COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) – South Carolina's first no-exempt early voting period has ended. The SC State Election Commission (SEC) reports that more than 1.5 million ballots were cast in the 2024 general election, marking the highest total number of primary day ballots the state has ever seen in an election.

In 2020, lawmakers allowed people to vote by mail and in person without requiring an excuse for early voting. Previously, voters had to decide on a permissible exemption for voting before Election Day. The legislature temporarily suspended this regulation during the pandemic.

Lawmakers passed a bill in May 2022 that would impose a two-week period for early voting, following the lead of the majority of states in the country.

Mississippi, Alabama and New Hampshire are now the only states without early voting.

“We are very pleased with this record-breaking voter turnout during the early voting period as we head into a highly anticipated Election Day,” said Howie Knapp, Executive Director of the SEC. “If you haven’t cast your vote yet, go to the polls tomorrow and exercise your right to vote.”

*The Election Commission noted that while current early voting laws were only implemented in 2022, in-person absentee voting and absentee voting were available to all voters in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

SEE HERE: Everything you need to know before SC Election Day

What you should know before Election Day

Polls will be open November 5th from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Officials urge potential voters to check their sample ballot and polling location on scVOTES.gov before going to the polls.

You will be asked to show photo ID upon check-in to vote.

The deadline for returning mail-in ballots is 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, November 5th

If you have a mail-in ballot and have not yet returned it, return it as soon as possible. Officials recommend returning your ballot in person to ensure it is received before the deadline.

If you are returning a mail-in ballot in person, you will be required to present photo ID.

For more information about exemptions for military and foreign voters, visit scVOTES.gov.

You can also learn how a close family member or authorized representative can help you return your mail-in ballot.

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