The bill H. 3552 proposes significant changes to the election process in South Carolina by abolishing runoff elections. It introduces a new provision, Section 7-13-42, which states that the candidate receiving the most votes in a primary election will be considered the nominee, regardless of whether they achieve a majority. Additionally, the bill amends several existing sections of the South Carolina Code to remove references to runoff elections and to make conforming changes throughout the election laws. This includes amendments to voter registration deadlines and procedures related to special primary elections.

Furthermore, the bill repeals existing laws that pertain to second primaries or runoffs, the requirement for a candidate to receive a majority of votes in a first primary to be declared nominated, and methods for determining what constitutes a majority vote. The changes aim to streamline the election process and reduce the number of elections that candidates must participate in. The act will take effect upon approval by the Governor and will apply to all primaries conducted after March 31, 2026.

Statutes affected:
12/05/2024: 7-13-42, 7-5-150, 7-11-55, 7-13-25, 7-17-280, 7-17-510, 7-13-50
Latest Version: 7-13-42, 7-5-150, 7-11-55, 7-13-25, 7-17-280, 7-17-510, 7-13-50