South Carolina Primary Guide

The South Carolina Democratic primary takes place on Saturday, February 29th and all South Carolina voters may participate. This is an open primary, meaning that you do not need to be a registered Democrat to participate.

Polls are open from 7AM through 7PM. Be sure to bring a photo ID, as it is generally required in order to cast a vote.

Can I participate even if I’m not a registered Democrat?

Yes! South Carolina does not have voter registration by party, meaning that everyone who is registered to vote in the state may participate.

Who will appear on the ballot?

The South Carolina primary ballot will include several candidates who’ve withdrawn from the race, and will not include some candidates who are still running — most prominently Michael Bloomberg. Here’s a list of active candidates who will appear on the primary ballot:

• Joe Biden

• Pete Buttigieg

• Tulsi Gabbard

• Amy Klobuchar

• Bernie Sanders

• Tom Steyer

• Elizabeth Warren

Write-ins are not allowed in the primary, so you must choose from one of the candidates listed on the ballot.

What is a primary? How is it different from the caucuses that have taken place in Iowa and Nevada?

The South Carolina primary process is much more straightforward than the caucuses that took place in other states. Participants simply go to their standard polling location and vote for their candidate of choice. The experience is very similar to participating in a general election.

I have other questions about the process. Can you help?

Sure! Email us at info@centeractionnow.org and we will do our best to help. The South Carolina Election Commission also maintains an extensive FAQ page that may be helpful.