Early voting for the Nov. 3 general election runs Oct. 19-31, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., including at the Bluffton Branch Library. Elections office: 843-255-6900.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Facts come from the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County and the South Carolina Election Commission at scvotes.gov. This page is strictly factual; we do not endorse candidates or positions.

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Bluffton voters cast their ballots through the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County, which runs registration and elections countywide.

Who to call

  • Beaufort office: 15 John Galt Road, Beaufort, 843-255-6900
  • Bluffton satellite office: Myrtle Park Government Center, 4819 Bluffton Parkway, 843-255-6940, weekdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.
  • Email: Vote.Beaufort@Elections.SC.Gov
  • Polling place, sample ballot, registration check: scvotes.gov

Key dates for Nov. 3, 2026

What Deadline
Register in person Oct. 2, 5 p.m. (passed)
Register online, by email or fax Oct. 4, 11:59 p.m. (passed)
Register by mail Postmarked by Oct. 5 (passed)
Early voting Oct. 19-31, Monday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Request an absentee ballot Friday, Oct. 23, 5 p.m.
Return an absentee ballot Tuesday, Nov. 3, 7 p.m.
Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 3

Beaufort County schools are closed on Election Day, according to the district calendar.

Early voting

Early voting runs Monday, Oct. 19, through Saturday, Oct. 31, Monday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at four sites:

  • Bluffton Branch Library, 120 Palmetto Way, Bluffton
  • USCB Hilton Head Island, 1 Sand Shark Drive, Hilton Head Island
  • Beaufort main office, 15 John Galt Road, Beaufort
  • St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Senior Road, St. Helena Island

Bring the same photo ID you would on Election Day.

Absentee ballots by mail

Request an absentee ballot by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23: by mail to P.O. Box 1228, Beaufort, SC 29901-1228; in person at the Beaufort or Bluffton office; or by phone at 843-255-6900. The completed ballot must reach the county by 7 p.m. on Election Day. The state’s absentee voting page explains who qualifies.

Photo ID

South Carolina asks in-person voters for one current, valid photo ID, according to scvotes.gov:

  • South Carolina driver’s license, standard or REAL ID
  • South Carolina DMV ID card, including a concealed weapons permit
  • South Carolina voter registration card with photo
  • Federal military ID
  • U.S. passport or passport card

A registered voter can get a free photo voter card at the county elections office by giving a date of birth and the last four digits of a Social Security number. A voter without a photo ID because of a reasonable impediment can bring the non-photo registration card, sign an affidavit and cast a provisional ballot. A voter who simply forgot an ID can vote provisionally and show the ID to the county office before the election is certified.

Find your polling place

Polling places are assigned by precinct. Look yours up, with your sample ballot, on scvotes.gov. The county also publishes district maps.

Registering for future elections

Register online at scvotes.gov, by mail, or in person at the Beaufort or Bluffton office. The county’s How to Register to Vote page lists the steps. Update your address when you move within the county.

Results

Results are posted by the state and county election offices and are unofficial until certified. We report results only from those official pages.

What this means for you

  • Registration for Nov. 3 is closed; check that you are registered at scvotes.gov.
  • Early voting in Bluffton: Bluffton Branch Library, Oct. 19-31.
  • Absentee requests are due 5 p.m. Oct. 23.
  • Bring a photo ID.

Related: who to call at Town Hall and moving to Bluffton.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I vote early in Bluffton?

At the Bluffton Branch Library, 120 Palmetto Way, Oct. 19-31, Monday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Beaufort County also has early voting in Beaufort, on St. Helena Island and at USCB on Hilton Head Island.

Is it too late to register to vote in Beaufort County for Nov. 3, 2026?

Yes. The deadlines were Oct. 2 in person, Oct. 4 online, by email or fax, and Oct. 5 by mail postmark. You can still register now for later elections.

What ID do I need to vote in South Carolina?

A current photo ID: a South Carolina driver’s license or DMV ID card, a South Carolina voter registration card with photo, a federal military ID or a U.S. passport. Voters without one can cast a provisional ballot.

How do I get an absentee ballot in Beaufort County?

Request one by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, by mail, in person at the Beaufort or Bluffton office, or by phone at 843-255-6900. Completed ballots must be back by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3.

Where is my polling place in Bluffton?

Look it up with your sample ballot at scvotes.gov. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.