Planning to Run for Office in 2012?

Check out our Candidate Information Seminar Handout, used in our May 9, 2012 Candidate Information Seminar.

Voters who are interested in running for office in the November, 2012 General Election should consult the South Carolina Election Commission's Candidate Information page.

The filing period for county partisan offices, e.g., County Council, Coroner, Clerk of Court opens March 16, 2012 at 12:00 noon.  The filing period ends on March 30, 2012 at 12:00 noon.  Candidates running for partisan offices seeking placement on the partisan primary ballot must file with the county or state party executive committee.  There are Filing Fees associated with these offices.

The filing period for non-partisan offices who are placed on the ballot by petition, e.g., the Board of Education (School Board), the deadline for submitting petitions to the county election commission is no later than July 16, 2012 at 12:00 noon.  See the South Carolina Election Commission's Sample Petition Form page for details on how to format a petition.  To be successfully placed on the ballot for the Board of Education, the candidate must obtain valid signatures of at least 2.5% of the registered voters who reside in their prospective district.

Number of valid signatures needed on petitions to have name placed on the November 6, 2012 General Election Ballot, by office:

Candidate Dos and Don'ts

A nickname may be used on the ballot if it does not exceed 15 letters, does not imply professional or social status, is a derivative of your given name properly acquired or bears no relation to your given name but it is used in good faith.

It is permissible for a candidate to be stationed outside the polling place but within the above stated 200 feet area, greet voters and solicit votes, provided there are no complaints by voters to the managers regarding this activity, or as long as in the managers judgment there is no disruption of the orderly election process. Candidates may not display or distribute campaign literature within this 200 foot area.  A candidate may wear a badge no larger than 4 ¼"x 4 ¼" within 200 feet of the entrance to the polling place. This label may contain the candidate's name and office sought.

The candidate may enter the polling place, but the candidate's badge must be removed before entering (Section 7-25-180 (b)). A candidate may not actively campaign inside the polling place.  Candidates and poll watchers should be permitted to look at the voter registration list in the polling place, provided that they do not interfere with the orderly conduct of the election and no one is waiting in line to vote.

A candidate or member of a candidate's paid campaign staff, including volunteers reimbursed for time expended on campaign activity, may not request an absentee ballot application for any person unless that person is a member of their immediate family.

It is unlawful for any person to procure votes in an election by threat, intimidation, coercion, mistreatment, or abuse; or by the payment, delivery, or promise of money or other article of value.

Placing posters on telephone/utility poles may be considered destruction of private property.  Also, the staples and nails left in the poles are very dangerous for the workers who must climb these poles during an emergency. Utility companies ask candidates to not place signs on these poles.

 Campaign Sign Regulations

Article XV of the Beaufort County Zoning and Development Standards Ordinance regulates the posting of campaign signs in Beaufort County.  If you plan to run for office, please review the campaign sign regulations to avoid penalties.