The South Carolina Legislature adjourned its 2026 regular legislative session on May 14 after approving four pieces of election-related legislation.
Among those was H 3556, which establishes certain dates when municipal elections may be held in odd-numbered years. The bill also allows only municipalities with more than 10,000 residents to have a municipal elections commission and permits municipalities to determine when the terms of their newly elected officers begin, among other provisions.
On April 23, the South Carolina House approved the final version of the bill on a voice vote. The Senate adopted the bill by unanimous consent on May 5. Gov. Henry McMaster (R) signed H 3556 on May 19.
"In recognition of the idea that we are having elections constantly, putting a tremendous amount of burden and work on the folks who run elections, we are trying to be streamline and efficient in how we have those elections," Rep. Jay Jordan (R) said on the floor of the state House. "... This, I think, is another step in that vein."
Similar legislation was also introduced in the 2023-24 session.
Previously, South Carolina was one of 17 states that allowed municipalities to determine the dates of their general elections. After the new law takes effect on Jan. 1, 2027, the state will be one of 25 requiring non-consolidated municipal elections, meaning elections held on a date other than the statewide primary or general election.
Lawmakers also approved S 582, which officially ratifies a constitutional amendment stating that only United States citizens may vote in state or local elections. South Carolina voters approved the amendment 86%-14% in 2024.
South Carolina is one of 18 states with a constitution that prohibits noncitizen voting in elections for state and local offices. Fifteen of those states, including South Carolina, have approved ballot measures prohibiting noncitizen voting since 2018.
Federal law prohibits noncitizens from voting in any federal election in all 50 states. Local governments in three states allow noncitizens to vote. No municipalities in South Carolina allowed noncitizens to vote at the time the amendment was approved in 2024.
The state Senate passed the bill 39-0 on April 24, 2025, and the House adopted it 106-6 on May 5, with 80 Republicans and 26 Democrats voting in favor and 6 Democrats voting against. In South Carolina, a constitutional amendment must be approved by the General Assembly both before and after it is approved by voters.
The two other election-related bills enacted this year are:
- H 3557 , which moves up the end of the candidate filing period from March 30 to March 25, requires candidates seeking nomination by political party primary or political party convention to pay a filing fee, and specifies when special elections to fill a vacancy may be held. McMaster signed the bill on May 15.
- S 866 , which requires municipalities to conduct a referendum on the question of imposing the sales and use tax before the tax can take effect. McMaster signed the bill on May 19.
South Carolina has a Republican trifecta and veto-proof majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. The state enacted no election-related bills in 2025, one in 2024, and two in 2023. Legislators introduced 36 election bills in 2026, compared with 76 in 2025.
