South Carolina H 3318: Special primary runoffs

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3318 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 06, 2024) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3318

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 7-13-190, RELATING TO SPECIAL ELECTIONS TO FILL VACANCIES IN OFFICE, SO 
AS TO ELIMINATE RUNOFFS FOR SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

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

SECTION 1. Section 7-13-190(B) of the S.C. Code is amended to 
read:

 (B)(1) In partisan elections, whether 
seeking nomination by political party primary or political party convention, 
filing by these candidates shall open for the office at twelve o'clock noon on 
the third Friday after the vacancy occurs for a period to close eight days 
later at twelve o'clock noon. If seeking nomination by petition, the petitions 
must be submitted not later than twelve o'clock noon, sixty days prior to the election. 
Verification of these petitions must be made not later than twelve o'clock noon 
forty-five days prior to the election. If seeking nomination by political party 
primary or political party convention, filing with the appropriate official is 
the same as provided in Section 7-11-15 and if seeking nomination by petition, 
filing with the appropriate official is the same as provided in Section 
7-11-70.

 (2) 
A primary must be held on the eleventh Tuesday after the vacancy occurs. A runoff primary must be held on the thirteenth Tuesday after 
the vacancy occurs. The candidate receiving the 
most votes must be named the party's nominee, and no runoff primary may be 
held. The special election must be on the twentieth Tuesday after the 
vacancy occurs. If the twentieth Tuesday after the vacancy occurs is no more 
than sixty days prior to the general election, the special election must be 
held on the same day as the general election. If the filing period closes on a 
state holiday, then filing must be held open through the succeeding weekday. If 
the date for an election falls on a state holiday, the election must be set for 
the next succeeding Tuesday. For purposes of this section, state holiday does 
not mean the general election day.

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

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