelope and
scanned inside by a poll worker. You must still have a valid ID therefore.
Sojourner Jennings said that if you come to the County Elections office to vote,
please call her at 864-852-2089 and someone will come out to where you are if
you need curbside voting.
NOTE BE SURE TO CHECK AT SCVOTERS. ORG or CALL Sojourner Jennings at (864)
852-2089 to be sure you are REGISTERED to vote. If not, please go ahead and
register so you can vote in the November elections even if you cannot vote in the
primaries.
DEMOCRATS ELECT REPUBLICANS EVERY TIME THEY DON'T VOTE!
