Bill 2911

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               2911
Ratification Number:       363
Act Number:                344
Introducing Body:          House
Subject:                   Relating respectively to certification of
                           nominees in a party primary or
                           convention

(A344, R363, H2911)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 7-13-350, AS AMENDED, AND 7-13-351, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING RESPECTIVELY TO CERTIFICATION OF NOMINEES IN A PARTY PRIMARY OR CONVENTION, TO THE GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT AND PETITION CANDIDATES, SO AS TO INCLUDE COUNTYWIDE OR LESS THAN COUNTYWIDE OFFICES WITHIN THOSE OFFICES COVERED BY THE PROVISIONS AND TO AMEND THE 1976 CODE BY ADDING SECTION 7-13-352, SO AS TO PROVIDE A UNIFORM DEADLINE FOR FILING STATEMENTS OF CANDIDACY BY PERSONS SEEKING ELECTION TO NONPARTISAN OFFICES, MULTI-COUNTY DISTRICTS, COUNTYWIDE, OR LESS THAN COUNTYWIDE, WHEN THE ELECTION IS HELD AT THE TIME OF THE GENERAL ELECTION.

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

Nominee

SECTION 1. Section 7-13-350 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 405 of 1984, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-13-350. The nominees in a party primary or party convention held under the provisions of this title by any political party certified by the Commission under this title for one or more of the offices, national, state, circuit, multi-county district, countywide, or less than countywide, to be voted on in the general election must be placed upon the appropriate ballot for the election as candidates nominated by party by the authority charged by law with preparing the ballot if the names of the nominees are certified by the political party chairman, vice-chairman, or secretary to the authority, for general elections held under Section 7-13-10, not later than twelve o'clock noon on September first, or if September first falls on Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday; and for a special or municipal election, by at least twelve o'clock noon on the thirtieth day prior to the date of holding the election, or if the thirtieth day falls on Sunday, by twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday."

Nominee by petition

SECTION 2. The first paragraph of Section 7-13-351 of the 1976 Code, created by Act 263 of 1984, is amended to read:

"Any nominee by petition for one or more of the offices, national, state, circuit, multi-county district, countywide or less than countywide, to be voted on in the general election must be placed upon the appropriate ballot by the officer, commissioners, or other authority charged by law with preparing the ballot if the petition is submitted to the officer, commissioner, or other authority, as the case may be, for general elections held under Section 7-13-10, not later than twelve o'clock noon on August first, or if August first falls on Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday. At the time the petition is submitted, the authority charged with accepting it shall issue a receipt to the person submitting the petition which shall reflect the date it was submitted and the total number of signatures contained therein. The board of voter registration of each respective county shall check the petition at the request of the authority charged with printing the ballot for that office and shall certify the results to the authority not later than twelve o'clock noon September first, or if September first falls on Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday."

Candidate for nonpartisan office

SECTION 3. Article 3, Chapter 13, of Title 7 of the 1976 Code, is amended by adding:

"Section 7-13-352. Any candidate for a nonpartisan office, multi-county district, countywide or less than countywide, to be voted on at the time of the general election, who qualifies by statement of candidacy shall file the statement of candidacy with the authority responsible by law for conducting the election not later than twelve o'clock noon on September first, or if September first falls on Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday."

Time effective

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.