summary
Introduced
03/11/2026
03/11/2026
In Committee
03/11/2026
03/11/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
126th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Adding Section 7-5-115 So As To Provide That A Person Is Not Allowed To Vote In A Partisan Primary Election Or Partisan Advisory Referendum Unless The Person Has Registered As Being A Member Of That Party; By Amending Section 7-5-110, Relating To Registration In Order To Vote, So As To Provide That A Person Is Not Allowed To Vote In A Partisan Primary Election Or Partisan Advisory Referendum Unless The Person Has Registered As Being A Member Of That Political Party; By Amending Section 7-5-170, Relating To The Requirements For Voter Registration, So As To Provide The Requirement Of Stating Political Party Affiliation, If Any, On The Form And Including It In The Oath, And To Require The State Election Commission To Assist In Capturing This Data; And By Amending Section 7-9-20, Relating To Qualifications For Voting In Primary Elections, So As To Include, As A Requirement, Registering As A Member Of The Party And To Provide A Procedure For Changing Political Party Affiliation Or Nonaffiliation After A Selection Has Been Made.
AI Summary
This bill, titled "Closed primaries," proposes to amend South Carolina law to require voters to be registered members of a specific political party to vote in that party's partisan primary election or partisan advisory referendum, starting January 1, 2027, unless a party opts to open its primary to unaffiliated voters. The bill mandates that voter registration forms and oaths will now include a requirement to state political party affiliation, if any, and the State Election Commission will be responsible for capturing and maintaining this data, with county election officials assisting in this process. It also establishes a procedure for voters to change their party affiliation or declare themselves unaffiliated, and outlines that if a voter fails to select a party affiliation during registration, they will be considered an independent voter. The bill includes a transition period, allowing for affidavits to be used in primaries before January 1, 2027, after which the new closed primary system will be fully implemented.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (12)
Josiah Magnuson (R)*,
Thomas Beach (R),
Sarita Edgerton (R),
Doug Gilliam (R),
Robert Harris (R),
Jay Kilmartin (R),
Ryan McCabe (R),
John McCravy (R),
Dianne Mitchell (R),
James Teeple (R),
Joe White (R),
Mark Willis (R),
Last Action
Referred to Committee on Judiciary (on 03/11/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=5355&session=126&summary=B |
| BillText | https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/prever/5355_20260311.htm |
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