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Bill

H 5684

Special primary, US House

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by William Bailey and 37 co-sponsors

South Carolina assigns a separate, 2026-only nomination timeline for seven U.S. House seats, including a June filing window and an August special primary.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 5684

Summary of Bill H 5684 (2025-2026) — South Carolina

Purpose and Intent

  • This joint Resolution provides, for the 2026 election cycle only, a specific schedule for nominating and selecting candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina.
  • The core goal is to establish a distinct timeline separating the June 9, 2026 statewide primary from the subsequent process used to determine nominees for the November 3, 2026 general election, specifically for the seven U.S. House seats.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Filing Window (for 2026 only)

    • For all candidates seeking nomination by a political party primary or convention for one of the seven SC seats in the U.S. House, the filing period is set to occur between noon on June 8, 2026 and noon on June 15, 2026.

  • Special Primary Date (for 2026 only)

    • A special primary must be held on the second Tuesday in August, 2026, to nominate candidates for the seven U.S. House seats to be voted on in the November 3, 2026 general election.
    • The written certification of candidate names to appear on the special primary ballots must be submitted to the State Election Commission by party officials no later than noon on June 19, 2026.

  • Special Runoff (if needed)

    • If a runoff is necessary, it must be held on August 25, 2026.

  • Certification of Nominees for General Election

    • Written certification of the nominees for the seven U.S. House seats to appear on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot must be submitted to the State Election Commission no later than noon on September 8, 2026.

  • Counting of Votes for Nomination Purposes

    • Only votes cast in the special primary and any runoff for U.S. House candidates can be counted toward determining the names of nominees to appear on the November 3, 2026 general election ballots.
    • Votes cast in the June 9, 2026 statewide primary for U.S. House candidates may not be counted for nominating purposes.

  • Effective Date

    • The act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Who Is Affected

  • Primary voters in South Carolina seeking to nominate candidates for the U.S. House in 2026.
  • Political parties and party officials (chairman, vice chairman, or secretary) responsible for certifying candidate names to the State Election Commission.
  • The South Carolina State Election Commission, which administers certification and ballot placement processes.
  • Campaigns and candidates for the seven U.S. House seats in the 2026 cycle.

Procedural and Timeline Highlights

  • 2026-specific timeline governs only this election cycle.
  • Filing window: June 8–June 15, 2026 (noon cutoffs).
  • Special primary date: Second Tuesday in August 2026.
  • Special runoff (if needed): August 25, 2026.
  • Certification of special primary nominees: by noon, June 19, 2026.
  • Certification of general-election nominees: by noon, September 8, 2026.
  • Ballot nomination eligibility: only votes from the special primary and any runoff count toward determining nominees for the November general election; statewide primary votes June 9, 2026, are excluded from nomination calculations.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Creates a distinct, accelerated path for U.S. House nomination separate from the statewide primary process, potentially delaying or altering traditional nomination dynamics for 2026.
  • May affect campaign strategies, funding, and filing preparations given the tighter June filing window and the August special primary.
  • Establishes clear, last-minute certification deadlines to ensure timely placement on the November ballot.
  • If a runoff is required, August 25 provides a concrete backup date, but could heighten campaigning within a short window.

Overall, the bill is a narrow, temporary adjustment to South Carolina’s 2026 U.S. House nomination and ballot-certification process, with explicit dates and procedural rules designed to manage the special primary, runoff (if any), and final nominee certification.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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