A bill

to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 7-11-10, relating to nominations of candidates to be voted on in a general or special election, so as to prohibit a candidate from seeking nomination for more than one office in a single election.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1.   Section 7-11-10 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

   Section 7-11-10.   (A) Nominations for candidates for the offices to be voted on in a general or special election may be by political party primary, by political party convention, or by petition; however, a person who was defeated as a candidate for nomination to an office in a party primary or party convention must not have his name placed on the ballot for the ensuing general or special election, except that this section does not prevent a defeated candidate from later becoming his party's nominee for that office in that election if the candidate first selected as the party's nominee dies, resigns, is disqualified, or otherwise ceases to become the party's nominee for that office before the election is held.

   (B) A candidate must not file more than one statement of intention of candidacy for a single office for the same election.

   (C) A candidate may not seek nomination for more than one office in a single election. A candidate is prohibited from filing more than one statement of intention of candidacy for two or more separate and distinct offices for the same election. In the event a candidate files more than one statement of intention of candidacy in violation of this subsection, the candidate is deemed to have withdrawn any previously filed statements of intention of candidacy.

   (D) A candidate must not be nominated by more than one political party for a single office for the same election.

SECTION 2.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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