Nonpartisan · Data from OpenStates / Plural Policy · South Carolina
Democratic
· State Senator
Karl Allen
Represents District 7 in the State Senate.
Votes with Democrats
95%
on 80 party-line votes · Senate Democrats median 95%
Cast a vote
93%
Yea or Nay on 638 of 686 roll calls · Senate median 94%
Their bills that became law
19 of 23
as a primary sponsor, this session · Democrats median 16
Roll calls on record
686
126th General Assembly
Votes and bills updated Oct 5, 2026 from LegiScan (CC BY 4.0), which republishes the legislature’s own records. Profile details from OpenStates / Plural Policy. Figures cover 126th General Assembly.
How Karl Allen votes
A party-line vote is a roll call where most voting Democrats and most voting Republicans took opposite sides. Absences and not-voting are never counted. Same method as our Congress pages.
Where Karl Allen sits in the Senate
Each dot is one member of the Senate, placed by how often they voted on the Democratic side of party-line votes. Karl Allen is circled.
Always on the Republican sideAlways on the Democratic side
Times they broke with their party
4 of 80 party-line votes.
H3558 · Commissioners to Article V Convention
In plain English Establishes qualifications, appointment procedures, oaths, and duties for state commissioners representing South Carolina at a constitutional amendment convention.
Senate: To Override The Veto · 2026-06-25 · Passed 20–5 · most Democrats voted the other way
H3924 · Hemp-derived ingestible
In plain English Requires regulation of the sale of hemp-derived consumable products.
Senate: To Adopt The Conference Report · 2026-06-25 · Passed 27–11 · most Democrats voted the other way
H5126 · Budget
In plain English Appropriates funds and provides revenues for South Carolina state government operations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026.
Senate: To Adopt Amendment Number 24 · 2026-04-22 · Passed 24–17 · most Democrats voted the other way
S0318 · Government Efficiency
Senate: 2nd Reading · 2025-05-07 · Passed 35–6 · most Democrats voted the other way
Closest votes they cast
Roll calls decided by the fewest votes, one per bill.
H3021 · Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act
In plain English Requires legislative approval for regulations with estimated costs of one million dollars or more over five years, and makes related changes to regulatory review and judicial processes.
Senate: To Concur · 2026-05-14 · Failed 22–22
H5126 · Budget
In plain English Appropriates funds and provides revenues for South Carolina state government operations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026.
Senate: To Adopt Amendment No, 4 · 2026-04-21 · Passed 21–20
H3924 · Hemp-derived ingestible
In plain English Requires regulation of the sale of hemp-derived consumable products.
Senate: To Lay On The Table Amendment Number 20 · 2026-03-18 · Passed 19–18
S0052 · Driving under the influence
In plain English Increases penalties for driving under the influence, requires victim impact panels, creates a second-degree felony DUI offense, and revises testing and license suspension procedures.
Senate: To Lay On The Table Amendment Number 45 · 2026-02-04 · Failed 22–23
H5683 · Redistricting, Congressional Districts
In plain English Establishes new congressional election districts for South Carolina and repeals the previous district boundaries.
Senate: Rule 15b · 2026-05-26 · Failed 20–24
Republicans they vote with most
Share of contested roll calls (the losing side got at least 10%) where both voted and landed on the same side. Unanimous votes are left out, because on those everyone agrees.
Luke RankinRepublican · District 33 · 113 shared contested votes
68%
Jeff ZellRepublican · District 36 · 120 shared contested votes
62%
Jason ElliottRepublican · District 6 · 131 shared contested votes
55%
Their session, month by month
Dark bars are roll calls they were recorded on each month; the red part is the ones without a Yea or Nay (48 in all). Gaps are months the chamber wasn’t voting.
← South Carolina Delegation
YeaYeaYeaYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayYeaNayNayNayYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayYeaYeaYeaNVYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYea
Their bills, from filing to law
Bills Karl Allen was a primary sponsor of this session. Most bills from either party never leave committee; in Illinois many never get past the Assignments or Rules committee.
Introduced23
Out of committee19
Passed one chamber19
Passed both chambers19
Became law19
Never left committee4
For comparison, the median Democratic member of the Senate has 16 bills that became law this session.
Felicia Douglas Littlejohn
A Senate Resolution To Recognize August 13, 2026, As "mrs. Felicia Douglas Littlejohn Day" In South Carolina And To Commend Mrs. Littlejohn For Her Extraordinary Twenty-five-year Career Promoting Financial Literacy, Economic Empowerment, Civic Leadership, And The Well-being Of The Greenville Community.
Became lawIntroduced and adopted · 2026-08-11
Southside High School Soccer
A Senate Resolution To Congratulate The Southside High School Boys Soccer Team, Coaches, And School Officials On An Outstanding Season And To Honor Them For Winning The South Carolina Class Aaaa Boys Soccer State Championship.
Became lawIntroduced and adopted · 2026-08-11
Fraudulent Check Expungement
In plain English Allows expungement of fraudulent check convictions and requires destruction of arrest records for people arrested by mistaken identity.
Official synopsis: Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Amending Section 34-11-90, Relating To Jurisdiction For Offenses Involving Checks And Penalties, So As To Provide A Method To Expunge Convictions; By Amending Section 17-22-910, Relating To Applications For Expungement, So As To Add Multiple Misdemeanor Offenses…
Became lawAct No. 248 · 2026-07-01
Jack Logan
A Senate Resolution To Recognize And Honor Jack Logan During National Nurses Week And To Commend Him For His Service In Healthcare And For His Work To Promote Gun Safety.
Became lawIntroduced and adopted · 2026-05-06
Small Impressions Child Development Center
A Senate Resolution To Congratulate Small Impressions Child Development Center Upon The Occasion Of Its Twentieth Anniversary And To Commend The Center For Its Many Years Of Dedicated Service To The Greenville Community And The People And The State Of South Carolina.
Became lawIntroduced and adopted · 2026-05-05
Maxie Burton Concurrent
Recognize And Honor Horace Maxie Burton For An Exceptional Musical Career Spanning Sixty-five Years.
Became lawIntroduced, adopted, returned with concurrence · 2026-04-30
Alexander Johnson
A Senate Resolution To Recognize And Honor Alexander Johnson And To Commend Him For His Distinguished Service To The Joshua Baptist Church, The Sumter Community, And The State.
Became lawIntroduced and adopted · 2026-04-29
Horace Maxie Burton
A Senate Resolution To Recognize And Honor Horace Maxie Burton For An Exceptional Musical Career Spanning Sixty-five Years.
Became lawScrivener's error corrected · 2026-04-29
Jada Samuel
A Senate Resolution To Congratulate Jada M.samuel, Miss South Carolina 2023, And To Commend Her Exceptional Discipline, Aspirations, And Talent That Have Enabled Her To Represent The Palmetto State With Dignity And Poise.
Became lawIntroduced and adopted · 2026-04-22
Jesse Jackson sympathy
A Senate Resolution To Remember And Celebrate The Life Of Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, To Honor His Remarkable Commitment As An American Civil Rights Activist, And To Extend The Deepest Sympathy Of The South Carolina Senate To His Large And Loving Family And His Many…
Became lawIntroduced and adopted · 2026-02-18
Bobbie Hill
A Senate Resolution To Congratulate Bobbie Hill Upon The Occasion Of Her Retirement, To Commend Her For Her Forty Years Of Dedicated Service, And To Wish Her Much Happiness And Fulfillment In The Years Ahead.
Became lawIntroduced and adopted · 2026-02-17
Naomi Dye Cannady
A Senate Resolution To Express Profound Sorrow Upon The Passing Of Naomi Dye Cannady And To Extend The Deepest Sympathy To Her Family And Many Friends.
Became lawIntroduced and adopted · 2026-02-03
Annie Lois Neely Stewart 100th birthday
Congratulate Annie Lois Neely Stewart Of Greenville County On The Occasion Of Her One Hundredth Birthday And To Wish Her A Joyous Birthday Celebration And Many Years Of Continued Health And Happiness.
Became lawIntroduced, adopted, returned with concurrence · 2025-04-22
90th birthday James Albert Donald
A Senate Resolution To Congratulate James Albert Donald Of Anderson County On The Occasion Of His Ninetieth Birthday And To Wish Him A Joyous Birthday Celebration And Continued Health And Happiness In The Days Ahead.
Became lawIntroduced and adopted · 2025-04-15
Melva Jean Gilliam Bruton
A Senate Resolution To Honor And Congratulate Melva Jean Gilliam Bruton Of Lyman On Her Recent Election As International Vice President At Large Of The International Alliance Of Ministers' Wives And Ministers' Widows, Inc.
Became lawScrivener's error corrected · 2025-04-04
“In plain English” lines are written by ThePolitibase with AI (Claude), from the official synopsis only; the synopsis is the authoritative text. Descriptions are the legislature’s own synopsis. Bill data from LegiScan, CC BY 4.0.
Loading committees…
H5126 · 2026-08-11
Budget (Senate: To Adopt The Conference Report)
H3021 · 2026-06-25
Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act (Senate: To Adopt The Conference Report)
H4248 · 2026-06-25
Food labeling (Senate: To Adopt The Conference Report)
H4763 · 2026-06-25
Helping Alleviate Lawful Obstruction (HALO) Act (Senate: To Grant Free Conference Powers)
H4763 · 2026-06-25
Helping Alleviate Lawful Obstruction (HALO) Act (Senate: To Grant Free Conference Powers)
H4763 · 2026-06-25
Helping Alleviate Lawful Obstruction (HALO) Act (Senate: To Adopt The Free Conference Report)
H3924 · 2026-06-25
Hemp-derived ingestible (Senate: To Adopt The Conference Report)
S0011 · 2026-06-25
Paid Family Leave Eligible State Employee (Senate: To Adopt The Conference Report)
H3387 · 2026-06-25
Unlawful occupants of property (Senate: To Adopt The Conference Report)
S0428 · 2026-06-25
Fraudulent Check Expungement (Senate: To Override The Veto)
H4069 · 2026-06-25
Patient-Friendly Billing (Senate: To Adopt The Conference Report)
H3558 · 2026-06-25
Commissioners to Article V Convention (Senate: To Override The Veto)
S0052 · 2026-06-25
Driving under the influence (Senate: To Grant Free Conference Powers)
H4300 · 2026-06-25
Retirement System for Judges and Solicitors (Senate: 2nd Reading)
H4635 · 2026-06-25
Physical Fitness Services (Senate: To Adopt The Conference Report)
H4709 · 2026-06-25
US produced iron and steel (Senate: To Adopt The Conference Report)
S1043 · 2026-06-25
Civil Air Patrol Leave Act (Senate: To Concur)
S0238 · 2026-06-25
Sine Die (Senate: To Override The Veto)
H5683 · 2026-05-26
Redistricting, Congressional Districts (Senate: Rule 15b)
H5683 · 2026-05-26
Redistricting, Congressional Districts (Senate: To Continue The Bill)
H5683 · 2026-05-22
Redistricting, Congressional Districts (Senate: Motion To Suspend Rule 15)
H5683 · 2026-05-22
Redistricting, Congressional Districts (Senate: Motion To Suspend Rule 15)
H3021 · 2026-05-14
Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act (Senate: To Concur)
H4591 · 2026-05-14
Stop Harm from Addictive Social Media (Senate: 3rd Reading)
S0832 · 2026-05-14
University Campus Events Zoning (Senate: To Concur)
S0508 · 2026-05-14
Monuments (Senate: To Adopt The Conference Report)
H5018 · 2026-05-14
Agency Head Salary Commission, Governor and Lt. Governor (Senate: 3rd Reading)
S0688 · 2026-05-14
DEW UI Tax Code (Senate: To Adopt The Conference Report)
H4709 · 2026-05-14
US produced iron and steel (Senate: 3rd Reading)
H4763 · 2026-05-14
Helping Alleviate Lawful Obstruction (HALO) Act (Senate: 3rd Reading)
S0222 · 2026-05-13
Utility terrain vehicle (Senate: To Adopt Amendment)
S0222 · 2026-05-13
Utility terrain vehicle (Senate: To Adopt Amendment Number Rfh-1)
S0222 · 2026-05-13
Utility terrain vehicle (Senate: To Concur)
H5538 · 2026-05-13
Guarantee Banking Act (Senate: To Lay On The Table)
H5538 · 2026-05-13
Guarantee Banking Act (Senate: 2nd Reading)
H4042 · 2026-05-13
Ivermectin (Senate: 2nd Reading)
H5120 · 2026-05-13
Fingerprinting, offenses by minors (Senate: 2nd Reading)
S0688 · 2026-05-13
DEW UI Tax Code (Senate: To Adopt Amendment)
H4589 · 2026-05-13
Education Capital Improvements Sales and Use Tax (Senate: 3rd Reading)
H4303 · 2026-05-13
Cigarettes for heating (Senate: 3rd Reading)
H5122 · 2026-05-12
Internet and Communications Service Providers Equipment (Senate: 3rd Reading)
S0454 · 2026-05-12
Charter School Accountability (Senate: To Adopt Amendment)
S0961 · 2026-05-12
Red drum, saltwater fish, deer hunting (Senate: To Adopt Amendment)
S0883 · 2026-05-12
Sine Die 2026 (Senate: To Lay On The Table Amendment Number Rfh-2)
S0883 · 2026-05-12
Sine Die 2026 (Senate: To Lay On The Table Amendment Number Rfh-3)
S0883 · 2026-05-12
Sine Die 2026 (Senate: To Concur)
H4476 · 2026-05-12
SC-Bahamas Trade Commission (Senate: 2nd Reading)
H4382 · 2026-05-12
Nonprescription Ephedrine Products (Senate: 2nd Reading)
S0831 · 2026-05-12
SCDOT Modernization (Senate: To Adopt The Conference Report)
H4000 · 2026-05-12
Alcohol licensing (Senate: 2nd Reading)
H3569 · 2026-05-12
Domestic violence in rental properties (Senate: 3rd Reading)
H5113 · 2026-05-12
Manufactured and modular homes (Senate: 3rd Reading)
H5122 · 2026-05-07
Internet and Communications Service Providers Equipment (Senate: 2nd Reading)
H5208 · 2026-05-07
Sales Tax Exemption (Senate: 2nd Reading)
H4679 · 2026-05-07
South Carolina Drone Regulation and Public Safety Act (Senate: 2nd Reading)
H4163 · 2026-05-07
South Carolina High School Athletic Association (Senate: 3rd Reading)
H5113 · 2026-05-07
Manufactured and modular homes (Senate: 2nd Reading)
H4189 · 2026-05-07
DHEC Restructuring (Senate: 2nd Reading)
H5537 · 2026-05-07
Dillon National Guard Armory (Senate: 3rd Reading)
H4337 · 2026-05-07
Subpoena Powers (Senate: 2nd Reading)
Complete voting record from LegiScan (showing the 60 most recent of 686 total roll-call votes this session).
Primary Office
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