YORK COUNTY, S.C. — The window for candidates to officially enter the 2026 political races opens this coming Monday, marking the official kickoff for the upcoming election season.
Partisan candidate filing for the 2026 South Carolina Statewide Primary begins promptly at 12:00 Noon on Monday, March 16, and will close at 12:00 Noon on Monday, March 30. The primaries to decide party nominations are scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, with runoffs to follow on June 23 if necessary.
Registered voters seeking elected office at the county, state, or federal level must file a Statement of Intention of Candidacy/Party Pledge (SICPP) and pay the requisite filing fees to appear on the ballot.
Here is a breakdown of the offices up for election, filing fees, and where candidates need to go to officially throw their hats in the ring.
Local York County Offices
Several key local positions are on the ballot this year, representing four-year terms. Candidates for these local county offices must file in person at the Board of Voter Registration and Elections Office of York County, located at the York County Government Center (6 South Congress Street, Level 1, Suite 1201, York, SC 29745).
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York County Probate Judge: Candidates seeking to oversee the county’s probate court face a filing fee of $6,918.84.
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York County Council (Districts 3, 4, and 7): Candidates running to represent these specific districts on the County Council must pay a filing fee of $879.01.
State Legislature (General Assembly)
Local voters will also be deciding on their representatives in the S.C. State House. All State House of Representative seats carry two-year terms.
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S.C. State House Districts: Seats for Districts 26, 29, 43, 46, 47, 48, 49, and 66 are open for filing.
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Filing Fee: $208.00
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Where to File: State House candidates have the option to file locally at their county Board of Voter Registration and Elections Office (in their county of residence) OR at the South Carolina State Election Commission in Columbia.
Statewide Constitutional and Federal Offices
Candidates seeking higher office must travel to the capital to file their paperwork. Filing for all federal and statewide constitutional offices takes place at the South Carolina State Election Commission (1122 Lady Street, Suite 500, Columbia, S.C. 29201).
Federal Offices:
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U.S. Senator (Six-Year Term)
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U.S. House of Representatives, District 5 (Two-Year Term)
State Constitutional Offices (Four-Year Terms):
The 2026 cycle features a full slate of state executive offices, including:
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Governor
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Secretary of State
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State Treasurer
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Attorney General
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Comptroller General
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State Superintendent of Education
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Commissioner of Agriculture
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Adjutant General
Other offices opening for filing on Monday include multi-county district offices and Solicitors for various circuits (including Circuits 3, 5, 6, 12, 13, and 15).
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