H 3490 General Bill, By Govan, J.M. Baxley, D.W. Beatty, G. Brown, A.W. Byrd, 
Cobb-Hunter, J. Hines, Howard, Inabinett, Lloyd, L.M. Martin, J.T. McElveen, 
Moody-Lawrence, Rice, Tripp, L.S. Whipper, J.M. White and Wilkes

Similar(S 229, H 4353)
 A Bill to amend Article 3, Chapter 11, Title 7, Code of Laws of South
 Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 7-11-230 so as to enact the "South Carolina
 Truth to Voters Act", provide that a candidate who executes a candidacy pledge
 with a political party for purposes of offering for election as provided in
 Section 7-11-210 and changes his political party affiliation during the term
 of the office for which he is deemed to have vacated the seat to which he was
 elected.

   02/02/95  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-12
   02/02/95  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-13
   02/14/95  House  Tabled in committee Judiciary

A BILL

TO AMEND ARTICLE 3, CHAPTER 11, TITLE 7, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 7-11-230 SO AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA TRUTH TO VOTERS ACT", PROVIDE THAT A CANDIDATE WHO EXECUTES A CANDIDACY PLEDGE WITH A POLITICAL PARTY FOR PURPOSES OF OFFERING FOR ELECTION AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 7-11-210 AND CHANGES HIS POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION DURING THE TERM OF THE OFFICE FOR WHICH HE IS DEEMED TO HAVE VACATED THE SEAT TO WHICH HE WAS ELECTED.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Article 3, Chapter 11, Title 7 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 7-11-230. (A) This section may be cited as the `South Carolina Truth to Voters Act'.

(B) A candidate who executes the pledge required by Section 7-11-210, who is subsequently elected in the general election to that office, and who changes his political party affiliation while serving in that office is deemed to have vacated the office to which he was elected effective the date of the change in the political party. A vacancy in the office must be declared and the office filled in the manner provided by law."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and is effective for offices which are filled beginning with the 1996 general election and all subsequent elections, whether special or general.