Democracy & Voting Rights
Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy and the fundamental right upon which all our civil liberties rest. The ACLU works to protect and expand Americansʼ freedom to vote.
What you need to know
30 days prior
Deadline to register to vote before an election
15-3 days
Early voting period prior to Election Day
11 days prior
Deadline for returning an absentee ballot before Election Day
The ACLU of SC works in the courts, legislature, and the community to uphold the rights of South Carolina voters. We believe that each vote should count equally, voters shouldn’t face undue and unlawful impediments to voting, and communities should have the tools they need to organize, mobilize, and inform local voters.
Looking for Election Day information? Check out our Voting Information Center.
In the Courts
The 2021 redistricting process in South Carolina resulted in a congressional map that was blatantly gerrymandered. We joined with our partners to file suit on behalf of the SC Chapter of the NAACP and Taiwan Scott, an individual voter.
In January 2023, the District Court ruled in SC NAACP v Alexander that Congressional District 1 was a racial gerrymander which was a victory for Black voters in particular as the redistricting diluted their political power.
The ruling has been appealed by the state, and we argued our case before the Supreme Court of the United States in October 2023. Catch up on the latest in this landmark case on our Cases page.
In the Legislature
We support the advancement of legislation that restores the voting rights of previously disenfranchised people, increases access to the polls for voters, and ensures elections are free and fair. We oppose legislation that disenfranchises voters, reduces democratic participation, and insulates elected officials from the will of their constituents.
In the Community
We work to provide resources for both individual voters and community groups in order to maximize voter preparedness and participation in elections.
The Latest
Statehouse Dispatch: Session in Review
Private: Statehouse Dispatch: Session in Review
Episode 23: Don’t Rig Our Maps
Cases, Campaigns & Legislation
Reducing Diversity in Judicial Appointments (H. 4755)
Partisan Committee Appointments (H. 4563)
Take Action
Today, years of hard-fought civil liberty protections are under threat.
To influence lawmakers, we need everyone to get involved.
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