Absentee voting starts soon in Beaufort County. Here’s everything you need to know
With November just around the corner, Beaufort County voters are wondering what Election Day will look like during the coronavirus pandemic.
As national advocacy groups warn of voter suppression around the country, and candidates advocate for voter turnout, whether by mail or in person, The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette want you to be informed before you cast your ballot.
From how and where to vote to what’s on the ballot, reporters have compiled all the information you should know before voting absentee or going to the polls on Nov. 3.
What has changed from previous elections because of the pandemic?
The S.C. General Assembly just passed a temporary “no-excuse voting” measure that allows any qualified voter in the state to vote absentee either by mail or in person at county election offices.
Normally, South Carolina requires absentee voters to meet one of 17 requirements such as being at least 65, having a disability or caring for someone who is ill.
When is the last day to register to vote for the 2020 election?
In-Person: Oct. 2 by 5 p.m.
Email, fax or online: Oct. 4 by 11:59 p.m.
By mail: Must be postmarked by Oct. 5.
How do I apply for an absentee ballot and what is the deadline for the 2020 election?
In South Carolina, there are two ways to vote absentee: in person or by mail.
To vote absentee in person, you must:
▪ Visit your county voter registration office.
▪ Complete an application.
▪ Cast your ballot.
County offices — at 15 John Galt Road in Beaufort, 61B Ulmer Road in Bluffton and 539 William Hilton Parkway on Hilton Head — will be open for in-person absentee voting from Oct. 5 until 5 p.m. on Nov. 2. These offices will be open despite the closure of county buildings due to the coronavirus pandemic, said Ron Clifford, chair of the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County.
“People can do in-person on the machines at these three locations, get it done and not have to deal with mailing anything,” Clifford said. “We’re also putting a physical ballot box at those locations. If you’re antsy about the Post Office, you can drive [your ballot] to those locations and put it in that box.”
Clifford said the board is trying to get the state to push the start of in-person absentee voting to Sept. 28.
To vote absentee by mail, you must:
▪ Get your application.
Applications can be requested online and printed, or you can call or email the Beaufort County voter registration office. If requested by phone or email, your application will be mailed. Clifford said everyone who calls the office should receive a prompt call back.
▪ Complete, sign and return the application to your county voter registration office as soon as possible by email, mail, fax, or personal delivery.
To provide time for your ballot to be returned, the South Carolina Election Commission recommends you return your application at least two weeks before election day.
The official deadline to return your application is at 5 p.m. Oct. 30 — the Friday before the election, but applying that late puts your ballot at risk of not being returned by the deadline.
“We try to tell people the legal last day is the Friday before, but there’s no way you’re going to get all that done in enough time,” Clifford said. “We have to send out the application, they fill it out, we have to send it back and they send the ballot back. You just can’t do all of that in four or five days.”
▪ Receive your absentee ballot in the mail. Voters who have applied early will be mailed their absentee ballot about 30 days before the election.
▪ Vote and return the ballot to your county voter registration office either by mail or in person. Place the ballot in the “ballot here” envelope and place it 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.
If the ballot doesn’t include a witness signature, the board can’t count it, Clifford said.
Ballots must be received by the county voter registration office by 7 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.
How many absentee applications has Beaufort County received?
Clifford said the Beaufort County elections board has already received about 20,000 absentee ballot applications as of Friday and it’s expecting a “whole lot more.”
“We’re expecting a big load of absentee ballots this year,” he said.
Will ballots be mailed to every address in Beaufort County?
No. You must request an absentee ballot for it to be mailed.
“We just don’t believe that’s the way to go,” Clifford said. “If you request an absentee ballot from our office, we look you up and we mail it to you.”
When will ballots be mailed?
Clifford said ballots are typically mailed out a day after the absentee application is received and approved.
When should ballots be returned?
You should return your ballot immediately after you finish voting.
“We tell people to return them absolutely as quickly as they can,” Clifford said. “Don’t wait until three days before the election.”
Can absentee ballots be dropped off instead of mailing them? If so, where?
Yes. You can drop your ballot off at any three of the county voter offices: 15 John Galt Road in Beaufort, 61B Ulmer Road in Bluffton and 539 William Hilton Parkway on Hilton Head.
How long do they estimate it will take to count all absentee ballots?
Clifford said it’s hard to estimate, but that it typically takes staff about 3 hours to count 3,000 absentee ballots.
“It’s amazing how much time it takes,” he said.
Will Beaufort County begin a vote count prior to election day?
No. Although absentee ballots can be sent in as early as September, the Beaufort County elections board can’t start processing them until the day before the election. The board can’t and won’t start counting the votes until election day, Clifford said.
What safety precautions is Beaufort County taking for people voting on election day?
According to the SEC, election officials are taking steps to protect the health of voters and poll managers. Poll managers will receive special training on applying social distancing and maintaining sanitary conditions in the polling place. Check-in stations and voting equipment will be spaced at least 6 feet apart.
According to the SEC, election officials will use:
▪ Masks, face shields and gloves for poll managers.
▪ Sneeze guards for check-in stations.
▪ Sanitizing wipes for cleaning common surfaces.
▪ Hand sanitizer for voters and poll managers.
▪ Cotton swabs for making selections on the touchscreen.
▪ Check-in stations and voting equipment will be spaced at least six feet apart.
What will be on the ballot?
You can view your sample ballot on the SEC website. Enter your county, first and last name, and your date of birth.
Aside from the presidential election, several important local races are on the ballot including races for S.C. House and Senate and Beaufort County Council.
Will there be a shortage of poll workers on election day?
Beaufort County needs poll workers for the November presidential election.
The county is advertising the paid poll worker positions to account for a group of older poll workers who are opting out this year to stay safe during the coronavirus pandemic.
Officials say the county needs about 600 poll workers to keep things running smoothly. A shortage of workers could mean longer lines at polling places, threatening voter turnout. Fewer poll workers also could lead to slower results reporting for Beaufort County, which is traditionally one of the last in the state to report election-night results.
Do you have any other burning questions? Contact the Beaufort County Board of Voter Registration & Elections:
15 John Galt Road, Beaufort, SC 29901-1228
Phone: (843) 255-6900
Toll Free: (866) 851-8683
Fax: (843) 255-9429 or (843) 524-0617
Marie S. Smalls, Director
Email: vote.beaufort@elections.sc.gov
Absentee email: absentee@beaufortcountysc.gov
Website: https://www.beaufortcountysc.gov/vote/
This story was originally published September 6, 2020 at 7:00 AM.
