Of 904 regular elections in South Carolina—553 (61%) are uncontested. An uncontested election is one where the number of candidates on the ballot is less than or equal to the number of seats up for election. 

Of the 26 states where Ballotpedia is covering every election on Nov. 5, South Carolina has the 14th highest rate of uncontested elections. 

There are at least 17 office types up for election in South Carolina this year. 

Auditor and register of deeds have the highest rate of uncontested elections at 100%. Elections for the office of clerk have the next highest uncontested rate at 90%, followed by treasurer and local judge at 85% each.

Fire board has the highest rate of contested elections at 91%. The next highest contested office type in South Carolina is city council at 70%, followed by U.S. senator and state senator at 57%.

South Carolina has a Republican trifecta, meaning Republicans control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature. Among states with Republican trifectas, 64% of elections are uncontested and 36% are contested. Those rates for Democratic trifectas are 55% and 45%, respectively. In states with a divided government, 56% of elections are uncontested and 44% are contested. 

Through October 2024, Ballotpedia has covered 36,068 elections in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four territories in 2024 alone. Of that total, 27,164 (75%) were uncontested and 8,904 (25%) were contested. To learn more about this analysis, click here!