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SC H5358
Bill
Status
Introduced
3/11/2026
Primary Sponsor
Jay Kilmartin
Click for details
AI Summary
- Establishes closed primary elections in South Carolina beginning January 1, 2027, requiring voters to be registered members of a political party to vote in that party's primary elections or advisory referendums
- Allows political parties to opt out by notifying the State Election Commission 60-180 days in advance if they wish to open their primaries to independent voters unaffiliated with any certified party
- Requires voter registration forms to include political party affiliation and adds party declaration to the voter oath; voters who fail to select a party are automatically registered as independents
- Permits voters to change their party affiliation by executing an affidavit no later than 30 days before a primary election
- Mandates county boards of voter registration to contact all qualified electors before June 1, 2026, to inform them of the new partisan primary voting procedures
Legislative Description
Closed primaries
Last Action
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
3/11/2026
Committee Referrals
Judiciary3/11/2026
Full Bill Text
No bill text available