South Carolina Secretary of State
| South Carolina Secretary of State | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $135,000 |
| 2024 FY Budget: | $4,429,030 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | South Carolina Constitution, Article VI, Section 7 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder | |
South Carolina Secretary of State
Mark Hammond | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 3, 2026 |
| Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
| Other South Carolina Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Comptroller • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The Secretary of State for South Carolina is an elected executive position in the South Carolina state government. The secretary of state is responsible for commissioning notaries public, issuing apostilles, issuing commissions, filing oaths of office for state officials, and incorporation of municipalities.[1]
South Carolina has a Republican triplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
Current officeholder
The current officeholder is Republican Mark Hammond. He was first elected to the statewide position in 2002 and was subsequently re-elected to the office in 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018.[2]
Authority
The secretary of state's authority is established in Article VI, Section 7 of the South Carolina Constitution.
Article VI, Section 7:
| There shall be elected by the qualified voters of the State a Secretary of State, an Attorney General, a Treasurer, a Superintendent of Education, Comptroller General, Commissioner of Agriculture, and an Adjutant General who shall hold their respective offices for a term of four years, coterminous with that of the Governor. The duties and compensation of such offices shall be prescribed by law and their compensation shall be neither increased nor diminished during the period for which they shall have been elected.[3] |
Qualifications
Article VI, Section 7 of the South Carolina Constitution establishes the qualifications of the office:
| No person may be popularly elected to and serve in any office in this State or its political subdivisions unless he possesses the qualifications of an elector, is not disqualified by age as prescribed in this Constitution, and has not been convicted of a felony under state or federal law or convicted of tampering with a voting machine, fraudulent registration or voting, bribery at elections, procuring or offering to procure votes by bribery, voting more than once at elections, impersonating a voter, or swearing falsely at elections/taking oath in another's name, or has not pled guilty or nolo contendere [no contest] to these offenses. However, notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, this prohibition does not apply to a person who has been pardoned under state or federal law or to a person who files for public office fifteen years or more after the completion date of service of the sentence, including probation and parole time, nor shall any person, serving in office prior to the ratification of this provision, be required to vacate the office to which he is elected. No person may be elected or appointed to office in this State for life or during good behavior, but the terms of all officers must be for some specified period except officers in the militia.[3] |
Elections
Article VI, Section 7 of the state constitution stipulates that the secretary of state will be elected every four years to a term of four years. The secretary, like South Carolina's other executive officials, is elected in mid-term elections (e.g., 2018, 2022 and 2026).[3]
2022
General election
General election for South Carolina Secretary of State
Incumbent Mark Hammond defeated Rosemounda Peggy Butler in the general election for South Carolina Secretary of State on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mark Hammond (R) | 63.3 | 1,071,451 |
 | Rosemounda Peggy Butler (D)  | 36.6 | 619,341 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 1,109 | ||
| Total votes: 1,691,901 | |||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Rosemounda Peggy Butler advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina Secretary of State.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for South Carolina Secretary of State
Incumbent Mark Hammond defeated Keith Blandford in the Republican primary for South Carolina Secretary of State on June 14, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mark Hammond | 75.1 | 257,131 |
 | Keith Blandford | 24.9 | 85,050 | |
| Total votes: 342,181 | |||
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2018
General election
General election for South Carolina Secretary of State
Incumbent Mark Hammond defeated Melvin Whittenburg in the general election for South Carolina Secretary of State on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mark Hammond (R) | 57.1 | 970,576 |
 | Melvin Whittenburg (D) | 42.8 | 727,952 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 968 | ||
| Total votes: 1,699,496 | |||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for South Carolina Secretary of State
Melvin Whittenburg advanced from the Democratic primary for South Carolina Secretary of State on June 12, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Melvin Whittenburg |
| ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for South Carolina Secretary of State
Incumbent Mark Hammond defeated Joshua Putnam, Nelson Faerber, and Kerry Wood in the Republican primary for South Carolina Secretary of State on June 12, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mark Hammond | 65.4 | 218,215 |
 | Joshua Putnam | 13.4 | 44,639 | |
 | Nelson Faerber | 12.5 | 41,570 | |
 | Kerry Wood | 8.7 | 29,075 | |
| Total votes: 333,499 | |||
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Full history
2014
Republican incumbent Mark Hammond won re-election on November 4, 2014.
| Secretary of State of South Carolina, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Mark Hammond Incumbent |
59.5% | 730,739 | |
| Democratic | Ginny Deerin | 40.4% | 496,344 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.1% | 788 | |
| Total Votes | 1,227,871 | |||
| Election results via South Carolina State Election Commission | ||||
To view the electoral history dating back to 2002 for the office of South Carolina Secretary of State, click [show] to expand the section. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2010 On November 2, 2010, Mark Hammond won re-election to the office of South Carolina Secretary of State. He defeated Marjorie Johnson in the general election.
2006 On November 7, 2006, Mark Hammond won re-election to the office of South Carolina Secretary of State. He defeated Cheryl L. Footman in the general election.
2002 On November 5, 2002, Mark Hammond won election to the office of South Carolina Secretary of State. He defeated Rick C. Wade in the general election.
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Vacancies
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that details the process of filling vacancies for a state executive office. That information for the South Carolina Secretary of State has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Duties
The secretary of state maintains a database of all notaries public, issues commissions for elected and appointed officials, issues statewide cable franchises, serves as the repository for several types of municipal filings, and regulates charitable organizations, professional fundraisers, business opportunities and employment agencies. The office is responsible for the statewide filing of most registrations, including:
- business corporations
- nonprofit corporations
- limited partnerships
- limited liability partnerships
- limited liability companies
- Uniform Commercial Code secured transactions
- state trademarks[4]
Divisions
The secretary of state's office is composed of four main divisions:
- The Division of Business Filings charters corporations and other business entities, records liens made under the Uniform Commercial Code and serves as a registered agent for foreign corporations not authorized to do business in South Carolina. This division also licenses employment agencies and monitors certain types of investments for business opportunities.[5]
- The Division of Public Charities is responsible for the oversight and regulation of charitable organizations and professional fundraisers pursuant to the state's Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act. This includes hosting fundraising raffles.[6]
- The Notaries and Apostilles Division is responsible for commissioning official notaries and authenticating apostilles signed by public officials in the state of South Carolina.[7]
- The Cable Franchise Authority regulates cable television providers within the state.[8]
In addition to these main divisions, the secretary of state's office also has employees that oversee the administration of the office, the filing of trademark applications, the filing of required paperwork by municipalities in South Carolina, and the department's media relations. The office also maintains updated databases of public officials and members of boards and commissions, including the dates of appointment, election/inauguration, and resignation/vacancy.[9]
State budget
- See also: South Carolina state budget and finances
The budget for the secretary of state's office in Fiscal Year 2024 was $4,429,030.[10]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
See statutes: SC Code § 1-1-1210 (2013)
The secretary of state is entitled by statute to receive annual compensation, paid bi-monthly, in accordance with Title 1, Chapter 1, Section 1210 of the South Carolina Code of Laws.[11]
2024
In 2024, the officer's salary was $135,000, according to the South Carolina Department of Administration.[12]
2021
In 2021, the secretary of state received a salary of $92,007, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2020
In 2020, the secretary of state received a salary of $92,007, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2019
In 2019, the secretary of state received a salary of $92,007, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2018
In 2018, the secretary of state received a salary of $92,007, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2017
In 2017, the secretary of state received a salary of $92,007, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2016
In 2016, the secretary of state received a salary of $92,007, according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
2015
In 2015, the secretary of state received a salary of $92,007, according to the Council of State Governments.[19]
2014
In 2014, the secretary was paid an estimated $92,007, according to the Council of State Governments.[20]
2013
In 2013, the secretary was paid an estimated $92,007, according to the Council of State Governments.[21]
2010
In 2010, the secretary was paid an estimated $92,007, according to the Council of State Governments.[22]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the South Carolina Secretary of State has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms South Carolina Secretary of State. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
South Carolina Secretary of State
Edgar Brown Building
1205 Pendleton Street
Suite 525
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: (803) 734-2170
Fax: (803) 734-1661
E-mail: [email protected]
See also
| South Carolina | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ South Carolina Secretary of State, "Mission Statement," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ South Carolina Secretary of State, "Biography," accessed November 28, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 South Carolina State Legislature, "South Carolina Constitution," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ South Carolina Secretary of State, "About Us," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ South Carolina Secretary of State, "FAQs about Business Entities," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ South Carolina Secretary of State, "Charities," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ South Carolina Secretary of State, "Apostilles," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ South Carolina Secretary of State, "Cable Franchise," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ https://sos.sc.gov/office-directory South Carolina Secretary of State, "Directory," accessed February 2, 2021]
- ↑ South Carolina Legislature, "Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Appropriations Bill H. 4300," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ Justia.com, "Title 1 - Administration of the Government: CHAPTER 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS: SECTION 1-1-1210: Annual salaries of certain state officers," accessed February 23, 2015
- ↑ South Carolina Department of Administration, "State Salaries Query," accessed July 15, 2024
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 8, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," January 29, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed April 23, 2011
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