Ballot access requirements for political candidates in South Carolina

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Note: This article is not intended to serve as a guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact their state election agencies for further information.

In order to get on the ballot in South Carolina, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in South Carolina. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

See state election laws

Year-specific filing information

2024

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2024 U.S. Congress elections and South Carolina elections, 2024

U.S. Senate

For information on candidate ballot access requirements in South Carolina, click here.

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in South Carolina in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in South Carolina, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2024
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
South Carolina	U.S. House	Ballot-qualified party	N/A	$3,480.00	4/1/2024	Source
South Carolina	U.S. House	Unaffiliated	5% of the active, registered voters in the district	N/A	7/15/2024	Source

For filing information from previous years, click "[Show more]" below.

Show more

2022

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2022 U.S. Congress elections and South Carolina elections, 2022

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in South Carolina in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in South Carolina, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2022
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
South Carolina	U.S. Senate	Ballot-qualified party	N/A	$10,440.00	3/30/2022	Source
South Carolina	U.S. Senate	Unaffiliated	5% of active registered voters in the state, or 10,000, whichever is less	N/A	7/15/2022	Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in South Carolina in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in South Carolina, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2022
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
South Carolina	U.S. House	Ballot-qualified party	N/A	$3,480.00	3/30/2022	Source
South Carolina	U.S. House	Unaffiliated	5% of the active, registered voters in the geographical area the office represents	N/A	7/15/2022	Source

Governor

The table below details filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates in South Carolina in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in South Carolina, click here.

Filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates, 2022
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source	Notes
South Carolina	Governor	Democratic or Republican	N/A	$4,243.12	3/30/2022	Source
South Carolina	Governor	Unaffiliated	5% of active, registered voters	N/A	7/15/2022	Source

2020

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2020 U.S. Congress elections and South Carolina elections, 2020

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in South Carolina in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in South Carolina, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2020
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Signature formula	Filing fee	Filing fee formula	Filing deadline	Source
South Carolina	U.S. Senate	Qualified party	N/A	N/A	$10,440.00	1% of annual salary multiplied by term of office	3/30/2020	Source
South Carolina	U.S. Senate	Unaffiliated	10,000	5% of active registered voters in the state, or 10,000, whichever is less	N/A	N/A	8/17/2020	Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in South Carolina in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in South Carolina, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2020
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Signature formula	Filing fee	Filing fee formula	Filing deadline	Source
South Carolina	1st Congressional District	Major party	N/A	N/A	$3,480.00	1% of annual salary multipled by term of office	3/30/2020	Source
South Carolina	2nd Congressional District	Major party	N/A	N/A	$3,480.00	1% of annual salary multipled by term of office	3/30/2020	Source
South Carolina	3rd Congressional District	Major party	N/A	N/A	$3,480.00	1% of annual salary multipled by term of office	3/30/2020	Source
South Carolina	4th Congressional District	Major party	N/A	N/A	$3,480.00	1% of annual salary multipled by term of office	3/30/2020	Source
South Carolina	5th Congressional District	Major party	N/A	N/A	$3,480.00	1% of annual salary multipled by term of office	3/30/2020	Source
South Carolina	6th Congressional District	Major party	N/A	N/A	$3,480.00	1% of annual salary multipled by term of office	3/30/2020	Source
South Carolina	7th Congressional District	Major party	N/A	N/A	$3,480.00	1% of annual salary multipled by term of office	3/30/2020	Source
South Carolina	1st Congressional District	Unaffiliated	Pending	5% of active registered voters in district as of 120 days before the election	N/A	N/A	8/17/2020	Source
South Carolina	2nd Congressional District	Unaffiliated	Pending	5% of active registered voters in district as of 120 days before the election	N/A	N/A	8/17/2020	Source
South Carolina	3rd Congressional District	Unaffiliated	Pending	5% of active registered voters in district as of 120 days before the election	N/A	N/A	8/17/2020	Source
South Carolina	4th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	Pending	5% of active registered voters in district as of 120 days before the election	N/A	N/A	8/17/2020	Source
South Carolina	5th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	Pending	5% of active registered voters in district as of 120 days before the election	N/A	N/A	8/17/2020	Source
South Carolina	6th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	Pending	5% of active registered voters in district as of 120 days before the election	N/A	N/A	8/17/2020	Source
South Carolina	7th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	Pending	5% of active registered voters in district as of 120 days before the election	N/A	N/A	8/17/2020	Source

State House

The table below details filing requirements for South Carolina House of Representatives candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
South Carolina House of Representatives	Qualified party	N/A	$208.00	3/30/2020	Source
South Carolina House of Representatives	Unaffiliated	5% of active, registered voters in the district	N/A	8/17/2020	Source

State Senate

The table below details filing requirements for South Carolina State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
South Carolina State Senate	Qualified party	N/A	$416.00	3/30/2020	Source
South Carolina State Senate	Unaffiliated	5% of active, registered voters in the district	N/A	8/17/2020	Source

2018

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2018 U.S. Congress elections and South Carolina elections, 2018

See below for 2018 candidate filing deadlines.

March 30, 2018

2016

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2016 U.S. Congress elections and South Carolina elections, 2016

The calendar below lists important filing deadlines for political candidates in South Carolina in 2016.

Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016
Deadline	Event type	Event description
March 16, 2016	Ballot access	Filing period opens for primary candidates
March 30, 2016	Ballot access	Filing period closes for primary candidates
April 10, 2016	Campaign finance	Quarterly campaign finance report due
June 14, 2016	Election date	Primary election
July 10, 2016	Campaign finance	Quarterly campaign finance report due
July 15, 2016	Ballot access	Filing deadline for independent candidates
October 10, 2016	Campaign finance	Quarterly campaign finance report due
November 8, 2016	Election date	General election
Sources: South Carolina Election Commission, "2016 Election Calendar," accessed September 21, 2015 South Carolina State Ethics Commission, "2016 Calendar," accessed January 11, 2016

2015

To view historical information for 2015, click [show] to expand the section.
See also: South Carolina elections, 2015 There were no regularly scheduled state executive, state legislative, or congressional elections in South Carolina in 2015.

2014

To view historical information for 2014, click [show] to expand the section.

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2014 U.S. Congress elections and South Carolina elections, 2014 South Carolina held a primary election on June 10, 2014. The general election took place on November 4, 2014. Voters elected candidates to serve in the following state and federal offices: Governor of South Carolina Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina South Carolina Attorney General South Carolina Secretary of State South Carolina Treasurer South Carolina Controller South Carolina Auditor South Carolina Superintendent South Carolina Agriculture Commissioner South Carolina Adjutant General 1 seat in the United States Senate 8 seats in the United States House of Representatives 124 seats in the South Carolina House of Representatives The 2014 filing deadline for a candidate seeking a political party's nomination by running in the state primary was March 30, 2014. The filing deadline for independent candidates was July 15, 2014. The deadline to submit petitions to certify a new political party was May 4, 2014. Legend:      Ballot access     Campaign finance     Election date Dates and requirements for candidates in 2014 Deadline Event type Event description January 10, 2014 Campaign finance 2013 campaign disclosure form due (ending December 31) March 30, 2014 Ballot access Filing deadline for partisan candidates participating in a party primary or party convention March 31, 2014 Ballot access Deadline for political parties to hold county conventions April 10, 2014 Campaign finance First quarter report due (ending March 31) May 4, 2014 Ballot access Deadline for new political parties to file petitions for certification May 15, 2014 Ballot access Deadline for political parties to hold state conventions June 10, 2014 Election date Primary election July 10, 2014 Campaign finance Second quarter report due (ending June 30) July 15, 2014 Ballot access Filing deadline for independent candidates participating in the general election October 10, 2014 Campaign finance Third quarter report due (ending September 30) November 4, 2014 Election date General election

Process to become a candidate

See statutes: Title 7, Chapter 11 of the South Carolina Code

In South Carolina, a candidate can run as the nominee of a political party, as an independent, or as a write-in.

For partisan candidates

Non-presidential candidates seeking a party nomination for a general or special election must file the State Election Commission’s Statement of Intention of Candidacy/Party Pledge Form (SICPP) and pay the required fee—or submit a fee-petition signed by registered voters equal to the fee—between noon on March 16 and noon on March 30 (with the deadline extended to the next business day if the 30th falls on a weekend or holiday). Federal, statewide, and multi-county district candidates file with the State Election Commission; those running for State Senate, House, or county offices file with their home-county election commission. A candidate who files as a Democrat or Republican must pay a filing fee.

Upon receipt, the filing officer stamps each form and fee receipt with the date and time received, retains the original, provides a copy to the candidate, and forwards a copy to the appropriate party executive committee. No name may appear on any primary ballot, convention slate, or general/special election ballot until certification by that committee, and any minor error or omission in filings must be construed in the candidate’s favor if statutory qualifications are otherwise met.

If, after the close of filing, two or fewer candidates remain for an office and one withdraws or dies, the party committee—or, for legislative seats, the state committee—may at its discretion reopen nominations. Both the county party chair and the state executive committee chair may designate observers to monitor filings. These rules do not apply to nonpartisan school-trustee elections governed by local law, which prevail in the event of any conflict.

For independent candidates

An independent candidate must be nominated by petition. The petition must contain signatures equaling at least 5 percent of the qualified registered electors in the geographical area of the office being sought. No petition candidate is required to collect more than 10,000 signatures for any office.

Petition candidates for multi-county offices must file their petitions with the South Carolina State Election Commission. All petition candidates for the state legislature also file with the State Election Commission. A petition candidate must also file a statement of economic interests with the State Ethics Commission. Signature requirements are detailed in the table below.

Petition signature requirements for independent candidates in South Carolina
Office sought	Number of signatures needed
Governor and other statewide offices	5 percent of the qualified registered voters in the state
State legislators	5 percent of the qualified registered voters in the district or area to be represented

No candidates is required to collect more than 10,000 signatures.

For write-in candidates

Generally, there are no filing forms or fees required to run as a write-in candidate. However, a write-in candidate should notify the appropriate election commission in writing that he or she is conducting a write-in campaign. A candidate who was defeated in a political party's primary may not actively campaign as a write-in candidate for the ensuing election.

Petition requirements

See also: Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions

See statutes: Section 7-11-80 of the South Carolina Code

In some cases, candidates may need to obtain signatures via the petition process with relation to ballot access. This section outlines the laws and regulations pertaining to petitions and circulators.

Format requirements

A petition must adhere to the following formatting requirements:

1. The petition must be printed be on good quality original bond paper sized 8 1/2 by 14 inches.
2. The petition must include a concise statement of purpose (in the case of nomination of candidates, the name of the candidate, the office being sought, and the date of the election).
3. The petition must contain the following information in separate columns (from left to right):
   • Signature of voter and printed name of voter
   • Address of residence where registered
   • Precinct of voter
4. No single petition page can contain the signatures of registered voters from different counties.
5. All signatures must be numbered consecutively.
6. Petitions comprising more than one page must have the pages consecutively numbered upon filing with the appropriate authority.

Noteworthy events

2022

On August 18, 2022, Circuit Judge Alison Renee Lee directed the South Carolina Election Commission not to put the names of three Labor Party candidates on the general-election ballot. Earlier in the year, one Labor Party co-chair, Donna Dewitt, sent a letter to the state election commission certifying the names of its candidates in the general election. However, the other co-chair, Willie Legette, reported that the party had decided in March not to run any candidates in the general election. The state election commission, determining that it had no authority to settle the dispute between the co-chairs, accepted Dewitt's certification letter. This prompted the Democratic Party to file suit, arguing that the Labor Party's nominating convention, scheduled for July 30, 2022, was two months later than allowed under state law. Gary Votour, one of the candidates affected by Lee's ruling, had argued in court that the July 30 convention was a continuation of the party's 2020 convention, making the state-imposed deadline inapplicable. Lee rejected this argument: "To reconvene a convention, a political party must first convene one. Indeed, if a political party could simply deem any convention to be ‘reconvened’ from a prior one, it would render the deadline imposed by [state law] meaningless." Lee, reasoning that the case turned on whether the Labor Party had complied with the state deadline, concluded that it had not. Votour told The Post and Courier that he would appeal the ruling to the state supreme court.

2012

South Carolina Supreme Court building in Columbia

See also: South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2012 and South Carolina State Senate elections, 2012

During the 2012 election cycle, nearly 250 South Carolina candidates were removed from the primary ballot due to the failure of these candidates to file statements of economic interests by March 30, 2012. According to state law, candidates that had missed the filing deadline could not appear on the primary ballot. In April 2012, the State Ethics Commission extended the deadline by 10 days. The issue was ultimately brought before the South Carolina Supreme Court.

In May 2012, the state supreme court ruled unanimously that any candidate who had not filed the necessary form would be ineligible to run, and subsequently ordered the political parties to remove candidates from the primary ballots. The court also denied a rehearing requested by South Carolina Republican Party, the state Democratic Party, and the state election commission.

Election administration agencies

Election agencies

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in South Carolina can contact the following local, South Carolina, and federal agencies.

South Carolina Voter Registration and Elections Offices

Click here for a list

South Carolina State Election Commission

Physical Address: 1122 Lady Street, Suite 500

Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5987

Columbia, South Carolina 29250-5987

Phone: 803-734-9060

Fax: 803-734-9366

Email: elections@elections.sc.gov

Website: https://scvotes.gov

South Carolina State Ethics Commission

201 Executive Center Drive, Suite 150

Columbia, South Carolina 29210

Phone: 803-253-4192

Fax: 803-253-7539

Email: https://ethics.sc.gov/about-us/contact-us

Website: https://ethics.sc.gov

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200

Washington, DC 20001

Phone: 301-563-3919

Toll free: 1-866-747-1471

Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov

Website: https://www.eac.gov

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Term limits

State executives

See also: State executives with term limits and States with gubernatorial term limits

The state executive term limits in South Carolina are as follows:

• The governor must wait four years and/or one full term before becoming eligible to serve again after serving two consecutive terms.
• The lieutenant governor may serve a total of two terms.

State legislators

See also: State legislatures with term limits

There are no term limits placed on South Carolina state legislators.

Congressional partisanship

See also: List of United States Representatives from South Carolina and List of United States Senators from South Carolina

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the congressional delegation from South Carolina.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from South Carolina
Party	U.S. Senate	U.S. House	Total
Democratic	0	1	1
Republican	2	6	8
Independent	0	0	0
Vacancies	0	0	0
Total	2	7	9

Related legislation

The table below lists bills related to ballot access requirements for candidates that have been introduced during (or carried over to) the current legislative session in South Carolina. The following information is included for each bill:

• State
• Bill number
• Official bill name or caption
• Most recent action date
• Legislative status
• Sponsor party
• Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

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See also

• Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in South Carolina
• Ballot access requirements for political parties in South Carolina
• South Carolina elections, 2024
• Campaign finance requirements in South Carolina
• Counties in South Carolina
• List of United States Representatives from South Carolina
• List of United States Senators from South Carolina
• Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions
• State executives with term limits
• States with gubernatorial term limits
• State legislatures with term limits

External links

Official state and federal links

• South Carolina State Election Commission
• Federal Election Commission
• South Carolina State Election Commission, "Candidates"

Other information

• Ballot Access News – News updates and analysis of ballot access issues
• ThirdPartyPolitics.us – Blog about American minor party and independent politics
• National Voter Outreach – Political consulting firm that specializes in organizing petition signature drives

Footnotes

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