Columbia, SC — The South Carolina House of Representatives has approved a procedural move that could allow lawmakers to return to Columbia and consider redrawing the state’s congressional districts during the 2026 election cycle.
The House voted Wednesday to amend the sine die resolution, S. 883, to include redistricting among the issues lawmakers may take up after the regular legislative session ends. According to the South Carolina Legislature’s official record, the measure passed the House with 87 votes in favor and 25 opposed.
The amendment does not immediately redraw South Carolina’s congressional map. However, it opens the door for the General Assembly to consider legislation affecting the state’s seven U.S. House districts, along with related issues involving the 2026 election calendar.
The move comes just weeks before South Carolina’s scheduled June primary elections and after candidate filing has already closed. Reporting from the South Carolina Daily Gazette noted that ballots have already been printed, absentee ballots have been mailed to overseas and military voters, and early voting is scheduled to begin May 26.
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Much of the attention is focused on South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District, currently represented by longtime Democratic Congressman James E. Clyburn. The district is the only Democratic-held congressional seat in South Carolina.
Democrats and voting rights advocates have criticized the move, arguing that redrawing congressional lines in the middle of an election cycle could create confusion for voters and candidates. The South Carolina Democratic Party called the effort an attempt to “rig” the 2026 congressional election, while the ACLU of South Carolina criticized the move as partisan gerrymandering.
Supporters of revisiting the map have argued that South Carolina should consider redistricting in response to political and legal developments in other states. Several Republican leaders have expressed support for taking another look at the state’s congressional boundaries.
The issue is not settled. The vote allows the process to move forward, but any actual redistricting plan would still have to go through additional legislative steps. The South Carolina Daily Gazette reported that the measure allowing off-session debate still needs a two-thirds vote in the Senate.
For voters, the issue could affect congressional races, candidate districts and the timing of some election-related decisions. State and local races are currently expected to continue on the regular election schedule unless lawmakers make further changes.
