SC redistricting proposal may not pass by start of early voting

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - With early voting set to begin in just days, a contentious debate over redistricting and the timing of U.S. House primaries continues at the South Carolina State House.

Republican senators backing a redistricting proposal attempted Friday to fast-track the process to a vote by changing Senate rules, but the effort fell short.

The failed procedural vote means that even if the bill eventually passes, it is unlikely to reach the governor’s desk before early voting begins on Tuesday.

The South Carolina House of Representatives gave its final approval of the map after marathon sessions earlier in the week.

INTERACTIVE HOUSE-APPROVED MAP

The debate Friday centered on Senate rules and whether lawmakers should invoke cloture — a move that would limit debate.

Supporters argued the accelerated timeline was necessary to finalize new congressional district lines before early voting ballots were cast.

Sen. Larry Grooms, a Republican from Berkeley County, urged colleagues to invoke cloture a day ahead of schedule, saying it was the only way the legislation could become law before early voting starts.

Under cloture rules, each senator would be limited to one hour to speak or offer amendments, setting a clearer path to a final vote. However, the motion failed to receive the required two-thirds support.

“The only way for this bill to become law before early voting was for that previous vote to receive 31 votes,” Grooms said.

Grooms acknowledged that the delay likely means any redistricting bill would reach the governor only after voting has already begun.

“The quickest we’ll be able to get a bill to the governor for his signature will be sometime after early voting begins, and tens of thousands of South Carolinians would have already cast their ballots,” he said.

Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto, a Democrat from Orangeburg, said he expects Grooms to call a cloture vote again on Saturday.

He then described to lawmakers how it works, if approved.

“I don’t know whether we’re going to have 46 stopwatches or not,” Hutto said, “but apparently we’re going to have 46 stopwatches, and every member, when you get that microphone and get recognized, your clock goes on.”

Senate leaders say even if the redistricting bill passes the chamber, any changes would send it back to the House, further delaying final approval. Some Republican senators have also raised concerns about continuing the debate once early voting begins, warning of potential confusion for voters.

Senators are scheduled to return Saturday morning for a rare weekend session. Leaders expect debate to continue well into the night, making it the longest day of Senate debate so far on the issue.

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