Can Felons Vote in South Carolina?
It depends. You can vote in South Carolina with a felony conviction only after you have completed your entire sentence, including any probation and parole. While you are still under supervision, you cannot vote. Once your sentence is fully complete, your rights are automatically restored and you can register at scvotes.gov.
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Overview
South Carolina requires full completion of the entire sentence — including incarceration, probation, and parole — before voting rights are restored. Under South Carolina Code Section 7-5-120, anyone convicted of a felony or an offense against the election laws is disqualified from registering or voting until they have fully served their sentence or received a pardon. Once the sentence is complete, there is no additional waiting period or application required — you simply re-register to vote. Proposed legislation in the 2025-2026 session (Senate Bill 3) would change the law to restore rights upon release from prison, but as of March 2026, the current law requires full sentence completion.
Quick Answer
It depends. You can vote in South Carolina with a felony conviction only after you have completed your entire sentence, including any probation and parole. While you are still under supervision, you cannot vote. Once your sentence is fully complete, your rights are automatically restored and you can register at scvotes.gov.
Can vote
- ✓Completed your entire felony sentence, including incarceration, probation, and parole
- ✓Received a pardon from the Governor before completing your sentence
- ✓Convicted of a misdemeanor only (misdemeanors do not affect voting rights in South Carolina)
- ✓In jail awaiting trial (pretrial detention) — not yet convicted
- ✓Felony conviction from another state, sentence fully complete, and now a South Carolina resident
Cannot vote
- ✗Currently incarcerated for a felony conviction
- ✗Currently on probation for a felony conviction
- ✗Currently on parole for a felony conviction
- ✗Convicted of an offense against the election laws and sentence not yet complete
- ✗Found mentally incompetent to vote by a court
Step-by-Step Process
Confirm your sentence is complete
You must have fully completed your entire sentence, including any prison or jail time, probation, and parole. Contact the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services (SCDPPPS) at (803) 734-9220 to verify that your sentence is officially complete. You cannot register until all components of your sentence are finished.
Obtain your voter registration application
Get a voter registration application from your county voter registration office, online at scvotes.gov, or at various state agencies (DMV, public libraries, social services offices). You can register online at scvotes.gov if you have a South Carolina driver's license or DMV-issued ID card.
Complete and submit your registration
Fill out the voter registration application, confirming that if previously convicted of a felony or offense against the election laws, you have served your entire sentence (including probation and parole) or received a pardon. Submit by mail, fax, email, or in person at your county voter registration office. Online registration is available at scvotes.gov.
Meet the registration deadline
Your voter registration application must be received by your county voter registration office at least 30 days before the election in which you wish to vote. Mail-in applications must be postmarked at least 30 days before the election. South Carolina does not offer Same-Day Registration — plan ahead.
Receive your voter registration card
After your application is processed and approved, your county voter registration office will mail you a voter registration card confirming your registration, your precinct, and your polling place. Keep this card for your records.
Vote
Vote in person at your assigned polling place on Election Day. Bring a valid photo ID (South Carolina driver's license, SC DMV ID card, SC voter registration card with photo, federal military ID, or U.S. passport). You can also vote absentee by mail if you qualify under South Carolina's absentee voting rules, or vote early in person during the early voting period.
Key Laws
| Law | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Constitution, Article II, Section 7 | 1895 | Grants the General Assembly the power to establish disqualifications for voting by reason of conviction of a crime. Provides that the legislature may provide for the removal of such disqualifications. |
| South Carolina Code § 7-5-120 — Qualifications for Registration; Persons Disqualified | Current | Disqualifies anyone convicted of a felony or offense against the election laws from registering or voting unless the disqualification has been removed by service of the sentence (including probation and parole) or by a pardon. This is the primary statutory basis for felon disenfranchisement in South Carolina. |
| South Carolina Code § 7-5-170 — Oath of Voter Registration Application | Current | Requires voter registration applicants to affirm under oath that they have not been convicted of a felony or offense against the election laws, or, if they have been convicted, that they have completed their entire sentence or received a pardon. |
| Senate Bill 3 — Felon Voting Rights Restoration (2025-2026 session, proposed) | 2025 (proposed) | Proposed legislation to amend Section 7-5-120 to automatically restore voting rights upon release from prison, rather than requiring completion of probation and parole. Introduced January 14, 2025. Also accompanied by Senate Bill 140 (voting rights notification for inmates) and Concurrent Resolution 3006. As of March 2026, these proposals have not been enacted. |
Edge Cases
Can I vote if I have completed my prison sentence but am still on probation?
No. South Carolina requires completion of your entire sentence, including probation and parole, before your voting rights are restored. You must wait until you are fully discharged from all supervision before registering to vote.
Do I need to pay fines and restitution before I can vote?
Recent changes to South Carolina law have clarified that a person is not disqualified from voting by virtue of legal financial obligations, whether criminal or civil in nature, including restitution. However, if unpaid fines result in continued probation or other active supervision, that supervision must be completed before you can vote. Contact SCDPPPS or an attorney if you are unsure about your specific situation.
Can I vote if I received a pardon before completing my sentence?
Yes. If you receive a pardon from the Governor of South Carolina, your voting rights are restored regardless of whether you have completed your full sentence. Present your pardon documentation when registering to vote at your county voter registration office.
Can I vote if I have a federal felony conviction and live in South Carolina?
It depends. South Carolina law disqualifies anyone convicted of a felony until they have completed their entire sentence. This applies to federal convictions as well. If you have fully completed your federal sentence (including any supervised release), you can register to vote in South Carolina as a state resident.
What about convictions for offenses against the election laws?
South Carolina treats offenses against the election laws the same as felonies for voting disqualification purposes. If you were convicted of an election law offense, you cannot register or vote until you have completed your entire sentence or received a pardon.
Can I vote if I was convicted of a felony in another state but now live in South Carolina?
Yes, if your out-of-state sentence (including any probation, parole, or supervised release) is fully complete. South Carolina applies its own disqualification rules: if your entire sentence from the other state is finished, you can register to vote in South Carolina as a resident.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I vote in South Carolina if I have a felony conviction?
- Yes, but only after you have completed your entire sentence, including any prison or jail time, probation, and parole. While you are still under supervision for a felony, you cannot vote. Once your sentence is fully complete, your rights are automatically restored and you can register to vote.
- How do I register to vote after completing my sentence in South Carolina?
- Register online at scvotes.gov (requires a South Carolina driver's license or DMV-issued ID), by mail using a voter registration application, or in person at your county voter registration office. You must register at least 30 days before the election in which you wish to vote.
- Do I need to apply for my voting rights to be restored?
- No. Your voting rights are automatically restored once you complete your entire sentence (including probation and parole). There is no application, hearing, or fee to restore your voting rights. You simply need to re-register to vote.
- Can I vote while on probation or parole in South Carolina?
- No. South Carolina requires completion of your entire sentence before voting rights are restored. This includes any term of probation, parole, or supervised release. You must be fully discharged from all supervision before you can register and vote.
- What is the voter registration deadline in South Carolina?
- You must register at least 30 days before the election in which you wish to vote. Mail-in applications must be postmarked at least 30 days before the election. South Carolina does not offer Same-Day Registration, so plan ahead. Contact your county voter registration office for specific deadline dates.
- Do I need a photo ID to vote in South Carolina?
- Yes. South Carolina requires a valid photo ID to vote in person. Acceptable IDs include a South Carolina driver's license, SC DMV ID card, SC voter registration card with photo, federal military ID, or U.S. passport. If you do not have one, you can obtain a free voter registration card with photo from your county voter registration office.
- What if I lost my ID while incarcerated?
- You can obtain a free South Carolina voter registration card with photo from your county voter registration office. You can also get a South Carolina DMV ID card. Bring documentation of your identity (such as a birth certificate or Social Security card) and proof of South Carolina residency.
- Can I vote by absentee ballot in South Carolina with a felony record?
- Yes, if your voting rights have been restored (your sentence is complete). South Carolina allows any registered voter to vote early in person or request an absentee ballot by mail. Contact your county voter registration office or visit scvotes.gov for absentee voting information and deadlines.
- Is there proposed legislation to change South Carolina's felon voting rules?
- Yes. In the 2025-2026 legislative session, Senate Bill 3 was introduced to amend the law so that voting rights are automatically restored upon release from prison, rather than requiring completion of probation and parole. Senate Bill 140 would require prisons to notify inmates of their voting eligibility. As of March 2026, these proposals have not been enacted into law.
- What if I was wrongly told I cannot vote?
- Misinformation about felon voting rights is common. If you have completed your entire sentence (including probation and parole) and someone tells you that you cannot vote, they are wrong. Contact your county voter registration office or the South Carolina Election Commission at 1-803-734-9060 to confirm your eligibility. You can also contact SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center for assistance.
Take Action — Direct Links
- SCVotes.gov — Register to Vote Online
South Carolina's official voter registration portal. Register online, check your registration status, find your polling place, and get information about upcoming elections.
- SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center — Voting with a Felony Record
Plain-language guide explaining how people with felony records can vote in South Carolina, including eligibility rules, registration instructions, and frequently asked questions.
- South Carolina Election Commission — Contact Information
Official site of the South Carolina Election Commission. Call 1-803-734-9060 for questions about voter eligibility, registration, and voting with a felony conviction.
- South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services
Contact SCDPPPS at (803) 734-9220 to verify whether your sentence is complete and you are eligible to register to vote.
- Campaign Legal Center — Restore Your Vote (South Carolina)
Interactive tool that helps determine your voter eligibility based on your state and conviction history, with step-by-step guidance for South Carolina.
- Vote.gov — Voting After a Felony Conviction
Federal government resource with state-by-state information on voting rights after a felony conviction, including South Carolina.
Video Guides
Sources
- South Carolina Election Commission — SCVotes.gov
- South Carolina Code § 7-5-120 — Qualifications for Registration
- South Carolina Constitution, Article II — Right of Suffrage
- SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center — Voting with a Felony Record
- NAACP LDF — Felony Disenfranchisement in South Carolina
- South Carolina Legislature — 2025-2026 Bill 3 (Felon Voting Rights)
- US Vote Foundation — South Carolina Voting Rights Restoration
- NCSL — Felon Voting Rights by State