Admin – SC Equality PAC https://scequalityaction.org Fighting For Equality Mon, 26 Oct 2020 11:01:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.6.13 Only 8 Days Left. What’s Your Plan? https://scequalityaction.org/only-8-days-left-whats-your-plan/ Mon, 26 Oct 2020 10:43:03 +0000 http://scequalityaction.org/?p=2118

Share This Story

We’re 8 days until the most important election of our lifetime.
What’s your plan?

COLUMBIA, SC – Voting should never be a confusing process, but with the spread COVID-19, we know that many South Carolinians still have questions about how to vote in the November 3rd General Election. SC Equality has compiled information to help ensure you make the best decision on how you can safely cast your vote and make it count.

Vote Absentee by Mail

Legislation was signed into law on September 16, 2020, that makes significant changes to absentee voting rules for the November 3, 2020 General Election.

  • All voters are now qualified to vote absentee under the “State of Emergency” reason.
  • Applications must be received by the voter registration office by 5:00 p.m., Saturday, October 24.

Witness Signature (THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT)

There’s been a lot of confusion about the state’s requirement to have a witness signature on your absentee ballot. Courts have issued rulings back and forth in both directions in the past week and it’s changing daily.  SC Equality is concerned that people may be confused by the “on again off again” signature requirement rulings. You should go ahead and obtain a witness signature for the absentee by mail ballot just in case and not knowing how this court case is going to turn out we would not want your vote to be invalid.

Step 1:  Get your application.

     Get the application online. You must be able to print your application.

OR

     Call or email your county voter registration office.  You will be mailed an application.

Step 2:  Complete, sign and return the application to your county voter registration office as soon as possible by email, mail, fax, or personal delivery.

  • Return your application at least two weeks before election day to provide time for receiving and returning your ballot by mail.
  • The deadline to return your application is 5:00 p.m. on the fourth day prior to the election.  WARNING:  Applying late puts your ballot at risk of not being returned by the deadline.

Step 3:  Receive your absentee ballot in the mail. Voters who have applied early will be mailed their absentee ballot approximately 30 days before the election.

Step 4:  Vote and return the ballot to your county voter registration office either by mail or personal delivery.  Place the ballot in the “ballot here-in” envelope and place the “ballot here-in” envelope in the return envelope.  Be sure to sign the voter’s oath and have your signature witnessed.  Anyone can witness your signature.  A notary is not necessary.

  • Ballots must be received by the county voter registration office by 7:00 p.m. on election day.
  • Ballots returned by mail should be mailed no later than one week prior to election day to help ensure timely delivery.

Vote Early Absentee In-Person?

All voters are now qualified to vote absentee (by mail or in-person) under the “State of Emergency” reason.

Step 1: Visit your county voter registration office or extension office. 

Step 2: Complete an application.

Step 3. Cast your ballot. 

You may vote absentee in-person up until 5:00 p.m. on the day before the election.  Rules for photo ID required to vote at the polling place apply.

Additional in-person absentee locations are available in some counties for some elections.

Vote In-Person on Election Day?

Photo ID

When voting in person, you will be asked to show one of the following Photo IDs at your polling place:

  • SC Driver’s License
  • SC Department of Motor Vehicles ID Card
  • SC Voter Registration Card with Photo
  • Federal Military ID
  • US Passport

Click here to learn more about photo ID required at the polling place.

Where to Vote

Find Your Precinct

Download a List of Polling Places & Addresses

When to Vote

Polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.  Anyone in line at 7:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

We know this is a lot of information to take in and understand.  Our goal is the make sure you vote safely, accurately, and that every vote counts, without question.  If you have any questions, email us at info@scequality.org

Share This Story

We’re 8 days until the most important election of our lifetime.
What’s your plan?

COLUMBIA, SC – Voting should never be a confusing process, but with the spread COVID-19, we know that many South Carolinians still have questions about how to vote in the November 3rd General Election. SC Equality has compiled information to help ensure you make the best decision on how you can safely cast your vote and make it count.

Vote Absentee by Mail

Legislation was signed into law on September 16, 2020, that makes significant changes to absentee voting rules for the November 3, 2020 General Election.

  • All voters are now qualified to vote absentee under the “State of Emergency” reason.
  • Applications must be received by the voter registration office by 5:00 p.m., Saturday, October 24.

Witness Signature (THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT)

There’s been a lot of confusion about the state’s requirement to have a witness signature on your absentee ballot. Courts have issued rulings back and forth in both directions in the past week and it’s changing daily.  SC Equality is concerned that people may be confused by the “on again off again” signature requirement rulings. You should go ahead and obtain a witness signature for the absentee by mail ballot just in case and not knowing how this court case is going to turn out we would not want your vote to be invalid.

Step 1:  Get your application.

     Get the application online. You must be able to print your application.

OR

     Call or email your county voter registration office.  You will be mailed an application.

Step 2:  Complete, sign and return the application to your county voter registration office as soon as possible by email, mail, fax, or personal delivery.

  • Return your application at least two weeks before election day to provide time for receiving and returning your ballot by mail.
  • The deadline to return your application is 5:00 p.m. on the fourth day prior to the election.  WARNING:  Applying late puts your ballot at risk of not being returned by the deadline.

Step 3:  Receive your absentee ballot in the mail. Voters who have applied early will be mailed their absentee ballot approximately 30 days before the election.

Step 4:  Vote and return the ballot to your county voter registration office either by mail or personal delivery.  Place the ballot in the “ballot here-in” envelope and place the “ballot here-in” envelope in the return envelope.  Be sure to sign the voter’s oath and have your signature witnessed.  Anyone can witness your signature.  A notary is not necessary.

  • Ballots must be received by the county voter registration office by 7:00 p.m. on election day.
  • Ballots returned by mail should be mailed no later than one week prior to election day to help ensure timely delivery.

Vote Early Absentee In-Person?

All voters are now qualified to vote absentee (by mail or in-person) under the “State of Emergency” reason.

Step 1: Visit your county voter registration office or extension office. 

Step 2: Complete an application.

Step 3. Cast your ballot. 

You may vote absentee in-person up until 5:00 p.m. on the day before the election.  Rules for photo ID required to vote at the polling place apply.

Additional in-person absentee locations are available in some counties for some elections.

Vote In-Person on Election Day?

Photo ID

When voting in person, you will be asked to show one of the following Photo IDs at your polling place:

  • SC Driver’s License
  • SC Department of Motor Vehicles ID Card
  • SC Voter Registration Card with Photo
  • Federal Military ID
  • US Passport

Click here to learn more about photo ID required at the polling place.

Where to Vote

Find Your Precinct

Download a List of Polling Places & Addresses

When to Vote

Polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.  Anyone in line at 7:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

We know this is a lot of information to take in and understand.  Our goal is the make sure you vote safely, accurately, and that every vote counts, without question.  If you have any questions, email us at info@scequality.org

Share This Story

]]>
Absentee Voting begins in South Carolina Let’s Elect Pro-Equality Candidates in November. Your Vote. Your Voice. https://scequalityaction.org/absentee-voting-begins-in-south-carolina-lets-elect-pro-equality-candidates-in-november-your-vote-your-voice/ Tue, 09 Oct 2018 18:31:07 +0000 http://scequalityaction.org/?p=1728
South Carolina voters can begin casting in-person absentee ballots for the Nov. 6 general election now.

The state doesn’t allow no-excuses early voting. But someone who is working, will be out of town, is sixty-five years or older, or is physically unable to go to the polls can qualify for an absentee ballot.

Machines will be set up in the office of each county election board. Absentee ballots can be cast through Nov. 5, the day before the election.

People can also request an application from county election officials by mail.

Procedures for voting by absentee ballot 

Qualified voters (see below) may vote absentee in person or by mail.

In Person

Visit the county election office in your county of residence, complete an application, and cast your ballot.  You may vote absentee in person up until 5:00 p.m. on the day before the election.  Rules for photo ID required to vote at the polling place apply.  Or call your local election office to find out when and where a satellite in-person absentee voting location might be set up near your home.

By Mail

Follow these steps to vote absentee by mail.  Photo ID is not required to vote absentee by mail.

Step 1: Get an absentee application in one of two ways:

  • Get the application online.   Use this link to get your application or the application of an immediate family member online.  To get your application online, you must be able to print your application or save your application for printing later.  You can also use this link to access your application to print again.
    • NOTE: In order to open the application, you must have the most recent version of Adobe reader downloaded. You can download this at https://get.adobe.com/reader/. Once you have downloaded the program, you will be able to open the Absentee Application.
  • Request an application for yourself or your immediate family member from the county election office in your county of residence by phone, mail, email, or fax.   You will be mailed an application.

See complete rules below on requesting applications for other voters.

Step 2:  You’ve now printed your application online or received your application in the mail.  You must now complete and sign the application and return it to your county voter registration office. You should return the application as soon as possible but no later than 5:00 p.m. on the 4th day prior to the election (the 4th day is Friday for all Tuesday elections).  You may return the application by mail, email, fax, or personal delivery.

Step 3:  Receive your absentee ballot in the mail.

Step 4:  Vote the ballot following ballot instructions and return it to the county election office in your county of residence by 7:00 p.m. on the day of the election.  You may return the ballot personally or by mail.  You may also have another person return the ballot for you, but you and the other person (a yellow form) must first complete an authorization to return absentee ballot form, available from your county voter registration office.

Step 5:  Your completed absentee ballot must be placed in the “Ballots Herein” envelope provided with your absentee ballot and sealed.

Step 6:  Place the “Ballots Herein” envelope inside the “Return Envelope”. You, the voter, must sign and date the envelope and have a witness ign the envelope and provide their address before returning. Mail the ballot with appropriate postage.

State law requires the voter to sign the application for an absentee ballot and oath on the envelope used to return the absentee ballot.  A “power of attorney” is not applicable for voting.  Voters unable to write because of physical handicap or illiteracy may receive help in applying for and marking their ballot. The voter must make his/her mark and have the mark witnessed by someone chosen by the voter.

For more information regarding voter registration and absentee voting, contact your County Voter Registration Office

Click here for the address, phone number, fax number, and email address of your county voter registration and elections office.

Persons qualified to vote by absentee ballot:

  1. Persons sixty-five years of age or older
  2. Persons who for reasons of employment will not be able to vote on election day
  3. Members of the Armed Forces or Merchant Marine serving outside their county of residence and their spouses and dependents residing with them (click here for additional information)
  4. Persons serving with the American Red Cross or with the United Service Organizations (USO) who are attached to and serving with the Armed Forces outside their county of residence and their spouses and dependents residing with them
  5. Overseas Citizens (click here for additional information)
  6. Persons who are physically disabled
  7. Students attending school outside their county of residence and their spouses and dependents residing with them
  8. Government employees serving outside their county of residence on Election Day and their spouses and dependents residing with them
  9. Persons who plan to be on vacation outside their county of residence on Election Day
  10. Persons serving as a juror in state or federal court on Election Day
  11. Persons admitted to the hospital as emergency patients on Election Day or within a four-day period before the election
  12. Persons with a death or funeral in the family within three days before the election
  13. Persons confined to a jail or pre-trial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial
  14. Persons attending sick or physically disabled persons
  15. Certified poll watchers, poll managers, and county election officials working on Election Day
  16. Persons who for religious reasons do not want to vote on a Saturday (Presidential Primaries Only)

Check the Status of Your Absentee Ballot

Absentee Voting Procedures for Military and Overseas Citizens.  Click here to visit the Military and Overseas Citizens page.

Absentee Voting Procedures for Residential Care Facilities

Who Can Request an Application/Return an Absentee Ballot

  • Voters may request an absentee ballot in person, by phone (except authorized representatives), by mail, or by contacting your county voter registration office in the county in which you are registered. County Voter Registration Contact Information.
  • The voter, a member of the voter’s immediate family, or the voter’s authorized representative may request the absentee ballot application.  An authorized representative is a registered voter who, with a voter’s permission, can request an absentee ballot application on behalf of a voter who qualifies because of illness or disability. Candidates and paid campaign workers may not serve as authorized representatives.
  • Voters admitted to the hospital as an emergency patient on the day of the election or within four days of the election can have an immediate family member apply and carry a ballot to the voter.
  • To have your absentee ballot returned by a person other than yourself, it is necessary for the absentee voter to compete an “Authorization to Return Absentee Ballot Form”. The absentee voter completes Part I, and the person returning the ballot completes Part II of the form. Candidates and paid campaign workers may not return absentee ballots unless they are an immediate family member of the voter.
]]>
SC Equality PAC announce first wave of endorsements for 2018 https://scequalityaction.org/sc-equality-pac-announce-first-wave-of-endorsements-for-2018/ Mon, 17 Sep 2018 17:04:37 +0000 http://scequalityaction.org/?p=1722

SC Equality PAC announce first wave of endorsements for 2018

SC Equality PAC (the political action committee of SC Equality) announce endorsements of a record number of candidates running for state and local office in November. Jeff Ayers, Executive Director of SC Equality said “While many fight to take us backwards, these candidates will fight to advance LGBTQ equality across our state. We are proud to endorse this record number of candidates this year.”

By endorsing a record number candidates across the Palmetto State, LGBTQ South Carolinians will make their voices heard loud and clear on November 6th. We believe that these candidates are champions we can count on in November – and every day after they all take office.

The stakes in this election could not be higher for LGBTQ South Carolinians and SC Equality PAC expects that the pro-equality vote in South Carolina will be larger, stronger, and more energized than at any time in the history of the movement for LGBTQ equality.

Learn More About These Candidates
]]>
SC Equality PAC has endorsed James Smith for Governor. https://scequalityaction.org/1623-2/ Wed, 05 Sep 2018 18:04:54 +0000 http://scequalityaction.org/?p=1623

SC Equality PAC has endorsed James Smith for Governor.

A long-time champion for LGBTQ equality in the SC House of Representatives, James Smith has been outspoken vocal supporter and advocate for SC Equality. He recognizes that all South Carolinians deserve the same rights in our state and understands the critical need for legislation protecting LGBTQ South Carolinians in the workplace, housing and public accommodations. This past legislative session, he sponsored H-3891 “Workplace Freedom Act”, which sought to establish protections for LGBTQ employees and continues to fight against all discriminatory anti-LGBTQ bills filed at the state house.

]]>