The bill H. 3643 aims to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws regarding voter registration and party affiliation. It establishes that only electors registered as affiliated with a certified political party or as unaffiliated for at least 45 days prior to a partisan primary or advisory referendum may participate in those events. Additionally, it mandates that voter registration applications include information about an applicant's political party affiliation. The bill also shortens the candidate filing period for general elections, requires all candidates to pay a filing fee, and allows political parties to charge a certification fee. Furthermore, it stipulates that only individuals who have participated in a party's recent statewide primaries and are registered with that party for a specified period can appear on the ballot for that party's primary.

The bill includes several amendments to existing sections of the South Carolina Code, such as adding a new section (7-5-200) to outline the requirements for voter participation in party primaries, and modifying sections 7-5-170 and 7-5-185 to include political party affiliation in voter registration applications. It also amends sections related to candidate qualifications and filing procedures, including the timing and requirements for party pledges and the certification of candidates for primary ballots. The State Election Commission is tasked with ensuring compliance and establishing a voter education program regarding these changes, which will take effect upon the Governor's approval and apply to all primaries conducted after March 31, 2026.

Statutes affected:
12/12/2024: 7-5-200, 7-11-15, 7-11-210, 7-13-40
02/05/2025: 7-5-200, 7-11-15, 7-11-210, 7-13-40
Latest Version: 7-5-200, 7-11-15, 7-11-210, 7-13-40