Secretary of State of South Carolina · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the South Carolina secretary of state race?
No candidate in the South Carolina secretary of state race has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 9, 2026. Jason Belton (4 of 15 criteria) and Mark Hammond (7 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Jason Belton
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 4 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 56
- Performance
- NR
Republican · incumbent
Mark Hammond
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 75
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Jason Belton
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Mark Hammond
- On the record2020-10-21
The same 2020 study found about 40 percent of seats on boards the office monitors were vacant or held over, and made 19 recommendations to the office.
Source: House Legislative Oversight Committee, Executive Summary (2020)
- Credit2026-08-07
Announced the seizure of more than $214,000 in counterfeit toys and merchandise at Haywood Mall in a July 2026 joint operation with Greenville police, SLED and Homeland Security Investigations.
- Credit2020-10-21
A House Legislative Oversight Committee study of his office found it continues to gain efficiencies and transparency through online services and data sharing.
Source: House Legislative Oversight Committee, Executive Summary (2020)
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Jason Belton. No public record found.
Mark Hammond. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Jason Belton. No public record found.
Mark Hammond. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Jason Belton. No public record found.
Mark Hammond. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Jason Belton. No public record found.
Mark Hammond. Secretary of state since 2003 and Spartanburg County clerk of court from 1996 to 2002. No censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Mark Hammond
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Jason Belton. No public record found.
Mark Hammond. Has held sworn elected office since 1997, as clerk of court and secretary of state. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Mark Hammond
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Jason Belton. Describes 15 years owning consulting businesses, service as executive director of the Legislative Progressive Caucus and as state operations director for the AFL-CIO. Has not held public office.
Source: Ballotpedia, Jason Belton, Candidate Connection survey
Mark Hammond. Secretary of state since 2003, seeking a seventh term; earlier Spartanburg County clerk of court and a criminal investigator for the 7th Circuit solicitor.
Source: Ballotpedia, Mark Hammond
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Jason Belton. Proposes disclosure rules for professional fundraisers and county satellite offices; also seeks expanded powers over elections that the office does not hold.
Source: Ballotpedia, Jason Belton, Candidate Connection survey
Mark Hammond. Has run the office for 23 years; a 2020 House oversight study credited the office with a task force on crowdfunding regulation and data sharing with other agencies.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Jason Belton. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Did not respond to a WSOC candidate guide.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Jason Belton, WSOC Political Beat candidate guide via Yahoo News, May 21, 2026
Mark Hammond. No public record found.
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Jason Belton. Describes himself as a lifelong South Carolinian.
Source: Ballotpedia, Jason Belton, Candidate Connection survey
Mark Hammond. Grew up in Spartanburg County, graduated from Dorman High School and served as Spartanburg County clerk of court.
Source: Ballotpedia, Mark Hammond
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Jason Belton. No public record found.
Mark Hammond. Has headed the Secretary of State's Office, which handles business filings, charities, notaries and board records, since 2003. Staff size not established.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Jason Belton. No public record found.
Mark Hammond. A 2020 House oversight study found the office continues to gain efficiencies and transparency through online services. In 2026 his office announced a joint seizure of more than $214,000 in counterfeit goods.
Sources: House Legislative Oversight Committee, Study of the Secretary of State's Office, Executive Summary (2020), WBTV/Gray News via KJCT, Aug. 10, 2026
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Jason Belton. No public record found.
Mark Hammond. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Jason Belton. No public record found.
Mark Hammond. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Jason Belton. No public record found.
Mark Hammond. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Jason Belton. No public record found.
Mark Hammond. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the South Carolina secretary of state race?
No candidate in the South Carolina secretary of state race has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 9, 2026. Jason Belton (4 of 15 criteria) and Mark Hammond (7 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the South Carolina secretary of state race in 2026?
Jason Belton (Democratic), Mark Hammond (Republican, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Jason Belton a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Jason Belton has public evidence on 4 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Mark Hammond a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Mark Hammond has public evidence on 7 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every South Carolina race scored, and the South Carolina 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.