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South Carolina · 2025-2026 Regular Session · Bill

H 5183: Closed primaries

In committee Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

H 5183 is a bill introduced in the South Carolina House on February 12, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Closed primaries. Primary sponsor: Mike Burns (Republican), Bill Chumley (Republican), Jordan Pace (Republican), Gil Gatch (Republican), Adam Duncan (Republican), Jackie Terribile (Republican), John McCravy (Republican), James Teeple (Republican), Blake Sanders (Republican), Bill Whitmire (Republican), Dianne Mitchell (Republican), April Cromer (Republican), Lee Gilreath (Republican), Josiah Magnuson (Republican), Jay Kilmartin (Republican), Thomas Beach (Republican), Sarita Edgerton (Republican), Joe White (Republican), Rob Harris (Republican), Chris Huff (Republican), Stephen Frank (Republican), Phillip Bowers (Republican), Paul Wickensimer (Republican), Mark Smith (Republican), Greg Ford (Republican), Luke Rankin (Republican), Kathy Landing (Republican), Steven Long (Republican), Ryan McCabe (Republican), Mark Willis (Republican), John Lastinger (Republican). Most recent recorded action (April 15, 2026): Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Lastinger.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

A BILL TO 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.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 31

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Mike BurnsPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse17
Bill ChumleyPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse35
Jordan PacePrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse117
Gil GatchPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse94
Adam DuncanPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse2
Jackie TerribilePrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse66
John McCravyPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse13
James TeeplePrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse116
Blake SandersPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse9
Bill WhitmirePrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse1
Dianne MitchellPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse21
April CromerPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse6
Lee GilreathPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse7
Josiah MagnusonPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse38
Jay KilmartinPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse85
Thomas BeachPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse10
Sarita EdgertonPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse34
Joe WhitePrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse40
Rob HarrisPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse36
Chris HuffPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse28
Stephen FrankPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse20
Phillip BowersPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse3
Paul WickensimerPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse22
Mark SmithPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse99
Greg FordPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse98
Luke RankinPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse14
Kathy LandingPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse80
Steven LongPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse37
Ryan McCabePrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse96
Mark WillisPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse16
John LastingerPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse88

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Lastinger
  2. Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  3. Introduced and read first time

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source