SC Political Candidate Filing Deadlines

Daughters the SC Political Candidate Filing Season is Upon Us!

Candidate Filing Period: Noon, March 16th - Noon, March 30th.

Any candidate seeking a political party's nomination for an office to be voted on in the November 2, 2010, General Election must file with the appropriate party official during this filing period. For more information, go to http://www.scvotes.org/. The filing period for the General Election opens at noon on March 16th of the election year and closes at noon on March 30th of the election year. Names of candidates who fail to file the proper forms during the appropriate filing period will not appear on the ballot.

Other Important Dates:

May 8th - Deadline to register to VOTE in State Primaries

June 8th - State Primaries

June 22nd - State Primary Runoffs (if necessary)

October 2nd - Deadline to register to vote in General Election

November 2nd - General Election

All candidates seeking a political party's nomination to run in a general or special election must file a statement ofintention of candidacy form with the appropriate party official during the appropriate filing period.

Federal office, statewide office, and solicitor

Candidates for federal office, statewide office, and solicitor must file with the state executive committee of the political partyof the candidate's choice.

State Senate and State House of Representatives

Candidates for State Senate and State House of Representatives must file with the executive committee of the county political party in the candidate's county of residence.

City and County local government

Municipalities set election dates, filing periods, filing fees, candidate qualifications, methods of election, methods of determining results, and other election-related rules by ordinance. For specific
requirements, check with your municipal or county election commission. Generally, if the municipality uses the filing by statement of intention of candidacy method, the filing deadline is not later than 60 days prior to the date of the election. Check locally for specific deadlines.

Candidates who file with the Republican or Democratic parties must pay a filing fee. The filing fee is one percent of the annual salary of the office multiplied by the number of years in the term of
office or $100, whichever is greater. This fee funds the party's primary. Contact the appropriate political party for specific information regarding filing.

If only one candidate files for a particular office with a particular party, that candidate becomes the party's nominee. When more than one candidate files for a particular office with a particular party, the nominee is chosen by primary or convention.