SOUTH CAROLINA
ELECTION CALENDAR FOR
2004 PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTION
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NOTE: All numerical statutes are in reference to the S. C. Code of Laws 1976, as amended. (Example; 7-5-120 means Title 7, Chapter 5, Section 120) All dates are based on current law.
Date Event Statutes
January 1, 2004

Absentee precincts established for elections in 2004.

7-15-330
January 9

First day 17 year-olds may register to vote in June 8 primary. 

7-5-180
February 3

Democratic Presidential Preference Primary

7-11-20
March 2

Advertisement to be placed by party county chairman on notice of candidate filing. 

7-13-45
March 16
12:00 noon

Filing opens for party primary and convention candidates for:

  • U.S. Senate
  • U.S. House of Representatives
  • State Senate
  • State House of Representatives
  • multi-county district offices
  • solicitor (districts 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 16)
  • countywide and less than countywide offices

Candidates file proper forms including Statement of Intention of Candidacy with their political party. 

7-11-15
7-11-210
7-11-220
March 30


12:00 noon

Filing closes.

7-11-15
April 9


12:00 noon

Political parties holding primaries must certify candidates to county or State Election Commission (whichever is appropriate).

7-11-15
7-13-40

April 9

First public notice of primary and polling place locations to be published no later than this date in newspaper of general circulation in county. 

7-13-35
April 23

Second public notice of primary to be published no later than this date. 

7-13-35
not later than

April 24
Political parties may submit list of prospective primary poll managers to county election commission.

7-13-72
April 29
County election commission provides copies of each primary absentee ballot style to State Election Commission no later than this date.

7-13-320 (F)
May 8
Last day to register to vote in June 8 primary election.

7-5-150
June 4
First day 17 year-olds may register to vote in November 2

General Election.

7-5-180
Date

Event

Statutes
June 8
 Primary Election Day. 
Polls open 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
7-13-40
7-13-60
June 10
 County Election Commission meets before 1:00 p.m. to canvass votes and declare results.  CEC must certify results to SEC no later than noon, June 12.
7-17-510
June 12
not later than
12:00 noon
 Board of State Canvassers meets to canvass vote and declare results of primaries for federal, state and multi-county offices.
7-17-510
June 14
12:00 noon
 Deadline for filing protest of election with appropriate party officials.
7-17-520
7-17-560
June 17
 Protest hearings held by appropriate party executive committee.
7-17-530
7-17-570
June 18
3:00 p.m.
 Deadline for notice of appeal to the State Executive Committee from decisions by county executive committee.
7-17-540
June 19
12:00 noon
 Deadline for State Executive Committee to hear appeals.
7-17-550
June 22
 Primary run-off (if required).
red star NOTE: Certification and protest procedures for run-offs follow same time frame as above.
7-13-40
July 15
12:00 noon
 Last day for submission of petitions to appropriate election official for name to be placed on November 2 General Election ballot.
7-13-351
August 16
12:00 noon
 a) petition candidates must be certified by this date.
b) Questions for a countywide referendum to be held during the General Election must be submitted to the county election commission by this date.
7-13-351
7-13-355
August 16
12:00 noon
 Last day for political parties to certify candidates to county or State Election Commission (whichever is appropriate).
7-13-350
September 3
 First public notice of November 2 General Election to be published no later than this date in newspaper of general circulation in county.
7-13-35
September 10
 County election commission provides copies of general election ballot styles to State Election Commission for approval.
 
September 10
12:00 noon
 Last day for political parties to certify Presidential candidates to State Election Commission.
7-13-350 (B)
September 15
 County election commission provides copies of general election absentee ballot styles to State Election Commission by this date.
7-13-320 (F)
September 17
 Second notice of General Election to be published no later than this date.
7-13-35
October 2
 Last date to register to vote in November 2 General Election.
7-5-150
November 2
 red starGeneral Election Day. 
Polls open 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
7-13-10
7-13-60
November 3
 County election commissions transmit results via on-line computer system to State Election Commission by 10:00 a.m.
7-13-1160
November 5
 County election commissions to organize no later than 1:00 p.m. to hear challenged ballots and canvass votes.
7-17-10
November 6


12:00 noon
 Deadline for county election commissions to certify results and issue statements of returns to be transmitted to the State Election Commission.

7-17-20
Date

Event
Statutes
November 10
12:00 noon
 Deadline for filing protests of county or less than countywide elections with county election commissions.
7-17-30

November 12
 Deadline to convene State Board of Canvassers to certify all offices and questions of the November 5 General Election. Protests to the State Board of Canvassers for federal, state or multi-county offices must be filed by noon, the fifth day following State Board certification.
7-17-220
7-17-260
November 15
 Protest hearings held by county election commissions for countywide or less than countywide elections.
7-17-50
November 22
12:00 noon
 Deadline to file appeal of county board decision to State Board.
7-17-60
December 6
12:00 noon
 Last day for State Board to hear appeals from November 25.
State Board of Canvassers shall hear protests filed concerning federal, state or multi-county offices certified by the State Board not earlier than the fifth nor later than the 25th day following the date the protest was filed.
7-17-70
7-17-270