Voting machines set up in 2023. (Provided by Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections)
COLUMBIA – South Carolina is finalizing ballots for the November election this week.
Tuesday at noon marked the deadline for a party to register presidential and vice presidential candidates, meaning no new candidates can get on the state’s ballot. The last day for for non-presidential candidates to get on the ballot passed weeks ago. Friday at 5 p.m. is the cutoff for any candidates to withdraw and have their name removed.
The state Board of Elections could make online sample ballots available as early as Wednesday.
Seven parties will be running candidates for president, an election board spokesman confirmed Tuesday.
One of the more prominent third-party candidates, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. will not appear on the Palmetto State ballot, however. It was the state party, not the Kennedy campaign, that made the decision.
Kennedy was running as an Alliance Party candidate, but the party withdrew him after he suspended his campaign.
He is now backing former President Donald Trump.
South Carolinains have until early October to register to vote — in person through Oct. 4 or online through Oct. 6. Mail in applications count as long as they are postmarked by Oct. 7.
Early in-person voting starts Oct. 21 and will run for two weeks, every day except Sunday, through Nov. 2. Voters can request an absentee ballot until Oct. 25.
The first ballots will be mailed to overseas and military voters by Sept. 21.
Besides president, voters will elect members for all seven of South Carolina’s seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and all members of the state House and Senate will be on the ballot.
Voters also will decide on what state legislators have called a precautionary change to the state constitution’s wording related to voter qualifications, going from from “every” to “only a” citizen. Legislators approved the question, saying it prevents any local governments allowing non-citizens to vote in local elections.
Some cities and towns in other states have allowed non-U.S. citizens to vote in local elections, but none in South Carolina have sought to allow it.
Final list of candidates for president and vice president on the South Carolina ballot
Constitution: Randall Terry and Stephen Broden
United Citizens: Cornel West and Melina Abdullah
Green: Jill Stein and Butch Ware
Republican: Donald Trump and J.D. Vance
Libertarian: Chase Oliver and Mike ter Maat
Democratic: Kamala Harris and Tim Walz
Workers (Previously Labor): Claudia De la Cruz and Karina Garcia