South Carolina S 123: Entry of Other Candidates for Office

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 123 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 11, 2024) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 123

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 7-11-15, RELATING TO QUALIFICATIONS TO RUN AS A CANDIDATE IN GENERAL 
ELECTIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE A PROCESS FOR REOPENING THE TIME TO FILE FOR OFFICE 
IN CASE OF A CANDIDATE'S DEATH OR WITHDRAWAL.

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

SECTION 1. Section 7-11-15(F) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 (F) If, after the closing of the time 
for filing the documents required pursuant to this section, there are not more 
than two candidates for any one office and one or more of the candidates dies, 
or withdraws, the state or county committee, as the case may be, if the 
nomination is by political party primary or political party convention only 
may, in its discretion, afford opportunity for the entry of other candidates 
for the office involved; however, for the office of State House of 
Representatives or State Senator, the discretion must be exercised by the state 
committee.

 (1) In order for a state or county 
committee to allow entry of other candidates for the office, the committee 
must:

 (a) hold a public hearing within 
forty-eight hours of the death or withdrawal of the candidate or candidates; 
and

 (b) publicly vote to allow reopening of 
the time to file for the office.

 (2) The additional filing period for the 
office shall consist of three business days following the vote authorizing 
reopening of the time to file.

 (3) Any withdrawal must be in writing to 
the Director of the County Board of Voter Registration and Elections in which 
the candidate filed.

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

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This web page was last updated on December 11, 2024 at 04:26 PM