South Carolina judicial elections
Most judges in South Carolina do not participate in popular elections, but instead are chosen by the legislative election of judges. Judges are also chosen via this method in Virginia.
The exception is the election of probate court judges. These judges compete in partisan elections in every other general election year. Judges must run for re-election in partisan elections for subsequent terms.[1]
South Carolina is one of 11 states that uses partisan elections to select judges and does not use retention elections for subsequent terms. To read more about how states use judicial elections to select judges across the country, click here.
Elections
- South Carolina local trial court judicial elections, 2018
- South Carolina judicial elections, 2016
- South Carolina judicial elections, 2010
Election rules
Primary election
Primary elections for probate court candidates are conducted on the second Tuesday in June.[2]
Unopposed candidates
Unopposed candidates for the probate courts do not appear on the primary ballots, but automatically advance to the general election.[3]
Runoffs
Also referred to as a "second primary," a primary runoff is held two weeks after the primary for races where more than two candidates filed to compete for one seat in a party primary. If that is the case, the two highest-voted candidates from the primary advance to a runoff. The person with the most votes in the runoff becomes the party's nominee for the general election.[4]
For example, if two Democratic candidates compete in the primary, the winner simply advances to the general election. However, if three Democratic candidates compete in the primary, the top two advance to the runoff. The winner of the runoff would face any Republican candidate in the general election.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ South Carolina Legislature, "Code of Laws, Section 7-13-30," accessed June 20, 2014
- ↑ South Carolina Legislature, "Code of Laws, Section 7-13-15," accessed June 20, 2014
- ↑ South Carolina Legislature, "Code of Laws, Section 7-11-90," accessed June 20, 2014
- ↑ South Carolina Legislature, "Code of Laws, Section 7-13-50," accessed June 20, 2014
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Federal courts:
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of South Carolina • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of South Carolina
State courts:
South Carolina Supreme Court • South Carolina Court of Appeals • South Carolina Circuit Courts • South Carolina Masters-in-Equity • South Carolina Family Courts • South Carolina Magistrate Courts • South Carolina Municipal Courts • South Carolina Probate Courts
State resources:
Courts in South Carolina • South Carolina judicial elections • Judicial selection in South Carolina
