Primary Rules
How South Carolina's Primary Works
South Carolina uses a Open Primary system
Open Primary
Any registered voter can vote in any party's primary, regardless of their own party affiliation or registration status.
Voter file data: L2 Data · Registration counts: South Carolina Secretary of State · Updated May 4, 2026
South Carolina Voter Registration
& Party Affiliation Statistics
Total Registered
3,520,104
Largest Party
Democratic (41.08%)
Independent / NPP
10.13%
Primary Type
Open Primary
At a Glance
South Carolina at a Glance
Key voter registration statistics · Updated 2026
Registered Voters
3,520,104
across 46 counties
Registration Rate
83.3%
eligible population
No Party Preference
10.13%
of registered voters
2024 Turnout
62.1%
of eligible voters
Registration
Voter Registration by Party
How many registered Democrats, Republicans, and Independents are in South Carolina?
Democratic41.08%
Republican48.79%
Independent/Other10.13%
| Party | Registered Voters | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
Democratic | 1,446,146 | 41.08% |
Republican | 1,717,465 | 48.79% |
Independent/Other | 356,493 | 10.13% |
Turnout
Voter Turnout in South Carolina
How many eligible South Carolina residents actually vote?
Eligible vs Registered
3,520,104 registered4,224,125 eligible
Recent Elections
| Election | Turnout | Voted |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 General | 62.1% | 2,566,404 |
| 2022 General | 42.8% | 1,718,626 |
| 2020 General | 64.7% | 2,533,010 |
| 2024 Presidential Primary | 21.3% | 751,580 |
| 2024 State Primary | 12.5% | 439,000 |
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