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What South Carolina voters should know about the Aug. 11 U.S. Senate special primary

South Carolina will hold a special Republican primary for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026.

James Agens,

AARP South Carolina

Published August 07, 2026

The South Carolina State Capitol Building in Columbia at night.

Getty Images

The primary follows the death of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, the Republican nominee for the seat. The Aug. 11 vote will select the Republican candidate who will appear on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. It will not determine the final winner of the Senate race.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. We do not support or oppose candidates or political parties. This information is provided to help South Carolina voters understand the election and prepare to vote.

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Important dates

Candidate filing closed: July 28
Deadline to apply for an absentee ballot: July 31
Early voting: Wednesday, Aug. 5, through Friday, Aug. 7
Special Republican primary: Tuesday, Aug. 11
Early voting for a runoff, if needed: Aug. 19-21
Primary runoff, if needed: Tuesday, Aug. 25
General election: Tuesday, Nov. 3

Early voting centers are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Who is eligible to vote?
Not every registered South Carolina voter is eligible to participate in this special primary.
You may vote in the Aug. 11 special Republican primary if you:

Voted in the June Republican primary; or
Did not vote in either party’s June primary.

You may not vote in the Aug. 11 primary if you voted in the June Democratic primary. These eligibility rules are based on South Carolina laws governing participation in political party primaries.
Voters who are unsure which primary they participated in can check their voting history through the South Carolina Election Commission’s MySCVotes system.

How does early voting work?
Eligible voters can visit any early voting center in their county from Aug. 5 through Aug. 7. Centers are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Bring an accepted photo ID. You will use the same type of voting system used at an Election Day polling place. Early voting locations vary by county, so check your location before leaving home.

Where do I vote on Election Day?
The special primary will be held Tuesday, Aug. 11. Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Your Election Day polling place may be different from an early voting center. Confirm your polling location through MySCVotes before heading to the polls.

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South Carolina voters will be asked to present a current, valid photo ID. Accepted IDs include:

A South Carolina driver’s license
A South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles identification card
A South Carolina voter registration card with a photo
A federal military ID
A U.S. passport

Voters without an accepted photo ID may still have options for casting a provisional ballot. Ask a poll manager for assistance or review the photo ID guidance on the Election Commission website.

What should absentee voters know?
The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot was July 31.
Voters who already received an absentee ballot should complete and return it as soon as possible. The ballot oath must be signed and witnessed by someone age 18 or older. A notary is not required.
County election offices must receive most absentee ballots by 7 p.m. on Aug. 11. A photo ID is required when returning an absentee ballot in person. Military and overseas voters should review the special instructions and deadlines provided by the Election Commission.

Who will be on the ballot?
The official candidate list was updated following an Aug. 4 court order. Because election information can change, voters should review their official sample ballot or use the Election Commission’s Candidate Tracking system for the most current list.

Voters can also visit VOTE411 for nonpartisan election and candidate information.

Prepare before you vote
Before voting, take a few minutes to:

Confirm your eligibility and voter registration.
Review your sample ballot.
Find your early voting center or Election Day polling place.
Check voting hours.
Bring an accepted photo ID.
Contact your county voter registration and elections office with questions.

For the latest official dates, locations, candidate information and voting requirements, visit the South Carolina State Election Commission website at scVOTES.gov. Election details can change, so voters should check the site again before voting.

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