(Columbia, SC) — A new analysis from the ACLU of South Carolina is raising questions about voter access and racial disparities, reporting nearly 1.2 million voter-registration removals between 2022 and 2025.
Released September 2, the analysis identifies 1,162,839 removals and 1,077,268 additions during that period—a net decline of 85,571 registrations. That distinction matters: the nearly 1.2 million figure represents cumulative removals, not a net loss of that many registered voters. The total alone does not establish that every removal was improper.
For minority communities, the racial patterns identified by the organization warrant attention. According to the ACLU, South Carolina’s Black and Brown voting-age population grew approximately 6% between 2022 and 2024, while Black and Brown voter registration declined approximately 4% between 2022 and 2025. Those comparisons cover different time periods.
The organization also reports that counties with larger nonwhite populations generally experienced steeper registration declines. Its analysis groups voters identified by the state as Black, Hispanic, Asian, or Native American within that category.
The ACLU says its findings draw on South Carolina Election Commission annual reports and voter-registration statistics. Charleston-based Holy City Sinner published the organization’s announcement September 2 under an ACLU byline. That publication shares the findings but does not provide independent verification of the calculations.
Voter-list maintenance includes removing registrations associated with people who have died, moved, or become ineligible. The ACLU identifies address changes and failure to respond to confirmation mailings among the most common reasons recorded for removals.
However, being marked inactive is different from being removed.
In a July 8, 2025, announcement, the Election Commission said approximately 168,000 voters had been made inactive following a statewide confirmation mailing. The commission explicitly stated that inactive voters remain eligible to vote and can reactivate their registrations by voting or updating their information.
That announcement predates the ACLU analysis and should not be read as a direct response to its findings. It does clarify why voters should confirm their individual status rather than assume an inactive designation means they cannot cast a ballot.
For readers, the practical next step is straightforward: visit scVOTES.gov and select “Check My Registration.” Review your address and registration information, and contact your county voter-registration office if anything is missing, outdated, or unclear. The commission provides online and county-office options for updating information.
With South Carolina’s general election scheduled for November 3, 2026, checking now gives voters time to resolve questions before Election Day.
Readers can review the ACLU’s analysis and methodology for additional details.
