The bill H. 4669 proposes several amendments to the South Carolina Code of Laws regarding municipal elections. It establishes specific dates for municipal general elections, mandating that they occur on either the first Tuesday after the first Monday in April or November of odd-numbered years. Additionally, it stipulates that municipalities opting for partisan elections must bear all costs associated with conducting municipal primaries. The bill also allows municipalities to determine when newly elected officials may be qualified and when their terms commence, while ensuring that candidates declared elected can take the oath of office and perform their duties pending any appeals.

Further amendments include extending the deadline for filing election contest notices and requiring municipal election commissions to conduct hearings on these contests within a specified timeframe. The bill removes the provision that a notice of appeal stays further proceedings pending the appeal, instead prioritizing such appeals in court. Lastly, it allows municipalities to transfer the authority to conduct elections to county boards of voter registration and elections, with specific conditions regarding the transfer and the responsibilities of both parties.

Statutes affected:
12/17/2025: 5-15-50, 5-15-60, 5-15-120, 5-15-130, 5-15-140, 5-15-145
Latest Version: 5-15-50, 5-15-60, 5-15-120, 5-15-130, 5-15-140, 5-15-145