S 0190 General Bill, By Courson and Wilson
 A Bill to amend Section 7-11-20, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina,
 1976, relating to the conduct of party conventions or party primary elections,
 so as to require any presidential primary elections to be held on the second
 Tuesday in January of presidential election years and to delete references to
 absentee ballots for religious purposes for Saturday primaries.

   01/13/93  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-7
   01/13/93  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-7

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 7-11-20, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE CONDUCT OF PARTY CONVENTIONS OR PARTY PRIMARY ELECTIONS, SO AS TO REQUIRE ANY PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTIONS TO BE HELD ON THE SECOND TUESDAY IN JANUARY OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEARS AND TO DELETE REFERENCES TO ABSENTEE BALLOTS FOR RELIGIOUS PURPOSES FOR SATURDAY PRIMARIES.

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

SECTION 1. The second paragraph of Section 7-11-20 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 489 of 1992, is further amended to read:

"A certified political party wishing to hold a presidential primary election may do so in accordance with the provisions of this title and party rules. However, notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the state committee of the party shall set the date and the hours that the polls will be open for the presidential primary election and the filing requirements. If a party holds a presidential primary election on a Saturday, an absentee ballot must be provided to a person who signs an affirmation stating that for religious reasons he does not wish to take part in the electoral process on a Saturday. Presidential primaries may only be held on the second Tuesday in January of presidential election years."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.