Current Status Bill Number:641 Ratification Number:221 Act Number:222 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:Senate Introduced Date:19950315 Primary Sponsor:Williams All Sponsors:Williams Drafted Document Number:jud6037.mbw Date Bill Passed both Bodies:19960130 Date of Last Amendment:19960125 Governor's Action:S Date of Governor's Action:19960212 Subject:Election registration books, closing of
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________ ------ 19960222 Act No. A222 ------ 19960212 Signed by Governor ------ 19960206 Ratified R221 Senate 19960130 Concurred in House amendment, enrolled for ratification House 19960126 Read third time, returned to Senate with amendment House 19960125 Unanimous consent for third reading on the next Legislative day House 19960125 Amended, read second time House 19960124 Committee report: Favorable with 25 HJ amendment House 19950425 Introduced, read first time, 25 HJ referred to Committee Senate 19950420 Read third time, sent to House Senate 19950419 Amended, read second time Senate 19950418 Committee report: Favorable with 11 SJ amendment Senate 19950315 Introduced, read first time, 11 SJ referred to CommitteeView additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
(A222, R221, S641)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 7-5-150, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE CLOSING OF REGISTRATION BOOKS BEFORE ELECTIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ANY PERSON ELIGIBLE TO REGISTER WHO HAS BEEN DISCHARGED OR SEPARATED FROM HIS SERVICE IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, AND RETURNED HOME TOO LATE TO REGISTER AT THE TIME WHEN REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED, IS ENTITLED TO REGISTER FOR THE PURPOSE OF VOTING IN THE NEXT ENSUING ELECTION AFTER THE DISCHARGE OR SEPARATION FROM SERVICE, UP TO 5:00 P.M. ON THE DAY OF THE ELECTION, PROVIDE FOR THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND THE ISSUANCE OF THE REGISTRATION NOTIFICATION STATING THE PRECINCT IN WHICH HE IS ENTITLED TO VOTE, AND A CERTIFICATION TO THE MANAGERS OF THE PRECINCT THAT HE IS ENTITLED TO VOTE AND PLACED ON THE REGISTRATION ROLLS OF THE PRECINCT; TO AMEND SECTION 7-15-175, RELATING TO THE CONSTRUING OF ARTICLE 3 OF CHAPTER 15, SO AS NOT TO ALLOW REGISTRATION AFTER THE REGISTRATION BOOKS HAVE BEEN CLOSED, SO AS TO INCLUDE A REFERENCE TO THE EXCEPTION UNDER SECTION 7-5-150; AND TO AMEND SECTION 7-5-220, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT REGISTRATION MADE THIRTY DAYS OR LESS BEFORE AN ELECTION IS NOT VALID FOR THAT ELECTION, SO AS TO INCLUDE AN EXCEPTION TO SECTION 7-5-150.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Closing of registration books
SECTION 1. Section 7-5-150 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 7-5-150. The registration books shall be closed thirty days before each election, but only as to that election or any second race or runoff resulting from that election, and shall remain closed until the election has taken place, anything in this article to the contrary notwithstanding; provided, that the registration books shall be closed thirty days before the June primary and shall remain closed until after the second primary and shall likewise be closed thirty days before the November general election. They shall thereafter be opened from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this article. Any person eligible to register who has been discharged or separated from his service in the Armed Forces of the United States, and returned home too late to register at the time when registration is required, is entitled to register for the purpose of voting in the next ensuing election after the discharge or separation from service, up to 5:00 p.m. on the day of the election. This application for registration must be made at the office of the board of voter registration in the county in which the person wishes to register, and if qualified, the person must be issued a registration notification stating the precinct in which he is entitled to vote and a certification to the managers of the precinct that he is entitled to vote and should be placed on the registration rolls of the precinct. Persons who become of age during this period of thirty days shall be entitled to register before the closing of the books if otherwise qualified."
Exception for construing article
SECTION 2. Section 7-15-175 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 7-15-175. Except as provided in Section 7-5-150, nothing in this article shall be construed as allowing registration under the provisions of this article after the registration books have been closed as required by Sections 7-5-150 and 7-5-220."
Exception for registration not being valid
SECTION 3. Section 7-5-220 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 7-5-220. Except as provided in Section 7-5-150, registration made thirty days or less before any election is not valid for that election or any second race or runoff resulting from that election but such registration shall be valid in any other election."
Time effective
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Approved the 12th day of February, 1996.