Democratic National Committee
May 25, 2020

DCCC, DNC, SCDP Secure Victory For South Carolina Voters Amid COVID-19

Today, a federal court ruled in favor of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee and South Carolina Democratic Party when it blocked a South Carolina requirement that voters obtain a witness signature when casting an absentee ballot.
 
The provision risked disenfranchising thousands of at-risk South Carolinians by requiring them to risk contact with others in order to cast an absentee ballot. The court found that the “the burdens placed upon [voters] by the Witness Requirement far outweigh the imprecise, and (as admitted by SCEC Defendants) ineffective, state interests of combating voter fraud and protecting voting integrity.”
 
“Today’s ruling is a victory for thousands of South Carolinians who will no longer have to risk their lives in order to participate in our democracy,” DCCC Chair Cheri Bustos said. “This pandemic poses new challenges to voting access across the country and we’re committed to ensuring Republicans can’t use COVID-19 to create new obstacles to voting.”
 
“This victory is another critical step toward ensuring a safe, fair, and accessible election,” DNC Chair Tom Perez said. “Nobody should be forced to choose between protecting their health and exercising their constitutional right to vote. Democrats will continue fighting to ensure that every voter, in South Carolina and across the country, can safely make their voice heard this year.”
 
###
South Carolina State Election Commission
May 25, 2020

Witness Signature No Longer Required on by Mail Ballots for June Primaries

COLUMBIA, S.C. (May 25, 2020) – As a result of a U.S. District Court order issued today, South Carolinians voting absentee by mail in the 2020 June Primaries and Runoffs are no longer required to have their signature witnessed on the ballot return envelope.  Election officials will accept and count all absentee ballots regardless of whether the envelope contains a witness signature, if otherwise valid.  Any ballots that may have already been returned without a witness signature will also be counted if otherwise valid.

Voters are still required to sign and date the voter’s oath on the return envelope.  However, the “Signature of Witness” and “Address of Witness” spaces can be left blank.

The removal of the witness signature requirement applies only to the June 9 Primaries and June 23 Runoffs.