Gaffney, South Carolina Public Records

Registration must be completed 30 days before an election. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens, at least 18 years old by Election Day, residents of South Carolina, and not under a court order declaring mental incompetence or serving a sentence for a felony conviction. The state now accepts multiple forms of photo identification for voting, including SC driver's license, DMV ID card, passport, military ID, or voter registration card with photo. The City of Gaffney holds municipal elections for mayor and city council seats. The city operates under a council-manager form of government with an elected mayor and six council members representing specific wards. Municipal elections typically occur in odd-numbered years, with the next regular city elections scheduled for 2025. City council terms run four years. Information about candidates, local ballot measures, and city election dates is available from the City Clerk's office at Gaffney City Hall (864-489-9511) and through the Cherokee County Elections Office, which administers the city elections. Residents can find their assigned polling place using the polling place locator at scVOTES.gov/find-your-polling-place or by contacting the County Elections Office. Polling places are assigned based on residential address and precinct boundaries. Under South Carolina law (S.C. Code Ann. §7-1-25), voter registration lists are public records available for inspection and purchase for lawful purposes. Campaign finance reports for state and local candidates are filed with the South Carolina Ethics Commission (ethics.sc.gov) and are searchable online. Candidate filing information, including declarations of candidacy for county and municipal offices, are public records maintained by the Elections Office. Election results by precinct are published after certification on the Cherokee County website and the State Election Commission website. In the November 2024 presidential election, Cherokee County recorded approximately 60-65% voter turnout among registered voters, with strong support for Republican candidates consistent with regional trends. The November 3, 2026 general election will be significant for local voters. South Carolina will hold elections for Governor (four-year term), all constitutional officers including Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State, all seats in the South Carolina House of Representatives (two-year terms), and half of the South Carolina Senate (four-year terms). Cherokee County voters will elect county council members whose terms expire in 2026, possibly including Sheriff, Coroner, Auditor, Treasurer, and other constitutional county offices depending on term schedules. U.S. Senate seats are not scheduled for election in South Carolina in 2026 (next in 2028). Local school board trustees for Cherokee County School District may also appear on the ballot. Primary elections will be held in June 2026 to determine party nominees. South Carolina offers absentee voting for voters who will be absent from their county on Election Day, are physically disabled, are 65 years or older, are working on Election Day with shifts extending beyond poll hours, are members of the armed forces or their spouses/dependents, or are admitted patients in hospitals. Absentee ballot applications are available at scVOTES.gov or from the Cherokee County Elections Office and must be submitted by 5:00 PM the Friday before the election (for in-person absentee) or by mail. The state also offers in-person early voting (called "in-person absentee voting") beginning approximately two weeks before Election Day at the Cherokee County Elections Office. No-excuse absentee voting is not available in South Carolina; voters must meet one of the statutory criteria to vote absentee.