Candidate Filing Information

  1. 2022
  2. 2023
  3. 2024

Filing Documents:

Statement of Intention of Candidacy Form - Nonpartisan (SIC) (PDF)
South Carolina Ethics Filing for Candidates and Public Officials.

Filing Period:

Opens: Monday, August 1, 2022 @ 12 Noon
Closes: Monday, August 15, 2022 @ 12 Noon

Filing Location:

TEMPORARY MOVE

York County Government Center

Board of Voter Registration and Elections Office of York County
6 South Congress Street, Suite 1201
York, SC 29745

Partisan Filing:

Opens: Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at 12:00 Noon
Closes: Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 12:00 Noon
** Corrected the day of the week from Monday to Wednesday - 3/9/2022 **

Nomination by Petition for a General Election:


Closes: Friday, July 15, 2022 at 12:00 Noon
The last date to file a petition for a General Election is 12:00 noon, July 15th of the General Election year. 

Petition candidates for multi-county offices must file their petitions with the State Election Commission. All petition candidates for State Senate, State House of Representatives, and Solicitor file with the State Election Commission, regardless of whether they are multi-county or not. Other county wide and less than county wide offices file their petitions with their county election commission.

To be nominated by petition, a candidate must file a nominating petition containing the valid signatures of at least 5% of the active, registered voters in the geographical area the office represents. The 5% is based on the total number of registered voters in the geographical area 120 days prior to the election. No petition requires more than 10,000 signatures. (Petitions for some local offices may have specific requirements set by state law that are different from the 5% requirement.)

Filing by Petition from SCVotes.gov

State Ethics Filing

Campaign Finance & Ethics

Applies to all candidates:

All candidates must electronically file online a Statement of Economic Interest (SEI) form and Campaign Disclosure Information with the State Ethics Commission via http://ethics.sc.gov/. Forms, requirements, and filing instructions are available from their website.

Failure to comply with the filing requirements of the State Ethics Commission may result in fines or other fees. 

Candidates are no longer required to file a copy of the SEI or Campaign Disclosure Information with Board of Voter Registration and Elections. See the Equal Access to the Ballot Act for more information.

Filing of the Statement of Economic Interest (SEI) or Campaign Disclosure Information has no bearing on ballot access or the ability of a candidate to win an election.

Download the State Ethics Commission’s Candidate Newsletter

Filing for Public Office

Where do I file?

Anyone interested in filing for office within York County must do so in person at the Board of Voter Registrations and Elections Office of York County located at:

Level 1 Room 1201
York County Government Center
6 South Congress Street
York, S.C. 29745
 Directions


Candidates for Multi-County Offices, such as: Solicitor, some State House and Senate Districts, and Watershed Commissioners may need to file with the State Election Commission located at:

1122 Lady Street, Suite 500
Columbia, SC 29201
 Directions


Contact our office or the State Election Commission if you are unsure as to where you need file as a candidate.

Filing Fees

Some offices and jurisdictions require filing fees, while others do not.  Filing Fees must be paid at the time of filing via Check, Cashier’s Check, or Money Order. Filing fees are usually based on a percentage of the annual salary of the office sought.

Filing Fees must be paid at the time of filing via Check, Cashier’s Check, or Money Order.
Checks are to made out to the Political Party for which the candidate is seeking nomination.

Visit  scvotes.gov for a listing of Filing Fees by County for Federal, State, or County Level Offices.

What do I need to file?

The office type and jurisdiction determines what forms, filing fees, or supporting documents are required. Every candidate filing process will required completing an official form. scvotes.gov has more information on the different candidate filing methods.

Filing Forms
Statement of Intention of Candidacy/Party Pledge Form (SICPP) (PDF)For use by candidates who are seeking a political party’s nomination to run in a general or special election.
Statement of Intention of Candidacy Form - Nonpartisan (SIC) (PDF)For use by candidates filing for nonpartisan office.
Petition Form (PDF)For use by candidates filing a nominating petition.
Filing Affidavit for Sheriff (PDF)For use by candidates for sheriff. See S.C. Code of Laws Section 23-11-110.
Filing Affidavit for Coroner (PDF)For use by candidates for coroner. See S.C. Code of Laws Section 17-5-130.

Candidate Qualifications

No person may be popularly elected to and serve in any office in the State unless he is registered to vote in the geographical area represented by the office (S.C. Constitution, Article VI, Section 1).

A person convicted of a felony or an offense against the election laws is not qualified to file for or hold office, unless it has been fifteen years since the completion of the sentence for the crime or unless the person has been pardoned (S.C. Constitution, Article VI, Section 1).

Candidate’s qualifications for all offices, are determined at the time of the election and not at the time of filing or nomination. However, candidates for Senate and House are must be a resident of the district at the time of filing.

Table of Candidate Qualifications from SCVOTES.GOV

Qualifications for municipal offices may vary by ordinance. 

Some individuals may be restricted from running for public office by the federal Hatch Act.  The Act applies to federal employees and others receiving federal funds and restricts their participation in campaigns for partisan offices.  For detailed information regarding the Hatch Act, visit the  website of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.

Location

York County Government Center
Board of Voter Registration and Elections of York County
Level 1, Suite 1201
6 South Congress St
York SC 29745

 Main Phone: (803) 684-1242
 Fort Mill Area:  (803) 909-7194
 Fax: (803) 684-7801
[email protected]