Bill 3619

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               3619
Ratification Number:       356
Act Number                 331
Introducing Body:          House
Subject:                   Ballots provided where voting machines
                           used - penalties

(A331, R356, H3619)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 7-13-430 AND 7-13-620, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE NUMBER OF BALLOTS REQUIRED TO BE PROVIDED AT VOTING PRECINCTS IN GENERAL AND PRIMARY ELECTIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE AUTHORITY RESPONSIBLE FOR CONDUCTING THE ELECTION SHALL PROVIDE THEM AND TO PROVIDE THAT BALLOTS MADE AS NEARLY AS POSSIBLE IN THE FORM OF OFFICIAL BALLOTS MUST BE PROVIDED IF SUFFICIENT OFFICIAL BALLOTS ARE NOT PROVIDED AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS.

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

Ballots provided where voting machines used - penalties

SECTION 1. Section 7-13-430 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-13-430. (A) There must be provided for each voting place where voting machines are not used as many ballots as are equal to one hundred ten percent of the registered qualified voters at the voting place. There must be provided for each voting place where voting machines are used as many ballots as are equal to ten percent of the registered qualified voters at the voting place. The authority responsible for conducting an election must provide to each poll manager the appropriate number of ballots according to the provisions of this section.

(B) When a sufficient number of official ballots are not available for all qualified electors present at the polling place to vote, the managers of election without undue delay shall provide ballots made as nearly as possible in the form of the official ballot to those electors for whom official ballots are unavailable, and for all purposes of the election laws of this State these ballots are the same as official ballots. A manager of election who fails to comply with the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars."

Ballots provided where voting machines not used, penalties

SECTION 2. Section 7-13-620 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-13-620. (A) There must be provided for each voting place where voting machines are not used as many ballots as are equal to one hundred ten percent of the registered qualified voters at the voting place. There must be provided for each voting place where voting machines are used as many ballots as are equal to ten percent of the registered qualified voters at the voting place. The authority responsible for conducting an election must provide to each poll manager the appropriate number of ballots according to the provisions of this section.

(B) When a sufficient number of official ballots are not available for all qualified electors present at the polling place to vote, the managers of election without undue delay shall provide ballots made as nearly as possible in the form of the official ballot to those electors for whom official ballots are unavailable, and for all purposes of the election laws of this State these ballots are the same as official ballots. A manager of election who fails to comply with the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars."

Time effective

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 20th day of February, 1990.