South Carolina H 3319: Electioneering

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3319 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 06, 2024) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3319

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING 
SECTION 7-25-180, RELATING TO THE UNLAWFUL DISTRIBUTION OF CAMPAIGN LITERATURE, 
SO AS TO DECLARE UNLAWFUL CERTAIN OTHER CONDUCT WITHIN THE PROXIMITY OF AN ENTRANCE 
TO A POLLING PLACE OR EARLY VOTING LOCATION.

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Section 7-25-180 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
7-25-180. (A) It is unlawful for a 
person to distribute any type of campaign literature or place any political 
posters within five hundred feet of any entrance used by the voters to enter 
the polling place, during polling hours on an election day and during the early 
voting period. The poll manager shall use every reasonable means to keep the 
area within five hundred feet of any such entrance clear of political 
literature and displays, and the county and municipal law enforcement officers, 
upon request of a poll manager, shall remove or cause to be removed any 
material within five hundred feet of any such entrance distributed or displayed 
in violation of this section.

 (B) A 
candidate may wear within five hundred feet of the polling place a label no 
larger than four and one-fourth inches by four and one-fourth inches that 
contains the candidate's name and the office he is 
seeking. If the candidate enters the polling place, he may not display any of 
this identification including, but not limited to, campaign stickers or 
buttons.

 (C)(1) It is unlawful for a person to do 
any of the following within fifty feet of the entrance used by the voters to 
enter the polling place during the polling hours on election day and during the 
early voting period:

 (a) congregate or loiter;

 (b) hinder or obstruct the doors or 
entrance;

 (c) harass, intimidate, impede, or 
otherwise interrupt a voter approaching the polling place for the purpose of 
voting;

 (d) disseminate or communicate any 
visible or audible electioneering information; or

 (e) engage in any conduct which 
disrupts the administration of the polling place or the orderly conduct of the 
election.

 (2) As used in this subsection, 
"electioneering" means the display or audible dissemination of information that 
advocates for or against any candidate, political party, or question on the 
ballot.

 (3) Poll managers and clerks shall use 
every reasonable means to ensure the provisions of this subsection are 
enforced, including the reporting of any violation to the appropriate county or 
municipal law enforcement agency. Any peace officer summoned or called upon by 
the managers of election to assist promptly shall report to the polling place 
and may arrest any individual violating the provisions of this subsection.

 (4) Nothing in this subsection may be 
construed to prohibit:

 (a) managers and clerks of elections, 
or other election officials or employees, from carrying out their lawful 
duties;

 (b) candidates within five hundred feet 
of the polling place entrance pursuant to subsection (B);

 (c) persons providing assistance to a 
voter as provided by law;

 (d) poll watchers appointed pursuant to 
Section 7-13-860 from observing the election process as provided in that 
section; and

 (e) any voter from being accompanied to 
the polling place by a minor or other person in the care of the voter.

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval 
by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on December 06, 2024 at 11:20 AM