The South Carolina Democratic primary election took place on February 24, with polls closing at 7 p.m. Eastern time. Unlike some other states, South Carolina does not have voter registration by party, but participants in the Democratic election were not allowed to vote in the Republican election. The state offered two weeks of early voting, and absentee voting by mail was allowed for those with valid excuses. As of Friday, more than 52,000 voters had already cast their ballots. This was the first Democratic contest in 2024 to award delegates, breaking from the tradition of Iowa and New Hampshire historically holding the first primaries.
In the 2020 election, results began to come in soon after the polls closed, with about 98 percent of votes reported by midnight. Voter registration deadlines for the 2024 South Carolina Democratic primary were in January, and those participating in the election must adhere to the regulations set forth by the state. The primary marked a change to the election calendar that traditionally placed Iowa and New Hampshire first. Although New Hampshire held its primary on January 23, no delegates were awarded, making the South Carolina primary the first to award delegates in the 2024 Democratic contest.
With early voting and absentee voting options available, many voters had already cast their ballots before election day. The turnout and distribution of delegate awards in the South Carolina Democratic primary reflected the changing dynamics of the 2024 election cycle, setting the stage for the rest of the primary season.