Partisan Candidate Filing for Statewide Primaries Opens March 16

Partisan Candidate Filing for Statewide Primaries Opens March 16

COLUMBIA, SC (March 13, 2026)- The 2026 partisan candidate filing period opens at noon on Monday March 16 and closes at noon on Monday March 30. All partisan candidates must file during this period in order to appear on the ballot.

Filing Locations

Candidates must file at the appropriate location based on the office they are seeking:

• Federal, statewide, and multi-county offices: State Election Commission (SEC).
• State House of Representatives: SEC or County Board of Voter Registration and Elections in the candidate's county of residence.
• Various County-Level Offices: County Board of Voter Registration and Elections.

Filing Hours

Candidates may file during regular business hours at the appropriate filing location throughout the filing period.

Required Forms

The Statement of Intention of Candidacy & Party Pledge (SICPP) form required for filing is available in the "Candidate Information" section on our website scVOTES.gov and at filing locations.

Filing Fees

Filing fees apply to candidates seeking the nomination of a party nominated by primary. The list of filing fees is available at scVOTES.gov and at filing locations. Filing fees must be paid by check, cashier's check or money order made payable to the appropriate state political party. Candidates seeking the nomination of a party nominating by convention do not pay a filing fee.

Ethics & Campaign Finance Filings

All candidates, except federal candidates, must file a Statement of Economic Interests and a Campaign Disclosure online with the State Ethics Commission. Failure to file timely may result in a fine. Contact the State Ethics Commission for more information. Federal candidates may be required to file with the Federal Election Commission.

Candidate Tracking System

The public can track candidate filings in real time through the Candidate Tracking System, which allows users to view candidate documents and download filing data.

For more information, visit scVOTES.gov.