
We still await comprehensive election reform. Our recommendation is Gold Standard Elections, and we provide detailed guidelines, processes, and procedures in our white paper, available here and at goldstandardelections.com. However, given that the current electronic system is still in place, we need to provide guidance to monitor and audit our elections. In this video, Gold Standard Election team members Laura Scharr and Rick Weible break down a checklist of action items for candidates, poll watchers/observers, poll workers, and voters. The most important thing that you can do is VOTE. Turnout for your primary and general elections.
- Candidate checklist
Does the test deck include:
- Every Ballot Type—Ballot on demand, pre-printed, and all barcoded style ballot for in-person voting?Every Ballot Style/Precinct?
- Is a different number of votes assigned to each contest group (every person or question) on the ballot? If any contest has no votes selected, it is an invalid test; i.e., every option for each race must be tested.
- Undervotes?–Instances where the voter didn’t vote for a candidate or for fewer than the required candidates or selections?
- Overvotes? — apply mainly to absentee or hand-marked ballots and occur when the person voted for more people or options than indicated.
- Blank Ballots? How many? (at least 10)
- Folded ballots? (absentee ballots should be tested as well) This ensures that no folds cross over the ovals
- Write-In votes?
- Unique number of votes cast per candidate/per race?
SC Specific Information for Candidates
Here is a structured, election-administration–level overview of key dates, statutory timing rules, and procedural deadlines for the 2026 South Carolina state primary (June 9, 2026), along with what is fixed statewide vs. varies by county.
Core Election Timeline (2026 SC Primary)
- Primary Election Day: June 9, 2026
- Runoff (if needed): June 23, 2026
Absentee Voting Deadlines
Requesting absentee ballot
- Deadline: May 29, 2026 (5:00 PM)
- Statutory rule:
- In person: up to 11 days before the election
- By mail: must be received ~4 days prior to the Emergency absentee voting
- June 5–June 9, 2026 (hospitalized voters) Returning absentee ballots
- Due: June 9, 2026 (by close of polls, 7 PM) must be received by Election Day (not postmarked) except for UOCAVA (+2 days)
Early Voting May 26 – June 5, 2026
Voter Registration
Deadline: May 11, 2026, by mail
Sample Ballots
- Available via the state voter portal (SCVotes) once ballots are finalized.
- Typical timing:
~45–30 days before election, generally late April–mid May 2026
Logic & Accuracy (L&A) Testing (see law below SC Code § 7-13-1390)
- Required before every election AND before and after the count. Public notice requirements 5 days prior to testing. Conducted by county election offices
- Must be:
- Publicly noticed
- Open to observers
Timing (typical SC practice)
- 1–3 weeks before early voting begins
- So for the 2026 primary:
- Likely mid–late May 2026
👉 Exact dates vary by county and are posted locally.
Canvassing & Certification
County Canvass
- Begins immediately after the election
- Must be completed:
- By Thursday/Friday after the election (~June 12–13, 2026)
(statutory window: within a few days)
- By Thursday/Friday after the election (~June 12–13, 2026)
State Canvass (State Election Commission)
- Typically:
- ~1 week after the election
- Around June 17–18, 2026
👉 Certification occurs after county reports are finalized.
What happens in canvass
- Provisional ballot adjudication
- Absentee final acceptance/rejection
- Reconciliation:
- ballots cast vs. voters checked in
- Certification of county results
👉 This is THE key challenge window
Recounts & Challenges
Automatic recount threshold
South Carolina law:
- ≤ 1% margin triggers recount (for many offices)
Types of recounts
- Machine recount (automatic)
- Hand recount (rare, ordered by court)
Protest/contest deadlines
County-level protest
- Filed with the county board:
- Within 48 hours after the results are declared
Appeal to the state
- Filed with State Election Commission:
- Shortly after the county decision (tight statutory window)
Judicial challenge
- Filed in court after administrative remedies
👉 These timelines are very compressed (days, not weeks).
Ballot certification
- Occurs after filing closes and challenges are resolved
- Drives:
- sample ballot release
- L&A testing prep
Poll Worker Deadlines
- Counties must:
- Recruit & appoint poll managers
- Train prior to early voting
Typical timeline:
- Recruitment: March–May
- Final assignments: ~2–3 weeks before the election
Additional Operational Milestones
Absentee ballots sent out
- Federal requirement:
- 45 days before the election (for military/overseas voters)
- For 2026:
- ~late April 2026
Ballot printing & distribution
- Late April → early May
🧭 Summary Timeline
| Phase | Date (2026) |
| Candidate filing opens | March 16 |
| Absentee ballots begin mailing | ~Late April |
| Sample ballots available | Late April–May |
| L&A testing (public) | Mid–late May |
| Voter registration deadline | May 11 |
| Absentee request deadline | May 29 |
| Early voting | May 26 – June 5 |
| Election Day | June 9 |
| Absentee return deadline | June 9 |
| County canvass | ~June 10–13 |
| State certification | ~June 17–18 |
| Runoff (if needed) | June 23 |
2. Poll Observer Checklist
3. Poll Worker Checklist
4. Voter Checklist
The best way to beat a potential cheat is to overwhelm the polls. Here is a related blog post:
How to be an informed voter this year
Here is a video that explains this in more detail.
Here is the SC code for L&A testing and a list of additional questions
Machine testing SC Code § 7-13-1390*
(a) The election officials of each county shall cause the proper ballot labels to be placed on each vote recorder which is to be used in any election within such county and shall cause each vote recorder to be placed in proper order for voting.
(b) The election officials of each county shall appoint one custodian of vote recorders, and such deputy custodians as may be necessary, whose duty it shall be to prepare the vote recorders to be used in county elections. Each custodian and deputy custodian shall receive such compensation as provided for in the annual county appropriation. Such custodian shall, under the direction of the county election officials, have charge of and represent them during the preparation of the vote recorders as required by this article, and he and the deputy custodians, whose duty it shall be to assist him in the discharge of his duties, shall serve at the pleasure of the county election officials.
(c) On or before the third day preceding an election, the county election officials shall have the tabulating machines tested to ascertain that they will correctly count the votes cast for all offices and on all questions. Public notice of the time and place of the test shall be made at least five days prior thereto. Representatives of political parties and bodies, candidates, news media and the public shall be permitted to observe such tests. The test shall be conducted by processing a pre-audited group of ballot cards clearly marked for such purpose, not to exceed fifty for each candidate or question, so punched or marked as to record a predetermined number of valid votes for each candidate and on each question, and shall include for each office one or more ballot cards which have votes in excess of or less than the number allowed by law in order to test the ability of the tabulating machine to reject such votes. The tabulating machine shall not be approved unless it produces an errorless counting. If any error is detected, the cause therefor shall be ascertained and corrected, and an errorless count shall be made before the machine is approved. The same test shall be repeated immediately before the start of the official count of the ballot cards and at the conclusion of such count. The county election officials or custodian shall also prepare the vote recorders for voting at the various polling places to be used in the election. In preparing the vote recorders, they shall arrange the recorders and the ballot labels so that they meet all requirements of voting and counting at such primary or election, thoroughly inspect and test the vote recorders, and file a certificate, as prescribed by the State Election Commission, in the office of the county election officials that the recorders are in proper order with correct ballot labels.
(d) Prior to the election, no county election officials, nor custodian, nor other employee shall in any way prevent free access to and examination of all voting machines which are to be used at the election under proper supervision and, at reasonable times, by any interested persons.
HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 23-400.109; 1970 (56) 2022.
