State facts
- Population
- 5,570,274 (2025 estimate; 5,118,250 in the 2020 Census)
- Seats in the U.S. House
- 7
- State legislature
- Senate: 46 members, 4-year terms
- House of Representatives: 124 members, 2-year terms
- Governor’s term
- Four-year term, limited to two terms in a row; after four years out of office, a former governor may run again.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 state population estimates; National Conference of State Legislatures. Checked October 19, 2026.
Who represents South Carolina now
- Governor
- Henry McMaster · Republican · since January 2017Seat on the Nov. 3 ballot
- U.S. senators
- Darline Graham · Republican · since 2026Seat on the Nov. 3 ballot
- Tim Scott · Republican · since 2013
- U.S. House members
- 7 seats · Democratic: 1, Republican: 6
Sources: National Governors Association (party and start date: Wikidata); congress-legislators (current members of Congress). Checked October 19, 2026.
Voting in South Carolina
From the state election office’s own website. Each answer shows the official wording it comes from.
- Registration deadline
The deadline to register for the 2026 Statewide General Election is Sunday, October 4.
Official wording: “The deadline to register to vote in the 2026 Statewide General Election is Sunday, October 4,” — state election office, page read October 10, 2026
- Early voting
Early voting for the 2026 Statewide General Election runs Monday, October 19 through Saturday, October 31.
Official wording: “Early Voting for 2026 Statewide General Election are Monday, October 19 - Saturday, October 31.” — state election office, page read October 18, 2026
- Who can vote by mail
Qualified voters may vote absentee, which means casting a ballot by mail before Election Day.
Official wording: “Absentee voting allows qualified voters to cast a ballot by mail prior to Election Day.” — state election office, page read October 17, 2026
- ID at the polls
Voting in person, you'll be asked to show a current and valid Photo ID from the site's list.
Official wording: “When voting in person, you will be asked to show one of the following current and valid Photo IDs:” — state election office, page read October 17, 2026
- Election Day hours
Polling places are open 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, and anyone in line at 7:00 p.m. may vote.
Official wording: “Polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. Anyone in line at 7:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote.” — state election office, page read October 17, 2026
For anything not listed, and to check your registration, see South Carolina’s election office: scvotes.gov
Federal1
Statewide3
Federal candidate lists come from FEC filings. A candidate is marked “on the ballot” once their campaign files a pre-general report or the state’s official candidate list confirms it; others filed for 2026 but may have lost a primary or withdrawn.