As students head off to college or return to campus in the coming weeks, they’re stepping into a new chapter filled with awesome opportunities and responsibilities. College is a time to learn, make friends, and prepare for your future career, but it is also a time of great challenge and reflection: Balancing tuition and living costs, thinking about what’s next after graduation, and navigating life in communities that may feel very different from home.
As a mom and pediatrician, caring for kids and students as they grow into adulthood and seeing them chase their dreams is one of my greatest joys. It’s what is motivating me to run for U.S. Senate, because I believe every South Carolina student deserves to learn and grow in a healthy, safe, supportive community. This is a belief I will carry with me all the way to Washington, D.C., and why I’m hoping students like you will join me, raise your voices, and be heard in the 2026 midterm election. That starts with understanding where and how to get registered to vote, even if you’re away from home.
If you have a South Carolina ID (like a driver’s license) click here to register online to vote!
Let’s be honest, registering to vote is probably way easier than registering for classes! But unlike the Fall semester class drop deadline, the final day to register to vote in South Carolina is Sunday, October 4. Whether this is your first time voting (congratulations!) or you’re simply looking to update your registration with a new address, here are a few tips about voting as a college student in South Carolina.
College students have a few options when deciding where they’d like to register to vote:
- You can register with your campus mailing address or your permanent address, like a family home. The choice is completely yours.
- For those attending college away from home, South Carolina law allows students living on or near campus to register where they live while attending school, making it easier to participate in elections and have a voice in civic events where they spend most of their time throughout the year.
If you choose to stay registered at home, you still have a few options to ensure your vote is counted in the Fall. Early voting and absentee voting allow you to cast your ballot in the weeks leading up to Election Day, without having to be at your registered address on Election Day itself. Protecting your right to vote includes protecting your access to early voting and absentee voting, especially important for college students like you.
It only takes a few minutes to register to vote in South Carolina…and most students can do it completely online. Go to www.scvotes.gov to fill out and submit the form. But whatever you choose, don’t wait. South Carolina requires you to register at least 30 days before Election Day – making the deadline to register October 4th this year.
Voting early in South Carolina makes certain your constitutional right to vote fits into your busy school schedule. Instead of scrambling on Election Day, make a plan to vote early. Voting in South Carolina is open to all registered South Carolina voters starting on October 19th (two weeks before Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026).
With so much happening in politics, it’s understandable to question whether your vote really matters. I assure you it does. Your vote is an opportunity to have a say in the future of your campus and your community.
Elections are decided by who shows up, and students have the power to make a difference when they make a plan together. This year, your vote can help shape the future of South Carolina and build an economy that works for you,creating more job opportunities and thriving communities.
Whether you’re a proud Bulldog, Cougar, Eagle, or Gamecock, a Terrier, a Tiger or member of Teal Nation, – across the Palmetto State and beyond – voting is one way to make your voice heard and help shape the future of the communities you call home.
Visit www.drannieandrews.com to learn more and send Dr. Annie to the U.S. Senate.
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