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South Carolina · 2025-2026 Regular Session · Bill

S 305: Voter registration, party affiliation

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

S 305 is a bill introduced in the South Carolina Senate on February 4, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Voter registration, party affiliation. Primary sponsor: Wes Climer (Republican), Stephen Goldfinch (Republican), Matt Leber (Republican), Tom Fernandez (Republican), Tom Corbin (Republican), Larry Grooms (Republican), Tom Davis (Republican), Josh Kimbrell (Republican), Billy Garrett (Republican), Jeff Zell (Republican), Jason Elliott (Republican), Carlisle Kennedy (Republican). Most recent recorded action (February 4, 2025): Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

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 7-5-200 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ONLY ELECTORS REGISTERED AS AFFILIATED WITH A CERTIFIED POLITICAL PARTY OR AS UNAFFILIATED FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME MAY PARTICIPATE IN A PARTISAN PRIMARY OR ADVISORY REFERENDUM HELD BY THAT PARTY, AND TO ESTABLISH PROCESSES BY WHICH ELECTORS REGISTER OR BECOME REGISTERED AS AFFILIATED WITH A POLITICAL PARTY, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 7-5-170 AND 7-5-185, RELATING TO APPLICATIONS FOR VOTER REGISTRATION, SO AS TO INCLUDE INFORMATION REGARDING AN APPLICANT'S POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION; BY AMENDING SECTION 7-11-15, RELATING TO QUALIFICATIONS TO RUN AS A CANDIDATE IN GENERAL ELECTIONS, SO AS TO SHORTEN THE CANDIDATE FILING PERIOD; BY AMENDING SECTION 7-11-210, RELATING TO FILING OF PARTY PLEDGES BY CANDIDATES, SO AS TO CHANGE THE DATE BY WHICH A PARTY PLEDGE MUST BE FILED; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 7-13-40, RELATING TO THE CERTIFICATION OF NAMES BY A POLITICAL PARTY TO BE PLACED ON PRIMARY BALLOTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ONLY PERSONS WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN A POLITICAL PARTY'S RECENT STATEWIDE PRIMARIES AND ARE REGISTERED AS AFFILIATED WITH THE PARTY FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPEAR ON THE BALLOT FOR THAT PARTY'S PARTISAN PRIMARY UNLESS THE PARTY HAS TAKEN ACTION TO WAIVE THESE REQUIREMENTS.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 12

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Wes ClimerPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate15
Stephen GoldfinchPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate34
Matt LeberPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate41
Tom FernandezPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate39
Tom CorbinPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate5
Larry GroomsPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate37
Tom DavisPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate46
Josh KimbrellPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate11
Billy GarrettPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate10
Jeff ZellPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate36
Jason ElliottPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate6
Carlisle KennedyPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate23

“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. Referred to Committee on Judiciary
  2. Introduced and read first time

Sources

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