South Carolina H 3759: School board elections, partisan

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3759 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 15, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3759

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 ADDING SECTION 59-19-25 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ALL ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE 
BOARDS OF TRUSTEES FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF THIS STATE MUST BE ELECTED IN 
PARTISAN ELECTIONS, TO PROVIDE FILING METHODS AND DEADLINES FOR CANDIDATES 
SEEKING ELECTION TO SUCH OFFICES, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS 
SECTION CONTROL IN THE EVENT OF A CONFLICT WITH THE LOCAL LAW PROVISIONS OF A 
SCHOOL DISTRICT.

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

SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 19, Title 
59 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 Section 
59-19-25. (A) Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law or special act providing for the election of trustees of a 
school district, all elected members of the boards of trustees for school 
districts of this State must be elected in partisan elections held at the time 
provided by law.

 (B) Nominations for candidates for 
elected trustee offices to be voted on in a general or special election may be 
by political party primary, by political party convention, or by petition.

 (1) For the trustees of any school 
district to be voted on at the same time as the November general election of 
even-numbered years:

 (a) candidates seeking nomination by 
political party primary or political party convention must file a statement of 
intention of candidacy, party pledge, and any filing fees pursuant to Section 
7-11-15, and candidates or nominees must be certified as provided in Sections 
7-13-40 and 7-13-350, as appropriate;

 (b) candidates seeking nomination by 
petition must submit the petition in accordance with Section 7-13-351.

 (2) For the trustees of any school 
district required by special act to hold elections at some time other than the 
same time as the November general election of even-numbered years:

 (a) a primary must be conducted twelve 
weeks before the election; and

 (b) candidates seeking nomination by 
political party primary or political party convention must file a statement of 
intention of candidacy, party pledge, and any filing fees with the county board 
of voter registration and elections no later than the sixtieth day preceding 
the primary;

 (c) a party nominating by party primary 
or party convention must certify the nominee to the county board of voter 
registration and elections not later than twelve o'clock noon sixty days prior 
to the election; and

 (d) candidates seeking nomination by 
petition must submit the petition and all necessary signatures to the county 
board of voter registration and elections not later than seventy-five days 
prior to the election. 

 (C) To the extent the provisions of 
this section and the local law provisions of a school district relating to the 
election of trustees conflict, the provisions of this section control and are 
intended to repeal, supersede, or annul any such inconsistent provisions of a 
special act or local law.

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

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This web page was last updated on January 15, 2025 at 03:41 PM