South Carolina's 2nd Congressional District
A dated list of changes to how Americans vote: district maps, polling places and drop boxes, voting laws and rules, and courts and election officials. Each entry says who did what and when, shows what became of it, and links to the page it rests on. Attempts that failed are listed as failed. Entries that rest on a news report name the outlet.
This is the district view: events tagged to this congressional district, then events that apply across South Carolina, then national events. An event is tagged to a district only when its source names that congressional district. See all of South Carolina.
In South Carolina's 2nd Congressional District
No events have been tagged to South Carolina's 2nd Congressional District yet. District events are added over time. The state and national events below also apply here.
Across South Carolina
2022
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Governor signs Act 150 (S.108), creating early voting in South Carolina
The legislature's bill page for S.108 records passage by the General Assembly on May 12, 2022 and signature by the Governor on May 13, 2022, as Act No. 150. The act adds Section 7-13-25 to the Code of Laws "so as to establish early voting in the State," and amends the witness requirement and the reasons allowed for absentee voting.
- South Carolina Legislature: S.108 (Act No. 150 of 2022), bill history and text ↗
- South Carolina Election Commission: Early Voting ↗
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
2011
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Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the photo ID requirement in South Carolina Act R54
In a letter of December 23, 2011, the Justice Department wrote that it did not object to sections 1, 2, 3 and 6 of Act R54 (2011) but that, as to section 5, which would require voters to present one of five forms of photo identification to vote in person, "I cannot conclude that the state has sustained its burden under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. Therefore, on behalf of the Attorney General, I must object to section 5 of Act R54." The letter cites the state's own data: 239,333 registered voters (8.9%) lacked DMV-issued photo ID, including 8.4% of white registered voters and 10.0% of non-white registered voters, and it says the submission did not include evidence of in-person voter impersonation that the new rule could deter.
- U.S. Department of Justice: Section 5 determination letter to the State of South Carolina, December 23, 2011 (Act R54) ↗
- U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division: Voting Determination Letters for South Carolina (index) ↗
Source last checked Oct 21, 2026
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South Carolina enacts Act R54, requiring photo ID to vote with a "reasonable impediment" exception
According to the three-judge court, the General Assembly passed Act R54 on May 11, 2011, and Governor Nikki Haley then signed it. The court described the law as adding passports, military IDs and a free photo voter registration card to accepted IDs, and as allowing voters with a non-photo registration card to vote after signing an affidavit stating the reason they had not obtained a photo ID.
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
1984
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Justice Department objects under Section 5 to South Carolina's Act R522 on assistance to voters
In a letter of September 11, 1984, the Justice Department addressed Act No. R522 (1984), which amends section 7-13-770 of the 1976 South Carolina Code to bring the state into compliance with Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act, which allows a voter who needs assistance because of blindness, disability or inability to read or write to be given assistance by a person of the voter's choice other than the voter's employer or union agent. Under the Act, a voter could receive assistance from anyone chosen except that a manager selected by the chairman of the managers must accompany the voter and helper into the voting booth unless the helper is a family member. The letter states that the Department's view is that the provision "contravenes Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act" and "therefore, on behalf of the Attorney General, I must interpose an objection to Act No. R522 (1984)." A later letter in the same file, answering the state's request for reconsideration, said its analysis had "disclosed nothing which would warrant a change in our previous determination."
- U.S. Department of Justice: Section 5 determination letter, State of South Carolina, 1984 (scanned letter) ↗
- U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division: Voting Determination Letters for South Carolina (index) ↗
Source last checked Oct 21, 2026
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Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the proposed special-election schedule for South Carolina's new Senate plan
In a letter of August 10, 1984, the Justice Department addressed Senate Bill No. 1093, R626 (1984), which establishes a new Senate reapportionment plan and a proposed schedule for implementing it in special elections that year, received August 9, 1984. It says "The Attorney General does not interpose any objection to the voting changes to be occasioned by the senate reapportionment plan embodied in Senate Bill No. 1093," but, as to the schedule for implementing the plan, "although I am compelled to enter this objection, we are willing to assist the State in its efforts to devise an alternate schedule which meets the requirements of federal law." It suggested qualifying August 14 through 28, a first primary on October 9 and a second on October 16, with the general election on November 6, and said that about sixty days before the first primary was the minimum time for a racially fair primary election.
- U.S. Department of Justice: Section 5 determination letter, State of South Carolina, 1984 (scanned letter) ↗
- U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division: Voting Determination Letters for South Carolina (index) ↗
Source last checked Oct 21, 2026
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Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the 1984 State Senate primary schedule in Act R321
In a letter of March 20, 1984, the Justice Department addressed Act R321, the schedule for the 1984 primary elections for the South Carolina Senate, submitted March 13, 1984. Under the resolution the state would begin implementing a reapportionment plan (Act 257), then the subject of a Section 5 declaratory judgment action, State of South Carolina v. United States (D.D.C. No. 83-3626); candidates would qualify under the proposed plan from March 16 through March 30, 1984, and the primary would move from June 12 to July 24, 1984. The letter states "on behalf of the Attorney General, I must interpose a Section 5 objection to the election schedule established by R321," adding that "we stand ready to review promptly a schedule for the conduct of elections as soon as a plan is precleared."
- U.S. Department of Justice: Section 5 determination letter, State of South Carolina, 1984 (scanned letter) ↗
- U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division: Voting Determination Letters for South Carolina (index) ↗
Source last checked Oct 21, 2026
1972
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Justice Department objects under Section 5 to South Carolina's numbered-post requirement for multi-member offices
In a letter of June 30, 1972, the Justice Department addressed Acts 1204 and 1205. Act 1205 provided a new Senate reapportionment plan and extended the numbered-post requirement to all multi-member districts in the House; Act 1204 provided for numbered posts in all multi-member bodies. The letter enters no objection to the implementation of Plan A of Act 1205, deferring to a three-judge court that had approved it on May 23, 1972, but states: "For the above reasons, we must enter an objection on behalf of the Attorney General to the implementation of Act 1204 and Section 3 of Act 1205." It says the Department was "unable to conclude that the racially dilutive effect some courts have described would not be occasioned by the numbered seat requirement."
- U.S. Department of Justice: Section 5 determination letter, State of South Carolina, 1972 (scanned letter) ↗
- U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division: Voting Determination Letters for South Carolina (index) ↗
Source last checked Oct 21, 2026
Nationwide
2026
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Postal Service issues final rule on ballot mail for federal elections
The Postal Service's final rule "Ballot Mail for Federal Elections" was published August 26, 2026 and states that it is effective August 21, 2026. It says it responds to Executive Order 14399 and received "more than 200,000 responses" during the comment period. The rule says that, because of injunctions in two Massachusetts cases, the Postal Service "will not take actions to implement the rule specifically for the 2026 election" unless the government obtains relief from them. On September 13, 2026, a federal court in Washington granted preliminary injunctions against the rule.
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
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House passes bill with a photo-ID voting requirement; Senate cloture vote fails, 53-47, on September 30, 2026
On July 22, 2026, the House passed H.R. 7008, the Stop Insider Trading Act, by 232 to 198 (Roll no. 280). Section 3 of the House-passed text is titled "Requiring voters to provide photo identification." On September 30, 2026, the Senate voted 53 to 47 on cloture on the motion to proceed, and the bill record says cloture was "not invoked" (Record Vote 253).
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
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Postal Service proposes a rule on ballot mail for federal elections
On June 2, 2026, the Postal Service published a proposed rule, "Ballot Mail for Federal Elections," to amend its Domestic Mail Manual on the transmission of mail-in or absentee ballots for federal elections. The final rule says the comment period closed on July 2, 2026.
- Ballot Mail for Federal Elections (proposed rule), 91 Fed. Reg. 32915 (GovInfo) ↗
- Ballot Mail for Federal Elections (final rule), 91 Fed. Reg. 54966 (GovInfo) ↗
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
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President signs Executive Order 14399 on citizenship verification and mail ballots
Executive Order 14399, "Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections," is dated March 31, 2026 and was published in the Federal Register on April 3, 2026. Section 2 directs the Department of Homeland Security to compile and transmit to each state a "State Citizenship List." Section 3 directs the Postmaster General to begin a rulemaking on mail-in and absentee ballots within 60 days. Courts later enjoined parts of the Postal Service rule that followed.
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
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House passes SAVE America Act text as an amendment to S. 1383, 218-213
On February 11, 2026, the House passed S. 1383 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, by 218 to 213 (Roll no. 69). The House-passed text is titled the "SAVE America Act." On March 17, 2026, the Senate agreed 51 to 48 to a motion to proceed to the House message on S. 1383 (Record Vote 57). On March 21, 2026, a cloture vote on a related motion was "not invoked" by 41 to 49 (Record Vote 61). The bill record lists no final Senate vote, and it did not become law.
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
2025
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Postal Service adds a Domestic Mail Manual section defining postmarks
On November 24, 2025, the Postal Service published a final rule adding section 608.11, "Postmarks and Postal Possession," to the Domestic Mail Manual, effective December 24, 2025. It says the new language "does not change any existing postal operations or postmarking practices" and is intended to improve public understanding of postmarks and the date of mailing.
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
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House passes SAVE Act, 220-208; Senate does not act
On April 10, 2025, the House passed H.R. 22, the SAVE Act, by 220 to 208 (Roll no. 102). The bill was received in the Senate the same day; the bill record lists no later action, and it did not become law.
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
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President signs Executive Order 14248 on federal elections
Executive Order 14248, "Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections," is dated March 25, 2025 and was published in the Federal Register on March 28, 2025. Section 2 is titled "Enforcing the Citizenship Requirement for Federal Elections," Section 4 "Improving the Election Assistance Commission," and Section 7 "Compliance with Federal Law Setting the National Election Day." Courts later enjoined parts of it.
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
2022
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Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022 becomes law
Division P of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328, signed December 29, 2022) may be cited as the "Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022." Title I may be cited as the "Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022."
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
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Senate cloture on the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act fails, 49-51
On January 19, 2022, the Senate voted 49 to 51 on cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to H.R. 5746, the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, and cloture was "not invoked" (Record Vote 9). The bill record also lists a motion by Senator Schumer to appeal the ruling of the chair as "not agreed to," on the question "Shall the decision of the Chair stand as the judgement of the Senate," by 52 to 48 (Record Vote 10). The bill did not become law.
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
2021
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Senate vote to begin debate on the Freedom to Vote Act fails, 49-51
On October 20, 2021, the Senate voted 49 to 51 on cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 2747, the Freedom to Vote Act. The bill record says cloture was "not invoked" (Record Vote 420). The bill did not become law.
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
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House passes John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act; Senate cloture vote on November 3, 2021 is 50-49 and fails
On August 24, 2021, the House passed H.R. 4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021, by 219 to 212 (Roll no. 260). On November 3, 2021, a Senate vote on cloture on the motion to proceed to the companion bill, S. 4, was 50 to 49 and cloture was "not invoked" (Record Vote 459). Neither bill became law.
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
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For the People Act of 2021 passes the House; Senate committee discharge vote is 50-49 and the bill stalls
On March 3, 2021, the House passed H.R. 1, the For the People Act of 2021, by 220 to 210 (Roll no. 62). On June 22, 2021, the Senate voted 50 to 50 (Roll call 246) on cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 2093, the For the People Act of 2021, which required 3/5 of the Senate; the Senate roll call records the result as "Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Rejected." On August 11, 2021, the Senate voted 50 to 49 to discharge its Rules and Administration Committee from the companion bill, S. 1 (Roll call 358). The bill records list no Senate vote on passage, and neither bill became law.
- H.R. 1 (117th Congress) bill status, GovInfo ↗
- S. 1 (117th Congress) bill status, GovInfo ↗
- U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 117th Congress, 1st Session, Vote 246 (June 22, 2021) ↗
Source last checked Oct 22, 2026
2019
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House passes Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019; no Senate vote follows
On December 6, 2019, the House passed H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019, by 228 to 187 (Roll no. 654). It was received in the Senate on December 9, 2019 and referred to the Judiciary Committee; the bill record lists no Senate vote, and it did not become law.
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
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House passes For the People Act of 2019; no Senate vote follows
On March 8, 2019, the House passed H.R. 1, the For the People Act of 2019, by 234 to 193 (Roll no. 118). The bill was received in the Senate on March 12, 2019 and placed on the Senate calendar; the bill record lists no Senate vote on passage, and it did not become law.
Source last checked Oct 29, 2026
2018
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President signs Executive Order 13848 on foreign interference in U.S. elections
Executive Order 13848, dated September 12, 2018, imposes sanctions authority in the event of foreign interference in a U.S. election. The order says "there has been no evidence of a foreign power altering the outcome or vote tabulation in any United States election" and declares a national emergency over the threat of interference.
Source last checked Oct 20, 2026
2009
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Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act becomes law
Section 575 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84, dated October 28, 2009) may be cited as the "Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act." It adds a requirement that states transmit a validly requested absentee ballot to an absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter not later than 45 days before a federal election, when the request is received at least 45 days before it.
Source last checked Oct 29, 2026
2006
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Voting Rights Act reauthorized and amended in 2006
Public Law 109-246, dated July 27, 2006, may be cited as the "Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006." Among other changes it amended Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act and replaced the references to the 1982 amendments in Section 4(a).
Source last checked Oct 29, 2026
2002
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Help America Vote Act of 2002 becomes law
Public Law 107-252, dated October 29, 2002, is titled, in part, "To establish a program to provide funds to States to replace punch card voting systems, to establish the Election Assistance Commission" to assist in the administration of federal elections, and "to establish minimum election administration standards for States and units of local government with responsibility for the administration of Federal elections."
Source last checked Oct 29, 2026
1993
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National Voter Registration Act of 1993 becomes law
Public Law 103-31, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, is dated May 20, 1993. The law states its purpose as "to establish procedures that will increase the number of eligible citizens who register to vote in elections for Federal office."
Source last checked Oct 29, 2026
1986
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Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act becomes law
Public Law 99-410, dated August 28, 1986, may be cited as the "Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act." Its subject is voting in federal elections by members of the uniformed services and by citizens living overseas.
Source last checked Oct 29, 2026
1982
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Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1982 become law
Public Law 97-205, dated June 29, 1982, rewrote Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act to bar any practice "imposed or applied by any State or political subdivision in a manner which results in a denial or abridgement of the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race or color." It also provided that a section 4 provision expires "at the end of the twenty-five-year period following the effective date" of the 1982 amendments.
Source last checked Oct 29, 2026
1975
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Voting Rights Act extended in 1975, with language-minority protections
Public Law 94-73, dated August 6, 1975, is titled "To amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to extend certain provisions for an additional seven years, to make permanent the ban against certain prerequisites to voting, and for other purposes." It also provides that no voting qualification may be imposed "to deny or abridge the right of any citizen of the United States to vote because he is a member of a language minority group."
Source last checked Oct 29, 2026
1971
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26th Amendment ratified: voting age of 18
The National Archives lists the 26th Amendment as passed by Congress on March 23, 1971, and ratified on July 1, 1971. It reads: "The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age."
Source last checked Oct 29, 2026
1970
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Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1970 become law
Public Law 91-285, dated June 22, 1970, is titled "To extend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 with respect to the discriminatory use of tests, and for other purposes." It may be cited as the Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1970.
Source last checked Oct 29, 2026
1965
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Voting Rights Act of 1965 signed into law
President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law on August 6, 1965. The National Archives says the act outlawed the discriminatory voting practices adopted in many southern states after the Civil War.
Source last checked Oct 29, 2026
How this timeline is built
Every entry rests on at least one source that was opened and read, and that source states the date and the fact. Courts, legislatures, election offices, the Justice Department, the Census Bureau, the Federal Register and Congress.gov come first. A news report is used only when no official page states the fact, and it is labeled with the outlet's name. Encyclopedias are not used as sources. History starts in 1965 with the Voting Rights Act. County names come from the Census Bureau's 2024 Gazetteer. Congressional district numbers are those in use for the 2026 election; an event is tagged to a district only when its source names that congressional district.
When a later event changes an earlier one, such as a law later struck down, both entries are listed and point to each other. This page does not predict outcomes or say which party a change helps. U.S. House maps for 2026 · Back to the 2026 voting center.