Serving Barnwell County and its neighbors since 1852
Candidate filing for the 2026 General Election opens next week.
There are several statewide and local seats on the ballot for voters in Barnwell and Allendale counties. The filing period for candidates seeking a political party’s nomination opens at noon on Monday, March 16, 2026, and closes at noon on Monday, March 30, 2026.
Candidates must file a Statement of Intention of Candidacy and Party Pledge form, which is available online at the South Carolina Election Commission’s website, scVOTES.gov, or at the local voter registration and elections office. Filing fees must be paid at the time of filing. Candidates are also required to submit a Statement of Economic Interests and Campaign Disclosure online with the South Carolina State Ethics Commission.
While some statewide and multi-county offices must file with the South Carolina Election Commission in Columbia, candidates for county-level offices in Barnwell and Allendale counties will file locally with their respective boards of voter registration and elections.
The following state and multi-county seats will appear on the ballot:
Candidates for these seats must file with the State Election Commission, located at 1122 Lady Street, Suite 500, Columbia, S.C. 29201.
The following county offices will appear on the 2026 ballot:
Candidates must file with the Barnwell County Board of Voter Registration and Elections, located at 367 Fuldner Road, Barnwell, during normal business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
In Allendale County, the following offices are scheduled for the 2026 election:
Candidates must file with the Allendale County Board of Voter Registration and Elections, located at 158 McNair Street, Allendale. The Allendale elections office is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
In addition to the general election races, Allendale voters will also elect a mayor in a special election this spring following the resignation of Tom Carter.
The special election for the Allendale mayor seat (remaining term) will be held on May 12, 2026. Candidate filing for that race takes place from noon on March 20 through noon on April 3.
Early voting for the special election runs April 27 through May 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Additional information, including filing fees and candidate forms, is available at scVOTES.gov or through the local county elections offices.
