Candidate filing for SC 2020 races opens in York County despite coronavirus concern
Despite growing concern for the coronavirus, filing for South Carolina’s 2020 election season opened Monday at the York County Office of Voter Registration and Elections.
Elections officials asked that candidates schedule an appointment for filing to slow the spread of COVID-19. As of Monday, there are 33 total cases of the virus in South Carolina, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
At the entrance of the elections office, a sign that read “Please practice social distancing” stood. Bottles of hand sanitizer were placed on each table. A basket of pens sat on the counter and beside it, a note asked visitors to use their own pens, or if they use a pen from the basket, keep it.
Candidates filed with staff who sat behind a counter separated by a glass wall. Normally, candidates file in an open room and in some cases, candidates bring family members and supporters along.
Filing opened at 12 p.m. and before 12:30 p.m., six candidates had filed.
South Carolina Rep. John King, D-Rock Hill, was first. He filed for reelection in his state House District 49 seat. York County Council Chairman Michael Johnson, who is running for the District 16 state Senate seat, was next.
“I’ve always filed on the first day,” Johnson, who was elected to council in 2012, said. “I’ve just made it a practice. It’s one of those things where with everything going on, you wanted to get down here and go ahead and let everybody know that you’re running and you’re interested and you’re going to do it.”
York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson, who was first elected in 2016, had an appointment to file at 12 p.m., but he let his fellow office-seekers go ahead. He said he’s ready to serve another four years and it was important to file as soon as possible to signal that to voters.
He said he did not find it jarring that aspects of the filing process were changed due to the coronavirus.
“Being in the first-responder environment, I did not take it as too unusual,” he said. “This is only my second filing, so I only have one other to compare it to. I’m glad to see that people are listening and the county is taking the necessary precautions.”
Next, York County Councilman Britt Blackwell filed for reelection of his District 6 seat. York County Clerk of Court David Hamilton, who has been in his role for over 20 years, filed for reelection. And York County Coroner Sabrina Gast filed, as well.
Hamilton said the virus did impact his decision to file on the first day.
“I file as soon as I can,” he said. “And it just made sense with all the coronavirus and everything going on to get it out of the way, so I can get on with other stuff.”
Candidates wanting to run for state, local and federal offices — including seats in the U.S. House and Senate — have until noon on March 30 to submit paperwork and filing fees.
The York County elections office said candidates should call to schedule a filing appointment.
This story was originally published March 16, 2020 at 4:16 PM.
