Early voting for U.S. Senate Special Republican Primary runoff begins Aug. 19

COLUMBIA - The South Carolina Election Commission is reminding eligible voters about important dates and deadlines for a runoff election on Aug. 25. Not every voter is eligible to participate in the Special Republican Primary Runoff. Voters who participated in the June Democratic Primary are not eligible to vote in the runoff. Voters who participated in the June Republican Primary, the U.S. Senate Special Republican Primary or who did not vote in either primary are eligible to vote.

Early voting in runoffs

Voters may visit an early voting center during the early voting period and vote just as they would at their polling place on Election Day. In Sumter, this center is at the Voter Registration and Elections office, 129 E. Liberty St. In Manning, go to the county voter registration office at 3 S. Church St. In Lee County, visit the county voter registration office at 101 Gregg St., Bishopville.

- The early voting period is Wednesday, Aug. 19, through Friday, Aug. 21.

- Early voting centers are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

- Voters will be asked to present their Photo ID when checking in to vote.

Reminders for absentee voting

- Qualified voters can vote absentee by mail. Examples include: A person with a physical disability, someone age 65 or older and a person whose job prevents them from voting during early voting and election day.

- To see a full list of qualifying reasons, visit the absentee voting page on scVOTES.gov.

- To vote absentee by mail, get an application by contacting the county voter registration and elections office.

- The deadline to return an absentee application is 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 14.

- After receiving and completing the ballot, voters must be sure to sign the oath and have the signature witnessed.

- Anyone age 18 or older can witness the signature. A notary is not necessary.

- Return the ballot by mail or personal delivery as soon as possible.

o Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Aug. 25.

o Ballots should be mailed no later than one week prior to Election Day to help ensure timely delivery.

o Voters must present Photo ID if returning an absentee ballot in person.

- Additional information about assistance from an immediate family member or authorized representative requesting an absentee ballot is available at scVOTES.gov.

UOCAVA voting information

Military members, their eligible family members, and U.S. citizens residing overseas may vote absentee under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

- UOCAVA voters who returned an Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) ballot with their Special Primary ballot have already cast their ballot for the runoff and don't need to do anything else.

- UOCAVA voters who have not received a runoff ballot should contact their county voter registration and elections office.

- Voted ballots must be received by county election officials no later than 7 p.m. on Aug. 25.

- Additional information for military and overseas voters is available on the UOCAVA page at scVOTES.gov.