The South Carolina House has set debate for Thursday, June 3, on H.3746. It makes ballot access worse for independent candidates. Current law does not require petitions to identify who circulated the petition. The bill not only requires the circulator to sign the petition, it requires that all sheets be notarized, which is expensive. Also the bill requires independent candidates to file a declaration of candidacy no later than primary day in June. The bill does not have an exemption for independent presidential candidates, so it would probably be held unconstitutional as to presidential candidates. Finally, the bill says the voters who registered to vote during the period 30 days before the petition is submitted may not sign the petition. That is probably also unconstitutional, because it discriminates against newly-registered voters.

If you live in South Carolina, please phone your state representative and ask him or her not to support H.3746. It has already passed both Houses, but it is back in the House because the Senate amended it. The legislature is expected to adjourn on June 4, Friday.

South Carolina law for independent candidate petitions is already so restrictive that no independent has ever qualified for a government-printed ballot in this state for either House of Congress, or for Governor. Petitions for those offices require 10,000 signatures. Petitions for legislative independents require 5% of the number of registered voters.