Can People with Disabilities Vote in South Carolina? Myths, Misconceptions, and Facts
Introduction
Let me ask you a question: how old were you when you first registered to vote? For that matter, are you registered to vote at all?
According to the South Carolina Election Commission, as of March 2, 2026, about 3,371,004 people in South Carolina are registered to vote. During presidential election years like 2020 and 2024, we tend to see higher turnout across the country. However, even with those increases, there are still noticeable gaps in voter participation and registration.
For example, voter registration in South Carolina shows differences between groups. Around 1,861,020 women are registered to vote, compared to 1,508,916 men. In the 2024 general election, 2,566,404 ballots were cast, while participation in the state primaries was much lower at 506,018 ballots, and 889,987 ballots were cast during the presidential primaries.
Another interesting detail is how people are choosing to vote. In the 2024 general election, more than 61.6% of ballots were cast through absentee or early voting, showing that many voters are taking advantage of flexible voting options.
Despite these numbers, many people—especially people with disabilities—still face confusion about how voting works, what their rights are, and how accessible the process really is.
To help clear up some of that confusion, Holden (from the previous article) will walk through several common myths and misconceptions about registering to vote and participating in elections, particularly from a disability perspective.
Myths about voting
“If I’m not 18 yet I can’t register to vote.”
If you’ll be 18 by the time the election happens, you can register to vote even if you’re still 17!
“I don’t live within city limits, so I don’t get any say in how things are run locally.”
Counties have their own governments and districts. The infrastructure you use, like your roads, plumbing, electricity, and even emergency response services like your fire station and county sheriffs, are all run by your county. Sometimes, even the services that are run from inside a city (like animal shelters, libraries, and some government offices.) are a part of a county system that you may be able to vote on.
“Going inside the polling place would be difficult, painful, or impossible for me. I may as well not go“
It is allowed to vote curbside from the parking lot because you have a disability. They will bring the voting machine out to you. If you can go inside the polling place but waiting in line would be too hard on your body, you may let the poll workers know and they will assign you a place in line. They will let you know when it's your turn to come inside and vote.
If going to the polling place at all is not an option for you, voting by mail is still permitted in the United States. It is recommended that you vote by mail multiple weeks early to ensure it gets counted.
“I'll always be going to the same polling place.”
This is true for National and State elections as long as the polling site isn’t changed. But some local elections have different polling places, such as county districts.
If you're not sure where this will be, you can call the county elections office and they will tell you. It will probably be your fire station. If you live within the city limits of a city, voting early at the local elections office is the simplest solution for local elections.
“I can’t bring anyone to help me with the process.”
You are allowed to bring someone to assist you, as long as they are not your boss or represent you in a union.
“I have to be a member of a party to vote in their primaries.”
This is common among people from out of state, because in some parts of the country that is how it works. In South Carolina, however, you may vote in the primary election for any political party as an independent or as a member of a different party.
You may only vote in one primary per position however. As in, you can't vote in both the presidential primary for both the Democrats and Republicans.
“I can’t vote in person because I’d need to bring my service animal, and animals aren’t allowed.”
Service animals are allowed, even if the location does not otherwise allow animals.
“I can’t see a screen, so I can’t use the voting machines.”
The voting machines have accessibility features to allow you to use them by sound and controller. You can find out more about them here: scvotes.gov (accessibility pdf)
Note: It is recommended that you bring your own plug-in headphones or earbuds. The ones the polling location staff are given aren’t always in good condition.
“My vote won’t matter.”
Almost every aspect of your life is affected by who represents you in government. The outcome of elections have a real impact on your life and those you care about.
Each individual vote only makes a tiny difference, but many votes together can change society for the better or for worse. In order for there to be many votes for the better, as many people as possible must be willing to do it.
Even if it seems like your state is too far one way or another for it to matter, remember that states change over time so nothing is set in stone. The parties themselves also change over time.
Lastly, a few general tips:
● SCvotes.gov has information on where you'll be voting for national and state elections, as well as what your ballot looks like. This is handy for knowing what you'll be voting on ahead of time.
● Sometimes there will be a question that's not about candidates but instead about a policy. This is called a ballot measure. These are important because it will directly affect what happens where you live. They often use legal language though, so it's a good idea to research it ahead of time. The poll workers are not allowed to explain what it means.
● If you don't have work or school on election day, consider becoming a poll manager. It's not difficult to become one or a difficult job to do, but you can make up to 160$ in a day and you'll be assisting your community.
Conclusion
Let’s be real, systems like voting can be unnecessarily complicated to navigate, especially if you are a person with a disability. However, with these insights about voting statistics, more clarity around common myths, and resources you can use, we hope this helps you feel more informed and more confident as a voter.
Remember this: apathy toward public affairs can slowly lead to the decline of our rights. Not all at once, but over time.
So, get out there and vote!
About Eden
Eden Alon is a disability coach and community facilitator who works with teens and young adults with disabilities to build confidence, communication skills, and independence in everyday life. With a background in communication, advocacy, and nonprofit work, Eden has supported hundreds of people through coaching, workshops, and peer-led programs.
Click Here to learn more on how Eden can support you or your family. Or click here to schedule a free consultation
