UPDATED: JUNE 2024
South Carolina is a non-strict voter ID state.
You will be asked to show an acceptable photo ID to confirm your identity when voting in person.
What you must do if you cannot get a photo ID is different from what you must do if you forget to bring your photo ID to the polling place.
To vote absentee in South Carolina, you need to be a registered voter and unable to go to your polling place for an acceptable reason.
You do not need to provide a copy of your ID but your ballot signature must be witnessed.
You must file a formal request with Family Court to change your name in South Carolina.
You will need to be fingerprinted and undergo a state background check (for criminal convictions or financial obligations) as part of the name-change process.
If the court approves your name change, you will receive a court order that can be used to update the name on your ID documents.
Submit a request to the South Carolina’s DHEC Vital Records office to amend your birth certificate.
To change the name on your South Carolina birth certificate, you will need to provide:
Note: You must update your birth certificate with the state where you were born.
You must update your name with the Social Security Administration at least 48 hours before you can change your name on a South Carolina-issued ID.
You need to notify the SCDMV within ten (10) days of changing your legal name.
Visit a SCDMV office to change the name on your license or ID.
You will need to provide:
South Carolina does not have a specific legal provision for updating the gender marker on your birth certificate.
You may file a request with your circuit’s Family Court and indicate that you desire to amend the gender marker on your birth certificate. You must provide testimony or a notarized statement in proper affidavit form from a licensed physician.
Judges have discretion over granting the necessary court orders. Depending on your judge, the court order you need may be difficult to obtain or you may be asked to provide additional information (like proof of gender affirmation surgery) before your court order is issued.
You can apply for your name-change order at the same time as the court order for amending your birth certificate or separately.
To update your South Carolina birth certificate, you will need to provide:
Note: You must update your birth certificate with the state where you were born.
Visit a SCDMV office to update your driver’s license or state ID.
You will need to provide acceptable medical documentation and a supporting document that demonstrates your gender transition. Examples include a birth certificate with amended gender marker or court order your certifying gender transition.
