South Carolina candidate filing & campaign-finance deadlines
Official 2026 report due dates for South Carolina state candidates file with South Carolina State Ethics Commission.
1 more deadline follows in this cycle.
Electbase emails you before every deadline — 14, 7, and 2 days out — and stays current as the official schedule changes.
Get deadline remindersIncluded in every Electbase plan · See pricingThis page also covers South Carolina candidate-filing (ballot access) deadlines for 2027–2028 — the process of becoming a qualified candidate, distinct from the campaign-finance reporting below. Here's how to run for office in South Carolina: what to file, when, and with whom.
5 report deadlines for the 2026 cycle.
These are the campaign-finance report due dates a South Carolina state candidate files with South Carolina State Ethics Commission for the 2026 election cycle, stored verbatim from the official schedule. The 2026 primary is Jun 9, 2026.
| Due | Type | Report | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Periodic | SC Q1 2026 Quarterly Report First-quarter certified campaign report, due 10 days after the quarter's end. |
Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026 | |
| Pre-election | SC Pre-Primary Report Pre-primary report, due at least 15 days before the June 9 primary, for the period ending 20 days before (May 20). |
Apr 1, 2026 – May 20, 2026 | |
| Periodic | SC Q2 2026 Quarterly Report Second-quarter certified campaign report. |
Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026 | |
| Pre-election | SC Combined Q3 + Pre-General Report Combined third-quarter and pre-general report, due at least 15 days before the November 3 general (§8-13-1308(E)), covering July 1 – October 14, 2026. Replaces the standalone October 10 quarterly for general-election candidates. |
Jul 1, 2026 – Oct 14, 2026 | |
| Periodic | SC Q4 2026 Quarterly Report Fourth-quarter certified campaign report (due January 10, 2027). |
Oct 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026 |
Shaded rows are deadlines that have already passed.
Good to know
Certified campaign reports for a state candidate on the November 3 general ballot. Quarterlies are due 10 days after each quarter's end. Under §8-13-1308(E), because the pre-general report (October 19) falls within 30 days of the third-quarter close (September 30), the third-quarter report is COMBINED with the pre-general and filed once on October 19 — there is no separate October 10 filing for a general-election candidate. A candidate eliminated at the primary instead files a standalone October 10 third-quarter report. There is no separate runoff report (§8-13-1308(D)(3)); a candidate in the June 23 runoff owes a pre-runoff report (event-driven). The pre-primary deadline (May 25) is Memorial Day, but e-filing is available; the initial report ($500 aggregate) and large independent-expenditure reports are event-driven.
South Carolina candidate-filing deadlines — 2027–2028.
Deadlines to become a qualified candidate for office in South Carolina — declarations of candidacy, nominating petitions, and related ballot-access filing requirements — compiled from South Carolina Election Commission. Distinct from the campaign-finance report deadlines above.
2027
Municipal
Municipal Offices (Mayor, Council, etc.)
Not yet published. Municipal elections in South Carolina are typically held on specific dates set by municipal charter or ordinance—most commonly April 6 or November 2 in odd-numbered years (or every other year depending on municipal law). Filing deadlines vary by municipality (typically 30-60 days before election). Each municipality sets its own filing deadline by charter or ordinance. Candidates file with the municipal clerk or elections official.
Filing authority: Municipal Clerk or City Election Official (varies by municipality).
Next check: Oct 1, 2026.
South Carolina Code Title 7, Chapter 11 and Chapter 13 (Municipal Elections Framework) · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
The official filing deadline for Municipal Offices (Mayor, Council, etc.) in Various Municipalities for the 2027 South Carolina Municipal Elections has not yet been published; check with Municipal Clerk or City Election Official (varies by municipality). Source: South Carolina Legislature and Individual Municipalities.
2028
Federal
U.S. House of Representatives — At-Large and District Representatives
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Party certification: Aug 15, 2028
Files with: South Carolina State Election Commission
Fee: One percent of the annual salary of the office multiplied by the number of years in the term of office, or $100, whichever is greater
South Carolina Code § 7-11-15 (Candidate Intention and Party Pledge); Act No. 137 (H 3557) · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for U.S. House of Representatives in Statewide for the 2028 South Carolina General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Mar 25, 2028 at 12:00 PM America/New_York. Opens Mar 16, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: South Carolina Legislature.
U.S. Senate - Tim Scott's Seat (Regular Election)
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Party certification: Aug 15, 2028
Files with: South Carolina State Election Commission
Fee: One percent of the annual salary of the office multiplied by the number of years in the term of office, or $100, whichever is greater
South Carolina Code § 7-11-15 (Candidate Intention and Party Pledge); Act No. 137 (H 3557) · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for U.S. Senate - Tim Scott's Seat (Regular Election) in Statewide for the 2028 South Carolina General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Mar 25, 2028 at 12:00 PM America/New_York. Opens Mar 16, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: South Carolina Legislature.
U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate
Filing window: Closes
Candidacy method: Petition Only · Deadline type: Nominating petition
Petition deadline: Jul 15, 2028
Files with: South Carolina State Election Commission
Signatures: At least 5 percent of active registered voters in the district (maximum 10,000 signatures)
South Carolina Code § 7-13-351 (Petition Candidates for General Election) · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate in Statewide for the 2028 South Carolina General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Jul 15, 2028 at 12:00 PM America/New_York. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: South Carolina Legislature.
U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate
Not yet published. Write-in candidates for federal offices must notify the appropriate election commission in writing of intent to conduct a write-in campaign. No filing forms, fees, or specific deadline in statute. However, a candidate defeated in a political party's primary may not actively campaign as a write-in candidate for the ensuing general election. Write-in ballots must be cast in the voter's handwriting.
Filing authority: South Carolina State Election Commission.
Next check: Aug 1, 2028.
South Carolina Code § 7-11-50 (Write-in Candidates) · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
The official filing deadline for U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate in Statewide for the 2028 South Carolina General Election (Nov 7, 2028) has not yet been published; check with South Carolina State Election Commission. Source: South Carolina Legislature.
State Legislative
South Carolina State Senate — All 46 Districts
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Party certification: Aug 15, 2028
Files with: South Carolina State Election Commission or County Board of Voter Registration and Elections
Fee: One percent of the annual salary of the office multiplied by the number of years in the term of office, or $100, whichever is greater
South Carolina Code § 7-11-15 and § 7-13-10 · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for South Carolina State Senate in Statewide for the 2028 South Carolina General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Mar 25, 2028 at 12:00 PM America/New_York. Opens Mar 16, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: South Carolina Legislature.
South Carolina House of Representatives — All 124 Districts
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Party certification: Aug 15, 2028
Files with: South Carolina State Election Commission or County Board of Voter Registration and Elections
Fee: One percent of the annual salary of the office multiplied by the number of years in the term of office, or $100, whichever is greater
South Carolina Code § 7-11-15 and § 7-13-10 · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for South Carolina House of Representatives in Statewide for the 2028 South Carolina General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Mar 25, 2028 at 12:00 PM America/New_York. Opens Mar 16, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: South Carolina Legislature.
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Electbase compiles these dates from official state sources as a workflow aid. It is not legal advice. Confirm every deadline with your filing authority before you rely on it.
Last updated August 27, 2026