Headed to the polls? Keep this number handy.

Election Protection, the nation’s largest nonpartisan voter protection coalition, is ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to vote in South Carolina. Its 1-866-OUR-VOTE hotline is an important service for those heading out to vote.

“This will be the 12th year that this free, nonpartisan service has helped South Carolina voters with problems at the polls,” said SC Progressive Network Education Fund Director Brett Bursey. “Calls to the hotline provide the only real-time, statewide audit of our election system, which helps us identify and address systemic problems.”

Voters are urged to report problems that they experience or witness, so officials can see patterns to improve upon.

Changes have been made to adjust to Covid-19. Many regular polling places will not be available. Voters should check the hotline or go to scvotes.org, to see open sites. Or they can call the local County Board of election to confirm polling locations.

Voters are still getting used to the new voting machines that produce a paper ballot. After voting, you should verify that your ballot was marked correctly before inserting it into the scanner. If the ballot is incorrect, you should turn it in to a poll worker and vote again.

“Voters must be aware that the state’s photo ID requirements will be enforced for voting in the 2020 presidential preference primary,” said Susan Dunn, attorney for the ACLU of South Carolina. All voters are required to bring either a valid driver’s license, DMV-issued ID card, or their photo-voter registration card with them to the polls on Election Day.  

Dunn notes that registered voters with a “reasonable impediment” that hindered the ability to obtain a photo ID will be allowed to vote a provisional ballot, and the votes will be counted without the voter having to appear to defend their ballot at the county certification hearing. “We recommend voters without one of the accepted IDs to trade their old paper registration card at their county elections office for one with a photo on it,” Dunn said. If you do not have a photo ID, you should bring your voter registration card to the poll.

By calling 1-866-OUR-VOTE, voters can confirm their registration status, find their polling location, and ask about required identification at the polls. Voters are encouraged to report any problems.

Call 1-888-Ve-Y-Vota (1-888-83-9-8682) — or veyvota.org for help in Spanish. 

Verify your registration status to ensure that you can vote.
·       Confirm your polling location, even if it has been in the same place for years. 
·       Bring required ID and know your rights regarding providing identification.
·       Prepare your registered friends and neighbors, and bring them to the polls!
·       If your requested absentee ballot does not arrive in the mail, call your county election Board on Monday, June 8.