Election chaos in S.C.: dozens of candidates ordered off primary ballot by state Supreme Court
http://twitter.com/#!/jsweeneyMN/status/197811641159651328
Incumbents defending their positions against challengers may have a much cushier path to victory in South Carolina. As Joe Biden might say, this is a big effin’ deal for Palmetto State voters.
Up to 100 S.C. candidates ordered off June ballots – SC Politics – http://t.co/7oMYQPYX: http://t.co/n1YOhyGF #scpol #sctweets
— Caroline O'Neal (@CarolineOneal) May 4, 2012
The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that candidates who failed to submit statements of economic interest at the exact same time they filed for office must be removed from the ballot.
The ruling means that some state senators who were expecting tough primary fights, including Jake Knotts, R-Lexington, and Larry Martin, R-Pickens, suddenly find themselves unopposed in June’s GOP primary.
It also means some would-be candidates — including Kerry Wood, who says he filed for office at 11:52 a.m. and filed his economic interest statement minutes later, at 12:30 p.m. March 30 — are off the ballot, leaving incumbents without an opponent in the November general election.
SC supreme Court has ordered in 5-0 opinion that all late statement of Economic Interest filers are off the ballot. #sctweets
— Alan Clemmons (@RepAlanClemmons) May 2, 2012
It appears some House races will have no one on the ballot based on today's Supreme Court decision #sctweets
— Adam Beam (@adambeam) May 2, 2012
The Republican Liberty Caucus of SC has issued a statement on the ballot crisis in South Carolina http://t.co/5CgItG8M
— RLC SC Chapter (@RLCofSC) May 4, 2012
[W]hat is evident is the voters of South Carolina are the real losers. We regret that this turn of events almost exclusively target non-incumbents and leave incumbents unscathed.
South Carolina Supreme Court judges are elected by the General Assembly, leading some to suspect corruption.
over 250 candidates were thrown off the ballot by sc supreme court. Guess who appoints them? the incumbents #corruption
— Peter v. Ruegner (@petervruegner) May 2, 2012
Last night, South Carolina attorney Todd Kincannon tweeted a request for disqualified candidates to get in touch with him.
https://twitter.com/#!/ToddKincannon/status/198210714677166082
https://twitter.com/#!/ToddKincannon/status/198210833053007873
This morning he filed a complaint in U.S. District Court on behalf of state senate candidate Amanda Somers and others.
https://twitter.com/#!/ToddKincannon/status/198400162933116928
This afternoon, voters will find out which candidates have been forced off the primary ballot.
Only two hours before we're set to know who's on and who's off SC primary ballots: http://t.co/WFzvC6I2 @PatchPolitics #sctweets
— Shawn Drury (@ShawnDrurySC) May 4, 2012
Breaking: Political candidates in SC are about to be pissed/surprised/pleased/happy/shocked/outraged.
— Tyler Jones (@TylerMJones) May 4, 2012
Will the national media bother to cover this story?
Update: The state Republican Party released this statement about disqualified candidates.
https://twitter.com/#!/MattMooreSC/status/198444163426037760
Update 2: The state Democratic Party has released a list of certified candidates
Here is the SC Dems list of certified candidates: http://t.co/fMxpCbOa
— Noelle Phillips (@Noelle_Phillips) May 4, 2012
ATTENTION SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN VOTERS: Candidates NOT on June 12 primary election ballots WRITE THEM IN #SCTWEETS http://t.co/lNFSFkSS
— Susan Reaney (@SSReaney) May 4, 2012
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