H5447

South Carolina H5447 amends primary election rules to require voter registration with a political party.

South Carolina H5447 amends the state's election laws to establish closed primaries, allowing only registered members of a political party to vote in partisan primary elections starting January 1, 2027. The bill mandates that only those registered as members of a certified political party can participate in partisan primaries, unless the party decides to open its primary to unaffiliated independent voters. It also requires the State Election Commission to assist county boards in maintaining a list of electors by party affiliation and to inform voters of primary voting procedures.