General Election Information
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Poll Worker and Poll Volunteer Information
Poll Worker and Watcher Information for South Carolina
Poll Managers (Workers)
Qualifications
- Poll Managers (except Poll Manager Assistants) must be registered to vote in South Carolina.
- Any 16 or 17-year-old can apply to be a Poll Manager Assistant.
- Clerks must be a registered voter in the county in which they are serving or an adjoining county.
- Poll Managers may not be a candidate or the spouse, parent, child, brother, or sister of a candidate at any polling place where the candidate’s name appears on the ballot.
Poll Manager’s Oaths:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am duly qualified, according to the Constitution of this State, to exercise the duties of the office to which I have been appointed, and that I will, to the best of my ability, discharge the duties thereof, and preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of this State and of the United States. So help me God.” (Article III, Section 26, S.C. Constitution)
“We do solemnly swear that we will conduct this election according to law and will allow no person to vote who is not entitled by law to vote in this election, and we will not unlawfully assist any voter to prepare his ballot and will not advise any voter as to how he should vote at this election.” (SC Code §7-13-100)
Poll Manager Training
Poll managers must be trained prior to every election. Both online and in-person poll manager training is available. Clerks are required to take additional training. Your county board will direct you on what training you will be required to complete for each election.
Poll Watchers
A poll watcher is someone who is appointed by a candidate or a political party to observe the election day procedures in a precinct. The poll managers of the polling place will designate a place where watchers can remain throughout election day. Conversations between watchers and voters are not permitted within the polling place. Watchers will not be permitted to interfere with the orderly conduct of the election or influence any voter in the casting this ballot.
Qualifications
- Must be a qualified voter in the county.
- Present the poll manager with a letter signed by the candidate or by an appropriate party official stating that he/she is certified to act as a watcher in that precinct.
- Wear a badge not to exceed 4 ¼” x 4 ¼”, specifying the name of the candidate or party he/she represents.
Appointment
- In a primary, each candidate may appoint one watcher for any polling place where his/her name is on the ballot.
- In a general or special election, all candidates of the same party are jointly represented at any one voting place by no more than two watchers for each 1000 registered voters at the polling place. Each non-partisan, petition or announced write-in candidate may appoint one watcher for any polling place where his/her name is on the ballot.