The bill H. 3557 proposes amendments to the South Carolina Code of Laws regarding candidate qualifications for general elections. It seeks to shorten the candidate filing period, requiring all candidates from each political party to pay a filing fee starting July 1, 2026, regardless of whether their party conducts a primary election. Additionally, political parties are authorized to charge a certification fee of up to $100 to candidates seeking nomination. The filing period for candidates is adjusted to be between noon on March 16 and noon on March 25, with provisions for extensions if the deadline falls on a weekend.

Furthermore, the bill amends Section 7-11-210 to change the deadline for filing party pledges by candidates to noon on March 25. It specifies that candidates for state offices, U.S. Senate, and congressional positions must submit their party pledges to the appropriate election commission, while candidates for state legislative and local offices must file with their respective county boards of voter registration and elections. The bill also emphasizes that party pledges must be personally signed by the candidates in the presence of an authorized individual, invalidating any pledges signed by an agent. The act will take effect upon the Governor's approval.

Statutes affected:
12/05/2024: 7-11-15, 7-11-210
03/20/2025: 7-11-15, 7-11-210
03/26/2025: 7-11-15, 7-11-210
03/27/2025: 7-11-15, 7-11-210
Latest Version: 7-11-15, 7-11-210