Extra primary election could cost SC more than $5M for 2026 redistricting plan

The South Carolina Election Commission says it will need $5.3-6 million to run an extra primary election this summer, more than double earlier estimates.

The new figure follows two weeks of debate over whether South Carolina should redraw its congressional maps and push back elections for the U.S. House of Representatives. Early in-person voting begins Tuesday, and about 2,400 ballots have already been returned.

The cost estimate rose to $3.5 million, which includes the cost of an August runoff, in the fiscal impact report on the bill published May 14.

And in a hearing Wednesday, Belangia told senators his agency needed $5.3 million to $6 million for the August primary. That includes $1.8 million to cover some election costs for counties. Supplemental pay for poll workers would be up to the counties, and Richland County anticipates its taxpayers will cover $452,000 for the August primary.

Belangia said the initial $2.5 million figure was a guess, but the agency has since had more time to look at the costs.

“That first number was literally off the top of my head because when I first met with the subcommittee, I was not prepared to do a presentation,” Belangia said.

The hearing was held just days after Republicans in the House announced they would pursue middecade redistricting this year, a reversal of earlier positions from GOP leadership.

Belangia said the Election Commission had met with the Ways and Means Committee and Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office to potentially fund the costs it is unable to absorb.

The House and Senate passed conflicting versions of next fiscal year’s budget and representatives from both chambers will hash out their differences in conference committee. It’s unclear when the two chambers will wrap up the budget for fiscal year 2027, which begins July 1.

After a House meeting on redistricting May 8, state Rep. Weston Newton, R-Beaufort, told reporters the cost to taxpayers would be part of discussions.

“I would never say that there’s not a concern for any dollar that gets spent of taxpayers’ money, but that’s part of the discussion as this moves forward,” Newton said.

Since the hearing, the full House passed the redistricting bill 74-37 with little public discussion from GOP members about the cost.

Other costs associated with redistricting

Committee meetings and long floor debates during the special session also cost taxpayers.

Three days of House special session cost $202,795. Each day of full Senate floor debate will cost $27,000, including pay for lawmakers.

The House also included $2 million for litigation related to redistricting in its version of the budget passed earlier this month.

Reporter Joseph Bustos contributed reporting