2025-2026 Election Calendar
Richland County Absentee Ballot Information
You may only request an absentee ballot for a scheduled election in the current calendar year.
Request an application:
- in person at 2020 Hampton St. Columbia, SC 29204,
- call (803) 576-2240, or
- mail your request to 2020 Hampton Street, P.O. Box 192, Columbia, SC 29201.
Deadline to return an application: 11 days before the election
Forest Acres Election: May 13, 2025
Public Notice [.pdf]
Early Voting: April 28-May 9, 2025 (two weeks excluding holidays)
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Last date to register:
- In-office: April 11, 2025 at 5 p.m.
- Online: April 13, 2025
- Postmarked: April 14, 2025
Candidate Filing: March 4 through March 14, 2025 at noon
Contact Forest Acres City Hall for more information:
Monday-Thursday: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
5209 North Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC 29206
(803) 782-9475
Richland County Municipal Elections: November 4, 2025
Arcadia Lakes, Blythewood, Cayce (no eligible voters), Columbia, and Irmo
Runoff, if necessary, November 18, 2025
Early Voting: October 20-31, 2025 (two weeks excluding holidays)
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Last date to register:
- In-office: October 2, 2025 at 5 p.m.
- Online: October 4, 2025
- Postmarked: October 5, 2025
Candidate Filing: August 1 at noon through August 15, 2025 (Monday-Friday)
All filing paperwork will be conducted with the City/Town.
Arcadia Lakes: 6911 Ste. 2, North Trenholm Rd. Columbia, SC 29206, (803) 782-2272
Blythewood: 171 Langford Road, Blythewood, SC 29016, (803) 754-0501
Columbia: 1737 Main St., Columbia, SC 29202, (803) 545-3000
Irmo: PO Box 406, Irmo, SC 29063 (803) 781-7050
Statewide Democratic and Republican Primaries: June 9, 2026
Runoff, if necessary, June 23, 2026
Early Voting: May 26-June 5, 2026 (two weeks excluding holidays)
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Last date to register:
- In-office: May 8, 2026 at 5 p.m.
- Online: May 10, 2026
- Postmarked: May 11, 2026
Statewide General Election, Gubernatorial: November 3, 2026
Early Voting: October 19-31, 2026 (two weeks excluding holidays)
Monday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Last date to register:
- In-office: October 1, 2026 at 5 p.m.
- Online: October 3, 2026
- Postmarked: October 4, 2026