How to participate in the 2012 SC Republican Primary (Update: Vote tomorrow!)

Flickr user Ann Douglas

Update 1/20/12: We don't care who you vote for. Just vote!


Update 1/5/12: Since the Republican Primary will be held on a Saturday, some polling places have been changed.

The primary will be held on January 21, 2012. WMBF has a little reminder of the precinct change as well as a list of the changed venues. 

Read below for all the details on voting in the Republican primary, and make sure to check out our map of all the polling places in Horry County. 


Update 12/19/11: To participate in the 2012 Republican primary election in Horry County, you must be a register voter by this Wednesday,  December 21st.

This deadline is just for the Republican primary and not the November 2012 general election. Furthermore, today marks the first day of absentee voting. 

Where to go to register to vote?

  • DMV
  • County and select municipal public libraries
  • Department of Human Resources
  • WIC Program, Department of Public Health
  • Medicaid Agency
  • Department of Rehabilitation Services

The postcard voter registration form is also available at:

  • Public 4-year universities
  • Select private 4-year universities
  • Driver's licensing office
  • County and select municipal public libraries
  • Department of Human Resources
  • WIC Program, Department of Public Health
  • Medicaid Agency
  • Department of Rehabilitation Services

First Report 12/5/11: The 2012 Republican primary will be held on Saturday,  January 21, 2012. Registered voters will cast their ballot for who they would like to become the Republican presidential nominee. 

Below you'll find all the information on the upcoming Republican Primary. Also, you'll find a map of polling places in Horry County. We hope this makes for an easy-to-understand quick reference for primary voters. See our map for all of the polling places.

The Polls will be open from 7 a.m until 7 p.m:

  • Registered voters will be required to show any one of three forms of identification in order to vote. Voters must show a voter’s registration card, driver’s license, or a picture ID issued from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Registered voters waiting in line at 7 p.m. will still be allowed to vote.

For those of you who are not registered to vote, you still have time to participate in the primary election. To be eligible to vote for the primary you must be registered by Wednesday, December 21, 2011.

Going to be out of town?

  • Absentee voting will begin December 19, and the last day to vote absentee in the Horry County Registration and Elections Office is January 20, 2012. The Horry County Registration and Elections Office is located at 1515 4th Avenue in Conway. Keep in mind that there is no EARLY voting in South Carolina. More on Absentee voting below.

Don't know where to vote?

  • Voters unsure of their voting location should contact their county voter registration office at 915-5440 or log onto the State Election Commission website at www.scvotes.org.
  • You can also check out Can I Vote.  This site will give you polling places, what ID to bring, and will check if you are registered to vote. 

Curbside voting is also available.  Voters with a physical handicap or aged 65 or older who cannot enter the polling place may vote outside of the polling place in their car.

See our map below for all of the polling places

Temporary Precinct Changes -this election ONLY

  • Coastal Carolina precinct will be voting at Waccamaw Elementary School
  • North Conway #1 precinct will be voting at Homewood Elementary School.

January 21, 2012, Republican Presidential Preference Primary Candidates

And the Winner is....

  • Unofficial results from the election will be posted on Horry County’s website at www.horrycounty.org immediately after the results are tallied. The results will be on the county’s homepage and will be updated every five minutes. In order to receive the latest information, users will need to hit their “Refresh” or “Reload” button. The polls will close at 7 p.m. and the results will then be tallied. Also, Horry County will not be opening the Horry County Government & Justice Center multi-purpose rooms for viewing the county election results.

Persons qualified to vote by absentee ballot:

  • Persons who will be on vacation outside their county of residence on Election Day
  • Members of the Uniformed Services or Merchant Marine, and their spouses and dependents residing with them
  • Persons who, for reasons of employment, will not be able to vote on election day
  • Physically disabled persons
  • Persons sixty-five years of age or older
  • Persons serving as a juror in state or federal court on Election Day
  • Persons admitted to the hospital as emergency patients on day of election or within a four-day period before the election
  • Persons with a death or funeral in the family within three days before the election
  • Persons confined to a jail or pre-trial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial
  • Persons attending sick or physically disabled persons
  • Certified poll watchers, poll managers, and county election officials working on Election Day

How do I vote absentee?

Qualified voters may vote absentee in person or by mail.

In Person - Visit your county voter registration office , complete an application, and cast your ballot.  You may vote absentee in person up until 5 p.m. on the day before the election. (Horry County Registrations and Elections Office is located at 1515 4th Avenue in Conway.)

  • By Mail - Step 1: Contact your county voter registration office to request an absentee ballot application.  You may make the request in person or by phone, mail, email, or fax. (Horry County Registration and Elections Office (843) 915-5440, fax (843) 915-6440)
  • Step 2:  You will be mailed an application.
  • Step 3:  Return the completed application to your county voter registration office by 5 p.m. on the 4th day prior to the election (the 4th day is Friday for all Tuesday elections).  You may return the application in person or by mail, email, or fax. 
  • Step 4:  You will be mailed an absentee ballot.
  • Step 5:  Vote the ballot following ballot instructions and return it to your county voter registration office by 7 p.m. on the day of the election.  You may return the ballot in person or by mail.