COLUMBIA (WACH) - A bill to change the way candidates file for elections was in front of the Senate for a third reading Tuesday.
Political leaders are considering the bill after hundreds of South Carolina candidates were booted from the June primary ballot because of a paperwork glitch.
Senate members say this is a top priority, so the filing process for elections will be simple.
The proposed process includes candidates filing everything at the Election Commission, and then paying their county party.
The party will send a check to the Election Commission once filing is finished.
"It's very simple," said Sen. Katrina Shealy. "You have to do everything online. You have to file your statement of candidacy online, you have to file your statement of economic interest online, so there's no other way to interupt it. Once you've ready it, you know what to do and it will make it easy."
Leaders say the changes will even the playing field for newcomers and incumbents.
"This addresses what happened last year, and it does so in a way I think people will be happy with," said Sen. Larry Martin.
The Senate plans to vote on the bill Wednesday as long as no new proposals surface.
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