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Voting history · South Carolina

South Carolina

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 state view: events recorded for South Carolina, then national events that apply here. See the national timeline.

Congressional districts in South Carolina

Choose a district to see the events tagged to it. A number after the district is how many events name it.

Kind of event
Decade

In South Carolina

2019

  1. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 4 more polling places in Aiken County in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Aiken County had 69 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 73 in 2018, a change of +4 (6%). The report lists the 2012 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  2. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 3 more polling places in Anderson County in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Anderson County had 75 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 78 in 2018, a change of +3 (4%). The report lists the 2012 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  3. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 fewer polling place in Barnwell County in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Barnwell County had 10 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 9 in 2018, a change of -1 (-10%). The report lists the 2012 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  4. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 fewer polling place in Beaufort County in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Beaufort County had 58 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 57 in 2018, a change of -1 (-2%). The report lists the 2012 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  5. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 7 more polling places in Berkeley County in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Berkeley County had 48 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 55 in 2018, a change of +7 (15%). The report lists the 2012 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  6. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 10 fewer polling places in Charleston County in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Charleston County had 105 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 95 in 2018, a change of -10 (-10%). The report lists the 2012 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  7. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 more polling place in Chester County in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Chester County had 20 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 21 in 2018, a change of +1 (5%). The report lists the 2012 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  8. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 more polling place in Colleton County in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Colleton County had 31 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 32 in 2018, a change of +1 (3%). The report lists the 2012 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  9. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 3 fewer polling places in Dorchester County in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Dorchester County had 40 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 37 in 2018, a change of -3 (-8%). The report lists the 2012 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  10. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 more polling place in Edgefield County in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Edgefield County had 10 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 11 in 2018, a change of +1 (10%). The report lists the 2012 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  11. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 2 fewer polling places in Florence County in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Florence County had 61 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 59 in 2018, a change of -2 (-3%). The report lists the 2012 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  12. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 more polling place in Georgetown County in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Georgetown County had 31 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 32 in 2018, a change of +1 (3%). The report lists the 2012 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  13. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 5 more polling places in Greenwood County in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Greenwood County had 45 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 50 in 2018, a change of +5 (11%). The report lists the 2012 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  14. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 5 more polling places in Horry County in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Horry County had 117 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 122 in 2018, a change of +5 (4%). The report lists the 2012 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  15. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 more polling place in Jasper County in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Jasper County had 13 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 14 in 2018, a change of +1 (8%). The report lists the 2012 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  16. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 fewer polling place in Kershaw County in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Kershaw County had 34 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 33 in 2018, a change of -1 (-3%). The report lists the 2012 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  17. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 7 more polling places in Lancaster County in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Lancaster County had 29 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 36 in 2018, a change of +7 (24%). The report lists the 2012 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  18. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 3 more polling places in Lexington County in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Lexington County had 91 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 94 in 2018, a change of +3 (3%). The report lists the 2012 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  19. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 more polling place in McCormick County in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that McCormick County had 10 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 11 in 2018, a change of +1 (10%). The report lists the 2012 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  20. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 20 more polling places in Richland County in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Richland County had 122 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 142 in 2018, a change of +20 (16%). The report lists the 2012 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  21. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 3 more polling places in York County in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that York County had 86 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 89 in 2018, a change of +3 (3%). The report lists the 2012 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

2012

  1. Oct 10, 2012 State Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Three-judge court grants preclearance of South Carolina photo ID law starting in 2013

    On October 10, 2012, a three-judge court in the District of Columbia wrote that it granted "pre-clearance for South Carolina to implement Act R54 for future elections beginning with any elections in 2013." The court concluded the law as interpreted by state officials did not have a discriminatory retrogressive effect and was not enacted for a discriminatory purpose.

    Related: South Carolina enacts Act R54, requiring photo ID to vote with a "reasonable impediment" exception · Supreme Court decides Shelby County v. Holder · Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the photo ID requirement in South Carolina Act R54

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  2. 2012 State Courts and officials Upheld

    Three-judge court upholds South Carolina's 2011 congressional map in Backus v. South Carolina

    The Supreme Court's opinion in Alexander v. South Carolina NAACP states that the Justice Department precleared the 2011 congressional map and that a three-judge District Court upheld it against "racial-gerrymandering and intentional vote-dilution claims" in Backus v. South Carolina, 857 F. Supp. 2d 553, summarily affirmed, 568 U.S. 801 (2012).

    Related: South Carolina adopts a new congressional map after the 2020 census · Supreme Court decides Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

2011

  1. Dec 23, 2011 State Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    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.

    Related: South Carolina enacts Act R54, requiring photo ID to vote with a "reasonable impediment" exception · Three-judge court grants preclearance of South Carolina photo ID law starting in 2013

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  2. May 2011 State Laws and rules Enacted

    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.

    Related: Three-judge court grants preclearance of South Carolina photo ID law starting in 2013 · Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the photo ID requirement in South Carolina Act R54

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

Nationwide

2019

  1. Dec 6, 2019 National Laws and rules Failed

    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.

    Related: House passes John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act; Senate cloture vote on November 3, 2021 is 50-49 and fails · Supreme Court decides Shelby County v. Holder

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  2. Jun 27, 2019 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Department of Commerce v. New York, on a census citizenship question

    On June 27, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court decided a challenge to the Commerce Secretary's decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census. The syllabus says "The Enumeration Clause permits Congress, and by extension the Secretary, to inquire about citizenship on the census questionnaire," and the judgment was "affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded."

    Source last checked Oct 29, 2026

  3. Jun 27, 2019 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Rucho v. Common Cause

    On June 27, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court decided cases from North Carolina and Maryland in which voters challenged congressional maps as partisan. The Court held that such claims present "political questions beyond the reach of the federal courts."

    Source last checked Oct 29, 2026

  4. Mar 8, 2019 National Laws and rules Failed

    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.

    Related: For the People Act of 2021 passes the House; Senate committee discharge vote is 50-49 and the bill stalls

    Source last checked Oct 29, 2026

2018

  1. Sep 12, 2018 National Laws and rules In effect

    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

  2. Jun 18, 2018 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Gill v. Whitford

    On June 18, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court reviewed a challenge to Wisconsin's state legislative map as a partisan one. The Court held that "The plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate Article III standing."

    Related: Supreme Court decides Rucho v. Common Cause

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

  3. Jun 11, 2018 National Courts and officials Upheld

    Supreme Court decides Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute

    On June 11, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court held that "The process that Ohio uses to remove voters on change-of-residence grounds does not violate the Failure-to-Vote Clause or any other part of the NVRA."

    Related: National Voter Registration Act of 1993 becomes law · Help America Vote Act of 2002 becomes law

    Source last checked Oct 22, 2026

  4. Jan 3, 2018 National Courts and officials Enacted

    President terminates the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity

    Executive Order 13820, dated January 3, 2018 and published January 8, 2018, revoked Executive Order 13799 and states that "the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity is accordingly terminated."

    Related: President establishes the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity

    Source last checked Oct 29, 2026

2017

  1. May 22, 2017 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Cooper v. Harris

    On May 22, 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court reviewed North Carolina's congressional Districts 1 and 12. The syllabus says the lower court "did not err in concluding that race furnished the predominant rationale for District 1's redesign and that the State's interest in complying with the VRA could not justify that consideration of race."

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

  2. May 11, 2017 National Courts and officials Enacted

    President establishes the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity

    Executive Order 13799, dated May 11, 2017 and published May 16, 2017, established the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, chaired by the Vice President, to "study the registration and voting processes used in Federal elections."

    Related: President terminates the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity

    Source last checked Oct 29, 2026

  3. Jan 6, 2017 National Polling places and drop boxes In effect

    Homeland Security designates election infrastructure as critical infrastructure

    On January 6, 2017, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said he had determined "that election infrastructure in this country should be designated as a subsector of the existing Government Facilities critical infrastructure sector." The statement defines election infrastructure as including "storage facilities, polling places, and centralized vote tabulations locations" and voter registration databases and voting machines.

    Source last checked Oct 29, 2026

2016

  1. Apr 4, 2016 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Evenwel v. Abbott

    On April 4, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court held that "a State or locality may draw its legislative districts based on total population," according to its syllabus.

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

2013

  1. Jun 25, 2013 National Courts and officials Struck down

    Supreme Court decides Shelby County v. Holder

    On June 25, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court held that Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional and that its formula can no longer be used as a basis for requiring places to get federal approval ("preclearance") before changing voting procedures.

    Related: Voting Rights Act of 1965 signed into law · Supreme Court decides Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District No. One v. Holder · Voting Rights Act reauthorized and amended in 2006 · Supreme Court decides South Carolina v. Katzenbach

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

  2. Jun 17, 2013 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona

    On June 17, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court held that "Arizona's evidence-of-citizenship requirement, as applied to Federal Form applicants, is pre-empted by the NVRA's mandate that States 'accept and use' the Federal Form."

    Related: National Voter Registration Act of 1993 becomes law

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

  3. Mar 28, 2013 National Courts and officials Enacted

    President establishes the Presidential Commission on Election Administration

    Executive Order 13639, dated March 28, 2013 and published April 3, 2013, established the Presidential Commission on Election Administration. The order says the commission "shall identify best practices and otherwise make recommendations to promote the efficient administration of elections."

    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.