By: Megan Powell, Staff Attorney
If I had a dollar for each of my clients that didn't know they could vote after a criminal conviction in South Carolina, I would be on an island somewhere warm. And I would still exercise my right to vote (and you should, too).
The right to vote is one of the most crucial tools we, as American citizens, have in our toolkits for change. It is our way of choosing who speaks on our behalf. Who writes the laws that decide whether someone will serve a mandatory minimum sentence if they are convicted of a crime? The people we elect. Who writes the laws that establish which things on a rap sheet can be expunged? The. People. We. Elect.
Now that I've got your attention, let me get straight to the point. Generally, if you have ever been convicted of a crime in South Carolina, and you are finished serving your sentence (including probation or parole), you can re-register to vote right now. Yes, right now! As soon as you finish serving your entire sentence, your right to vote is automatically restored. All you have to do is re-register.
Now, there are some caveats-- for example, you must have a valid driver's license or State ID to vote in South Carolina-- but if you have the necessary documents, you can literally register to vote online by clicking these words right here. Sometimes, you might be asked to provide proof of completing your sentence. If you were on probation or parole and completed your term of supervision, you can get documentation from SCDPPPS stating that.
For more information on the process of registering to vote in South Carolina, visit SCVotes.org or click here to download the Voter Registration form, which may be submitted in person or by mail.
Why should I care about voting?
Well, if you get to your voting location at a reasonable time, it can actually be really fun to exercise your civic duty. Beyond that, elections serve purposes greater than just electing the people who make our laws.
Sometimes you might be asked to vote for referendums such as the 2023 Spartanburg County Referendum to implement a 1% sales tax to re-pave the County's roads. These election questions are often overlooked, but they directly impact you as a citizen!
Further, there is a sort of symbolic beauty in formerly incarcerated South Carolinians, who are routinely overlooked and ignored by society, showing up to the polls by the dozen. System-impacted folks are too often silenced and relegated to the edge of society. Voting is one small but powerful way to break free of these chains and use your voice.
So South Carolina's voting laws are perfect?
Not by a long shot... but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop encouraging eligible people to get out and vote.
One of the biggest hurdles to re-registering that I see is money -- people who might be on administrative probation merely because they still owe money that they don't have. And when you break down the demographics of who is disenfranchised (can't vote) in South Carolina, there are a disproportionate number of black South Carolinians who are affected.
There are always improvements to be made, and here at Time Served we plan to keep pushing for these improvements.
See you at the box!
Chances are that when this post goes live, it will be too late for many of you to re-register to vote this year, and for that I am sorry. However, the beauty of democracy is that you get another chance next year, or the year after, or the year after that. Your actions today will directly impact the choices you have in the future.
In South Carolina, you must be registered (or re-registered) to vote at least 30 days before the next election in order to vote in that election.
I hope to see many more of you turning out in the future and casting your votes. If you try re-registering to vote and encounter issues related to your system involvement, please contact our office for assistance. If you enjoyed this post, please consider subscribing to our Newsletter, or supporting our work through donations.
About the author: Megan Powell is a South Carolina native, and a staff attorney and co-founder of Time Served. She offers a variety of direct legal services to clients who are currently incarcerated or formerly incarcerated. Click here to learn more about Megan.
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