Sunset, South Carolina Public Records

South Carolina voters can register online through the South Carolina Election Commission's website at scVOTES.gov/south-carolina-voter-registration, which offers a secure system requiring a South Carolina driver's license or DMV ID card. Registration applications must be received or postmarked at least 30 days before an election to be eligible to vote. Voters must present one of several approved forms of photo identification at the polls, including a South Carolina driver's license, DMV ID card, passport, military ID, or voter registration card with photo issued by the Pickens County elections office free of charge. Because Sunset is an unincorporated community, there are no municipal elections for mayor or city council. Residents vote in county, state, and federal elections instead. Pickens County holds elections for County Council (seven single-member districts), Sheriff, Coroner, Auditor, Treasurer, Clerk of Court, Register of Deeds, Probate Judge, and other constitutional offices. These positions are elected to four-year terms in staggered election cycles. Local voters also participate in state legislative elections for the South Carolina House of Representatives (District 3 or 4, depending on precinct boundaries) and South Carolina Senate (District 1 or 2). State legislators serve two-year terms for House members and four-year terms for Senators. Residents can find their assigned polling place using the locator at scVOTES.gov/south-carolina-polling-places or by contacting the Pickens County Elections Office. Polling places are assigned based on residential address and precinct boundaries. Area voters typically cast ballots at precincts such as Sunset Fire Station or other community facilities designated by the County Election Commission. Polls in South Carolina are open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM on election day, and any voter in line at 7:00 PM must be allowed to vote. South Carolina public election records include voter registration lists (available for inspection at the Pickens County elections office, with some restrictions on use), campaign finance reports (filed with the South Carolina Ethics Commission at ethics.sc.gov), candidate filings and declarations, and certified election results by precinct. Precinct-level election results for Pickens County are published by the County Election Commission after each election and are available at www.pickens.sc.gov and through the State Election Commission. South Carolina's The statewide ballot will also include all seven of South Carolina's House seats, including the Third Congressional District which covers Pickens County. At the Pickens County level, several Pickens County constitutional offices and County Council seats may be up for election depending on the staggered cycle. South Carolina allows absentee voting by mail for voters who meet specific criteria: persons 65 years or older, those who will be absent from the county on election day, persons with a physical disability, members of the armed forces and their spouses and dependents, and others specified by law. Absentee ballot applications must be submitted to the Pickens County Voter Registration and Elections Office by 5:00 PM on the fourth day before the election. The office can be reached at (864) 898-5948 for absentee ballot requests. South Carolina also offers early in-person voting (called "in-person absentee voting") beginning 30 days before an election at the Pickens County elections office and sometimes at additional early voting sites. No excuse is required for early in-person voting. Absentee ballots must be returned by 7:00 PM on election day to be counted.