South Carolina will award the first delegates in the national Democratic presidential primary following today’s first-in-the-nation party primary.
In past years, New Hampshire came first. But last year, President Joe Biden, recognizing the importance of the Palmetto State to his 2020 campaign, urged the Democratic National Committee to have its first primary in South Carolina.
Polls are open across the state until 7 p.m. today at voters’ regular polling location. Anyone in line before 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote, according to the S.C. State Election Commission. Absentee ballots must be received by the county voter registration office no later than 7 p.m. Feb. 3 to be counted.
- To find your polling place or check a sample ballot, visit scvotes.gov, or contact your county elections office.
South Carolina is an “open” primary state, which means anyone registered to vote in the state can participate in the Republican or Democratic contest — but not both.
Voters will need to present a current and valid photo ID when checking in to vote. Acceptable IDs include an S.C. driver’s license, an S.C. voter registration card, a federal military ID or U.S. Passport.
South Carolina will award 55 pledged delegates to its national party convention, a small fraction of the 2,000 needed to secure the Democratic nomination, but Biden largely credited his 2020 win in the S.C. primary with his campaign’s success afterward.
On the ballot with Biden are Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips and self-help author Marianna Williamson. Phillips earned about 20% of the vote in the unofficial New Hampshire primary, while Williamson, who previously sought nomination in 2020, received about 4%. Early voting in the S.C. Democratic primary began Jan. 22, ending Friday at 6 p.m.
Election officials say they likely will get a decent turnout for the state’s Democratic primary, but expect a much bigger turnout for the Republican “first in the South” primary on Feb. 24. Early voting for the Republican presidential primary begins Feb. 12 with the same voting times.
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