Allendale Special Mayor Election Set for May 12, Candidate Filing Opens March 16

Allendale will hold a special mayoral election on May 12, and the window for prospective candidates across both Allendale and Barnwell counties to formally enter the 2026 race opens at noon this Monday, March 16.

The two-week filing period closes at noon on Monday, March 30, leaving candidates exactly 14 days to submit paperwork before the deadline shuts without exception. Anyone seeking a party nomination for offices ranging from governor and U.S. Senate down to countywide seats must file a Statement of Intention of Candidacy and Party Pledge form, known as the SICPP, along with any required filing fees at the time of submission. Candidates are also required to file a Statement of Economic Interests and Campaign Disclosure online through the South Carolina State Ethics Commission.

Where a candidate files depends on the office sought. Those pursuing statewide or multi-county seats must appear in person at the South Carolina Election Commission at 1122 Lady Street, Suite 500, in Columbia. Candidates for county-level offices in Allendale file with the Allendale County Board of Voter Registration and Elections at 158 McNair Street, Allendale, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Barnwell County candidates file at the Barnwell County Board of Voter Registration and Elections at 367 Fuldner Road, Barnwell, during the same hours. The SICPP form is available at scVOTES.gov or at either local elections office.

The March 16 through March 30 window covers filings for the June 9 primary, with runoffs scheduled for June 23 and the general election set for November 3. The scope of what is on the ballot statewide is broad: all statewide offices including governor and lieutenant governor, all state house seats, one U.S. Senate seat, all seven congressional seats, six solicitors, and hundreds of county council positions.

Robinson Gray, a South Carolina law firm that advises candidates on election compliance, cautioned that the filing window "closes promptly at noon" and urged prospective candidates to prepare in advance by confirming eligibility requirements, gathering required documentation, and verifying filing locations and fees before the deadline arrives.

The special mayoral election in Allendale falls outside the standard general election cycle. Candidates interested in that race should contact the Allendale County Board of Voter Registration and Elections directly at 158 McNair Street to confirm filing requirements specific to the special election, as municipal special elections can carry different procedures and timelines than party-nomination filings for the June primary.