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State profile

South Carolina elections & voting

Electoral votes, voting rules, and presidential results for South Carolina.

How South Carolina votes

In 2024, South Carolina voted Republican. It has backed the Republican Party in its last 5 consecutive elections.

9
electoral votes
Voter IDNo-excuse absenteeEarly votingSame-day registrationAutomatic registration

Voting rules

Photo ID Required
Active

Photo ID required with alternatives

Voter ID
Effective: 2013
No-Excuse Absentee
Active

Any voter can request mail ballot

Mail-In Voting
Effective: 2022

Changed from excuse-required in 2022

14 Days Early Voting
Active

Early voting added for first time

Early Voting
Effective: 2022

Election history

How South Carolina has voted in presidential elections.

  • 2024RepublicanDonald Trump9 EV
  • 2020RepublicanDonald Trump9 EV
  • 2016RepublicanDonald Trump9 EV
  • 2012RepublicanMitt Romney9 EV
  • 2008RepublicanJohn McCain8 EV
  • 1920DemocraticJames M. Cox9 EV
  • 1916DemocraticWoodrow Wilson9 EV
  • 1912DemocraticWoodrow Wilson9 EV
  • 1908DemocraticWilliam Jennings Bryan9 EV
  • 1904DemocraticAlton B. Parker9 EV
  • 1900DemocraticWilliam Jennings Bryan9 EV
  • 1896DemocraticWilliam Jennings Bryan9 EV
  • 1892DemocraticGrover Cleveland9 EV
  • 1888DemocraticGrover Cleveland9 EV
  • 1884DemocraticGrover Cleveland9 EV
  • 1880DemocraticWinfield Scott Hancock7 EV
  • 1876RepublicanRutherford B. Hayes7 EV
  • 1872RepublicanUlysses S. Grant7 EV
  • 1868RepublicanUlysses S. Grant6 EV
  • 1860Southern DemocraticJohn C. Breckinridge8 EV
  • 1856DemocraticJames Buchanan8 EV
  • 1852DemocraticFranklin Pierce8 EV
  • 1848DemocraticLewis Cass9 EV
  • 1844DemocraticJames K. Polk9 EV
  • 1840DemocraticMartin Van Buren11 EV
  • 1828DemocraticAndrew Jackson11 EV
  • 1824Democratic-RepublicanAndrew Jackson11 EV
  • 1820Democratic-RepublicanJames Monroe11 EV
  • 1816Democratic-RepublicanJames Monroe11 EV
  • 1812Democratic-RepublicanJames Madison11 EV
  • 1808Democratic-RepublicanJames Madison10 EV
  • 1804Democratic-RepublicanThomas Jefferson10 EV
  • 1800Democratic-RepublicanThomas Jefferson8 EV
  • 1796Democratic-RepublicanThomas Jefferson8 EV
  • 1792IndependentGeorge Washington8 EV
  • 1789IndependentGeorge Washington7 EV

Timeline

2020s

2024
Election
Republican
major

2024 Presidential Election

Donald Trump won SC with 9 electoral votes

2022
Rule Change
Mail Voting
major

No-Excuse Absentee

Any voter can request mail ballot

2022
Rule Change
Early Voting
moderate

14 Days Early Voting

Early voting added for first time

2020
Election
Republican
major

2020 Presidential Election

Donald Trump won SC with 9 electoral votes

2010s

2016
Election
Republican
major

2016 Presidential Election

Donald Trump won SC with 9 electoral votes

2013
Rule Change
Voter ID
major

Photo ID Required

Photo ID required with alternatives

2012
Election
Republican
major

2012 Presidential Election

Mitt Romney won SC with 9 electoral votes

2000s

2008
Election
Republican
major

2008 Presidential Election

John McCain won SC with 8 electoral votes

1920s

1920
Election
Democratic
major

1920 Presidential Election

James M. Cox won SC with 9 electoral votes

1910s

1916
Election
Democratic
major

1916 Presidential Election

Woodrow Wilson won SC with 9 electoral votes

1912
Election
Democratic
major

1912 Presidential Election

Woodrow Wilson won SC with 9 electoral votes

1900s

1908
Election
Democratic
major

1908 Presidential Election

William Jennings Bryan won SC with 9 electoral votes

1904
Election
Democratic
major

1904 Presidential Election

Alton B. Parker won SC with 9 electoral votes

1900
Election
Democratic
major

1900 Presidential Election

William Jennings Bryan won SC with 9 electoral votes

1890s

1896
Election
Democratic
major

1896 Presidential Election

William Jennings Bryan won SC with 9 electoral votes

1892
Election
Democratic
major

1892 Presidential Election

Grover Cleveland won SC with 9 electoral votes

1880s

1888
Election
Democratic
major

1888 Presidential Election

Grover Cleveland won SC with 9 electoral votes

1884
Election
Democratic
major

1884 Presidential Election

Grover Cleveland won SC with 9 electoral votes

1880
Election
Democratic
major

1880 Presidential Election

Winfield Scott Hancock won SC with 7 electoral votes

1870s

1876
Election
Republican
major

1876 Presidential Election

Rutherford B. Hayes won SC with 7 electoral votes

1872
Election
Republican
major

1872 Presidential Election

Ulysses S. Grant won SC with 7 electoral votes

1860s

1868
Election
Republican
major

1868 Presidential Election

Ulysses S. Grant won SC with 6 electoral votes

1860
Election
Southern Democratic
major

1860 Presidential Election

John C. Breckinridge won SC with 8 electoral votes

1850s

1856
Election
Democratic
major

1856 Presidential Election

James Buchanan won SC with 8 electoral votes

1852
Election
Democratic
major

1852 Presidential Election

Franklin Pierce won SC with 8 electoral votes

1840s

1848
Election
Democratic
major

1848 Presidential Election

Lewis Cass won SC with 9 electoral votes

1844
Election
Democratic
major

1844 Presidential Election

James K. Polk won SC with 9 electoral votes

1840
Election
Democratic
major

1840 Presidential Election

Martin Van Buren won SC with 11 electoral votes

1820s

1828
Election
Democratic
major

1828 Presidential Election

Andrew Jackson won SC with 11 electoral votes

1824
Election
Democratic-Republican
major

1824 Presidential Election

Andrew Jackson won SC with 11 electoral votes

1820
Election
Democratic-Republican
major

1820 Presidential Election

James Monroe won SC with 11 electoral votes

1810s

1816
Election
Democratic-Republican
major

1816 Presidential Election

James Monroe won SC with 11 electoral votes

1812
Election
Democratic-Republican
major

1812 Presidential Election

James Madison won SC with 11 electoral votes

1800s

1808
Election
Democratic-Republican
major

1808 Presidential Election

James Madison won SC with 10 electoral votes

1804
Election
Democratic-Republican
major

1804 Presidential Election

Thomas Jefferson won SC with 10 electoral votes

1800
Election
Democratic-Republican
major

1800 Presidential Election

Thomas Jefferson won SC with 8 electoral votes

1790s

1796
Election
Democratic-Republican
major

1796 Presidential Election

Thomas Jefferson won SC with 8 electoral votes

1792
Election
Independent
major

1792 Presidential Election

George Washington won SC with 8 electoral votes

1780s

1789
Election
Independent
major

1789 Presidential Election

George Washington won SC with 7 electoral votes

This site explains the structure and history of U.S. federal elections and is not an official government resource. All data shown is for educational purposes only.