Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
South Carolina State Senate elections, 2020
 |
U.S. Senate • U.S. House • State Senate • State House • Special state legislative • Local judges • School boards • How to run for office |
 |
|
2024 →
← 2016
|
|
| 2020 South Carolina Senate Elections | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General | November 3, 2020 |
| Primary | June 9, 2020 |
| Primary runoff | June 23, 2020 |
| Past Election Results |
| 2016・2012・2008 |
| 2020 Elections | |
|---|---|
| Choose a chamber below: | |
Republicans gained seats in the 2020 elections for South Carolina State Senate, preserving their majority. All 46 seats in the chamber were up for election in 2020. Heading into the election, Republicans held 27 seats and Democrats held 19. Republicans gained a net three seats, meaning Republicans expanded their majority to 30-16.
The South Carolina State Senate was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in 2020. All 46 Senate seats were up for election in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections.
South Carolina's 2020 state legislative elections affected partisan control of redistricting following the 2020 census. In South Carolina, the state legislature is responsible for drafting both congressional and state legislative district plans. District plans are subject to gubernatorial veto.
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
South Carolina modified its absentee/mail-in and in-person voting procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:
- Absentee/mail-in voting: Any eligible voter could request an absentee ballot for the general election. Return postage for all mailed absentee ballots was prepaid.
- In-person voting: In-person absentee voting was authorized to begin on October 5, 2020.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Party control
| South Carolina State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2020 | After November 4, 2020 | |
| Democratic Party | 19 | 16 | |
| Republican Party | 27 | 30 | |
| Total | 46 | 46 | |
Candidates
General election
Primary runoff election
South Carolina State Senate primary runoff election |
|||
|
|||
| Office | Other | ||
| District 16 |
|
||
| District 33 |
|
||
| District 39 |
|
||
Primary election
South Carolina State Senate primary election |
|||
|
|||
| Office | Other | ||
| District 1 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
|
|
| District 2 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
|
|
| District 3 |
|
||
| District 4 |
|
|
|
| District 5 |
|
||
| District 6 |
|
|
|
| District 7 |
|
||
| District 8 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
|
|
| District 9 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
|
|
| District 10 |
|
|
|
| District 11 |
|
|
|
| District 12 |
|
||
| District 13 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
|
|
| District 14 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
|
|
| District 15 |
|
|
|
| District 16 |
|
||
| District 17 |
|
||
| District 18 |
|
||
| District 19 |
|
The Republican primary was canceled. |
|
| District 20 |
|
Did not make the ballot: |
|
| District 21 |
|
The Republican primary was canceled. |
|
| District 22 |
|
Did not make the ballot: |
|
| District 23 |
|
|
|
| District 24 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. Did not make the ballot: |
|
|
| District 25 |
|
||
| District 26 |
|
|
|
| District 27 |
|
|
|
| District 28 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
|
|
| District 29 |
|
|
|
| District 30 |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
|
|
| District 31 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
|
|
| District 32 |
|
||
| District 33 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
|
|
| District 34 |
|
||
| District 35 |
|
The Republican primary was canceled. |
|
| District 36 |
|
||
| District 37 |
|
|
|
| District 38 |
|
|
|
| District 39 |
|
|
|
| District 40 |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
|
|
| District 41 |
|
|
|
| District 42 |
|
The Republican primary was canceled. |
|
| District 43 |
|
|
|
| District 44 |
|
||
| District 45 |
|
||
| District 46 |
|
|
|
Incumbents who were not re-elected
Incumbents defeated in the general election
Three incumbents lost in the Nov. 3 general election. Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Floyd Nicholson | Senate District 10 | |
| Glenn Reese | Senate District 11 | |
| Vincent Sheheen | Senate District 27 |
Incumbents defeated in primary elections
No incumbents lost in the June 9 primaries.
Retiring incumbents
There were three open seats where the incumbent legislator did not file for re-election in 2020.[1] Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Greg Gregory | Senate District 16 | |
| John Matthews | Senate District 39 | |
| Paul Campbell | Senate District 44 |
The three open seats in 2020 was equal to the number of open seats in 2016, both of which were lower than the six left open in 2012. The table below shows the number of open seats in each election held between 2012 and 2020.
| Open Seats in South Carolina State Senate elections: 2012 - 2020 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total seats | Open seats | Seats with incumbents running for re-election |
| 2020 | 46 | 3 (7 percent) | 43 (93 percent) |
| 2016 | 46 | 3 (7 percent) | 43 (93 percent) |
| 2012 | 46 | 6 (13 percent) | 40 (87 percent) |
Process to become a candidate
See statutes: Title 7, Chapter 11 of the South Carolina Code
In South Carolina, a candidate can run as the nominee of a political party, as an independent, or as a write-in.
For partisan candidates
Non-presidential candidates seeking a party nomination for a general or special election must file the State Election Commission’s Statement of Intention of Candidacy/Party Pledge Form (SICPP) and pay the required fee—or submit a fee-petition signed by registered voters equal to the fee—between noon on March 16 and noon on March 30 (with the deadline extended to the next business day if the 30th falls on a weekend or holiday). Federal, statewide, and multi-county district candidates file with the State Election Commission; those running for State Senate, House, or county offices file with their home-county election commission. A candidate who files as a Democrat or Republican must pay a filing fee.[2]
Upon receipt, the filing officer stamps each form and fee receipt with the date and time received, retains the original, provides a copy to the candidate, and forwards a copy to the appropriate party executive committee. No name may appear on any primary ballot, convention slate, or general/special election ballot until certification by that committee, and any minor error or omission in filings must be construed in the candidate’s favor if statutory qualifications are otherwise met.
If, after the close of filing, two or fewer candidates remain for an office and one withdraws or dies, the party committee—or, for legislative seats, the state committee—may at its discretion reopen nominations. Both the county party chair and the state executive committee chair may designate observers to monitor filings. These rules do not apply to nonpartisan school-trustee elections governed by local law, which prevail in the event of any conflict.[3][2]
For independent candidates
An independent candidate must be nominated by petition. The petition must contain signatures equaling at least 5 percent of the qualified registered electors in the geographical area of the office being sought. No petition candidate is required to collect more than 10,000 signatures for any office.[4][5]
Petition candidates for multi-county offices must file their petitions with the South Carolina State Election Commission. All petition candidates for the state legislature also file with the State Election Commission. A petition candidate must also file a statement of economic interests with the State Ethics Commission. Signature requirements are detailed in the table below.[5]
| Petition signature requirements for independent candidates in South Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|
| Office sought | Number of signatures needed | |
| Governor and other statewide offices | 5 percent of the qualified registered voters in the state | |
| State legislators | 5 percent of the qualified registered voters in the district or area to be represented | |
No candidates is required to collect more than 10,000 signatures.[4]
For write-in candidates
Generally, there are no filing forms or fees required to run as a write-in candidate. However, a write-in candidate should notify the appropriate election commission in writing that he or she is conducting a write-in campaign. A candidate who was defeated in a political party's primary may not actively campaign as a write-in candidate for the ensuing election.[5][6]
2020 ballot access requirements
The table below details filing requirements for South Carolina State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.
| Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber name | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| South Carolina State Senate | Qualified party | N/A | $416.00 | 3/30/2020 | Source |
| South Carolina State Senate | Unaffiliated | 5% of active, registered voters in the district | N/A | 8/17/2020 | Source |
Qualifications
To be eligible to serve in the South Carolina State Senate, a candidate must be:[7]
- A U.S. citizen at the time of filing
- 21 years old at the filing deadline time
- A resident of the district at the filing deadline time
Salaries and per diem
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[8] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $10,400/year | $231/day |
When sworn in
South Carolina legislators assume office the Monday after the election.[9]
South Carolina political history
Trifectas
A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.
South Carolina Party Control: 1992-2025
No Democratic trifectas • Twenty-three years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Senate | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
Presidential politics in South Carolina
2016 Presidential election results
| U.S. presidential election, South Carolina, 2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | |
| Democratic | Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine | 40.7% | 855,373 | 0 | |
| Republican |  Donald Trump/Mike Pence |
54.9% | 1,155,389 | 9 | |
| Libertarian | Gary Johnson/Bill Weld | 2.3% | 49,204 | 0 | |
| Green | Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka | 0.6% | 13,034 | 0 | |
| Constitution | Darrell Castle/Scott Bradley | 0.3% | 5,765 | 0 | |
| Independence | Evan McMullin/Nathan Johnson | 1% | 21,016 | 0 | |
| American | Peter Skewes/Michael Lacy | 0.2% | 3,246 | 0 | |
| Total Votes | 2,103,027 | 9 | |||
| Election results via: South Carolina Election Commission | |||||
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. South Carolina utilizes an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary. Voters must take an oath affirming that they have not voted in another party's primary.[10][11]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
In South Carolina, all polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[12]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To register to vote in South Carolina, one must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of the county and precinct where he or she is registering, and at least 18 years old by Election Day. People who have been declared mentally incompetent by court order, are imprisoned, or are still serving a sentence for a felony conviction are ineligible to register to vote.[13] The deadline for registration is 30 days before the election. Prospective voters may register using one of the following methods:
- Online,
- In person at the county board of elections or one of the following locations:
- Armed Forces Recruiting Stations
- Commission for the Blind
- Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services
- Department of Disabilities and Special Needs
- Department of Health and Environmental Control
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Department of Mental Health
- Department of Motor Vehicles
- Department of Social Services
- Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities
- Vocational Rehabilitation Department
- Returning a voter registration form by email, fax, or mail to the county board of voter registration. Note that mailed applications must be postmarked by at least 30 days before the election.[13]
Automatic registration
South Carolina does not practice automatic voter registration.[10]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
South Carolina has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
South Carolina does not allow same-day voter registration.[10]
Residency requirements
Prospective voters must be residents of the county and precinct in which they are registering to vote.[13]
Verification of citizenship
South Carolina does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration.[13] An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[14] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The South Carolina Election Commission allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting the MyscVOTES website.
Voter ID requirements
South Carolina requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[12][15]
Voters can present the following forms of identification:
- SC Driver’s License
- SC Department of Motor Vehicles ID Card
- includes SC Concealed Weapons Permit
- SC Voter Registration Card with Photo
- U.S. Passport
- Federal Military ID
- includes all Department of Defense Photo IDs and the Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Card
Voters can obtain a free photo ID from a local DMV office or a county elections office.[16]
Early voting
South Carolina permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
According to the South Carolina Election Commission's website, only the following types of voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail:[17]
| “ |
|
” |
To vote absentee, voters must first request an application for the absentee ballot. Application requests can be made in person, by phone, or by mail. The absentee ballot application must then be completed and returned to the voter's county voter registration office by 5:00 p.m. at least 11 days before Election Day. Once completed, the ballot must be received by the county voter registration office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.[17] According to the South Carolina Election Commission's website, only the following types of voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail:[17]
| “ |
|
” |
To vote absentee, voters must first request an application for the absentee ballot. Application requests can be made in person, by phone, or by mail. The absentee ballot application must then be completed and returned to the voter's county voter registration office by 5:00 p.m. at least 11 days before Election Day. Once completed, the ballot must be received by the county voter registration office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.[17]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Ballotpedia defines an incumbent as retiring if the incumbent did not file for office or filed for office but withdrew, was disqualified, or otherwise left a race in a manner other than losing the primary, primary runoff, or convention. If an incumbent runs as a write-in candidate, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring. If an incumbent runs in the same chamber for a different seat, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 South Carolina Code, "Title 7-11-15(a)," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Filing instructions for partisan candidates," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 South Carolina Code, "Title 7-11-70," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 South Carolina State Election Commission, "Candidates," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ South Carolina Code, "Title 7-11-210," accessed April 29, 2025
- ↑ South Carolina Secretary of State, "Qualifications for office," accessed December 18, 2013
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ South Carolina Constitution, "Article III, Section 10," accessed November 1, 2021
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 NCSL,"State Primary Election Types," accessed September 24, 2024 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "ncsl" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ South Carolina Legislature,"South Carolina Code of Laws Unannotated § 7-9-10," accessed September 24, 2024
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 South Carolina Election Commission, "FAQs for the 2024 General Election," accessed August 20, 2024
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 South Carolina Election Commission, “Register to Vote,” accessed May 2, 2023
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Justia, "SC Code § 7-13-710 (2022)," accessed May 2, 2023
- ↑ South Carolina Elections Commission, "FAQs for the 2024 General Election, accessed August 13, 2024
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 South Carolina State Election Commission, "Absentee Voting," accessed May 2, 2023
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
