H 3643 South Carolina House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Voter registration, party affiliation

Summary
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 7-5-200 SO AS TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, PROVIDE THAT ONLY ELECTORS REGISTERED AS AFFILIATED WITH A CERTIFIED POLITICAL PARTY OR AS UNAFFILIATED FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME MAY PARTICIPATE IN A PARTISAN PRIMARY OR ADVISORY REFERENDUM HELD BY THAT PARTY, AND TO ESTABLISH PROCESSES BY WHICH ELECTORS REGISTER OR BECOME REGISTERED AS AFFILIATED WITH A POLITICAL PARTY; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 7-5-170 AND 7-5-185, BOTH RELATING TO APPLICATIONS FOR VOTER REGISTRATION, BOTH SO AS TO INCLUDE INFORMATION REGARDING AN APPLICANT'S POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION; BY AMENDING SECTION 7-11-15, RELATING TO QUALIFICATIONS TO RUN AS A CANDIDATE IN GENERAL ELECTIONS, SO AS TO SHORTEN THE CANDIDATE FILING PERIOD, TO REQUIRE ALL CANDIDATES FROM EACH POLITICAL PARTY IN THIS STATE TO PAY A FILING FEE, AND TO AUTHORIZE POLITICAL PARTIES TO CHARGE A CERTIFICATION FEE TO ALL CANDIDATES; BY AMENDING SECTION 7-11-210, RELATING TO FILING OF PARTY PLEDGES BY CANDIDATES, SO AS TO CHANGE THE DATE BY WHICH A PARTY PLEDGE MUST BE FILED; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 7-13-40, RELATING TO THE CERTIFICATION OF NAMES BY A POLITICAL PARTY TO BE PLACED ON PRIMARY BALLOTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ONLY PERSONS WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN A POLITICAL PARTY'S RECENT STATEWIDE PRIMARIES AND ARE REGISTERED AS AFFILIATED WITH THE PARTY FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPEAR ON THE BALLOT FOR THAT PARTY'S PARTISAN PRIMARY UNLESS THE PARTY HAS TAKEN ACTION TO WAIVE THESE REQUIREMENTS.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Last action Jan 29, 2026
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
22
Key actions
0
Committee
2
Jan 14, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
lower
Jan 14, 2025
Introduced
Introduced and read first time
lower
Dec 12, 2024
Committee
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
lower
23 primary · 0 co-sponsors

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