South Carolina Bill Requiring Convention Candidates to Pay Filing Fees Passes House

On February 24, the South Carolina House passed HB 3262 by 97-12. It imposes filing fees on individuals who seek the nomination of a party that nominates by convention. Realistically the bill only affects minor parties. Under current law, only individuals who run in a primary must pay a filing fee.

The bill has no provision for indigent candidates. In 1972 and again in 1974, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states must have alternate procedures for candidates who cannot afford filing fees.


Comments

South Carolina Bill Requiring Convention Candidates to Pay Filing Fees Passes House — 5 Comments

  1. Kansas requires candidates from those parties that nominate by convention to pay a filing fee. However, the fees are lower than the fees if they were candidates for parties that nominate by primary.

  2. Richard, I thought you had cited some cases earlier whereby the court(s), don’t recall which ones, had previously ruled that filing fees were only lawful to prevent a crowded PRIMARY ballot. I would like to get some corrective legislation introduced in my legislature but would need the supporting info.

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