SC Senate effort to put candidates on ballots dead

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A Senate effort to put candidates back on June primary ballots is dead.

Senate Republicans failed Wednesday to attach to an election bill on “third reading” an amendment re-instating candidates who filed required forms by April 15. The attempt to fast-track the proposal required overriding a Senate rule barring unrelated amendments to a bill.

Republicans and Democrats pointed the blame at each other after several motions failed.

Nearly 200 candidates were tossed off June 12 primary ballots after the Supreme Court ruled last week they had to hand over the paper form at the same time they filed their candidacy. The two-week filing period ended March 30.

Democrats and Republican Sen. Jake Knotts wanted to reinstate anyone who filed by that deadline, whether online or by paper.