Patrick, South Carolina Public Records

Citizens, at least 18 years old by election date, and residents of both South Carolina and their county. The registration deadline falls 30 days before any election. New registrants need to provide their South Carolina driver's license number or State ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. The state doesn't require party registration. Because Patrick is an unincorporated community without municipal government, there are no town-specific elections for mayor or city council. Residents vote in county, state, and federal elections instead. Chesterfield County holds elections for County Council members across seven single-member districts, along with Sheriff, Treasurer, Auditor, Clerk of Court, Register of Deeds, Coroner, and Soil and Water Conservation District commissioners. County Council members serve four-year staggered terms, with some seats contested in presidential election years and others during midterms. Residents can locate their assigned polling place using the "Find My Polling Place" tool at scVOTES.gov or by calling the Chesterfield County Elections Office at (843) 623-2573. Polling locations are determined by home address and precinct boundaries. At the polls, voters must present acceptable photo identification - a South Carolina driver's license, DMV-issued ID card, U.S. Passport, military ID, or voter registration card with photo all work. Under South Carolina law (SC Code § 7-3-20), voter registration lists are public records available for inspection and copying for lawful purposes. Campaign finance reports for candidates and political committees are filed with the South Carolina State Ethics Commission and can be searched publicly at ethics.sc.gov. Election results broken down by precinct are published by the State Election Commission and county elections offices. In the November 2024 presidential election, Chesterfield County saw approximately 62% voter turnout among registered voters, with roughly 14,500 ballots cast out of approximately 23,500 registered voters. Like much of rural South Carolina, the county showed strong support for Republican candidates in federal races. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, Patrick and Chesterfield County voters will weigh several important contests. At the federal level, South Carolina's Class II U.S. Senate seat, currently held by Senator Lindsey Graham, whose term expires January 2027, will be on the ballot in 2026. At the state level, all 124 South Carolina House of Representatives seats will be up for election with their two-year terms, along with approximately half of the 46 Senate seats on four-year staggered terms. The Governor's office is elected in presidential years and won't appear on the 2026 ballot. Other statewide constitutional offices including Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, and several others also follow the presidential year cycle. At the Chesterfield County level, depending on the electoral cycle, certain Chesterfield County Council seats, the Sheriff, and other county officers may appear on the 2026 ballot. Voters here should check with the Chesterfield County Elections Office for specific local races and ballot measures as the election approaches. South Carolina offers absentee voting for voters meeting specific criteria: persons 65 years or older, physically disabled, members of the armed forces and their spouses or dependents, persons on election duty, students away at college, government employees required to be away, and persons who will be out of their county on election day. Absentee ballot applications can be submitted online through scVOTES.gov, by mail, or in person at the Chesterfield County elections office. Completed absentee ballots must be returned by 7:00 PM on election day. South Carolina doesn't offer true "no-excuse" mail-in voting; voters must qualify under one of the specified reasons.