COLUMBIA — Amid the turmoil surrounding a court decision that threw nearly 250 candidates off the primary ballot, the South Carolina Election Commission has certified its first petition candidate for the November ballots. An unprecedented number is expected to follow.

House candidate Raye Felder was notified in writing Thursday that her petition is valid, said agency spokesman Chris Whitmire.

Felder was among nearly 250 candidates statewide, tossed off primary ballots following a May ruling by the state Supreme Court on improperly filed paperwork. Felder was seeking the Republican nomination for a newly drawn House seat representing Fort Mill, a fast-growing area just south of Charlotte, N.C.

The high court's ruling left that seat, and three other House seats representing portions of Berkeley and Horry counties, with no major-party candidate. That paves the way for a historic number of petition candidate victories in November for legislative seats.

Felder, an insurance agent, said it was a great relief. Petition candidates are listed simply as “petition” on the ballot, with no party affiliation. Felder will face a Libertarian candidate on the ballot.

“It has been incredibly frustrating,” she said. “But I must admit it's given me an opportunity early on to shake a lot of hands, meet a lot of people and listen to a lot of people. I looked at that as a positive experience.”

She said about 50 volunteers have been helping her go door-to-door every weekend since the court's ruling.

“People were encouraged that there was a solution to the mishap,” Felder said.

As of Thursday afternoon, 13 other potential candidates for legislative offices had turned in petitions. More than a dozen other would-be candidates have told the agency their petitions are on the way. The deadline is noon Monday. Felder turned hers in June 28.

The process involves collecting signatures of at least 5 percent of a district's registered voters. For Felder, that meant she needed 1,235 valid signatures. She said she turned in 1,661 and only 13 were rejected as unverifiable or non-residents.

The agency must complete the signature verification process by noon Aug. 15.