South Carolina General Assembly
116th Session, 2005-2006

Download This Bill in Microsoft Word format

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

S. 975

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Senator Leventis
Document Path: l:\council\bills\dka\3525dw06.doc
Companion/Similar bill(s): 4367

Introduced in the Senate on January 10, 2006
Currently residing in the Senate

Summary: Voter registration form

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS 

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  12/13/2005  Senate  Prefiled
  12/13/2005  Senate  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
   1/10/2006  Senate  Introduced and read first time SJ-22
   1/10/2006  Senate  Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-22
   1/18/2006  Senate  Referred to Subcommittee: Martin (ch), Malloy, Campsen, 
                        Williams
   3/15/2006  Senate  Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary 
                        SJ-16
   3/16/2006          Scrivener's error corrected

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

12/13/2005
3/15/2006
3/16/2006

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

COMMITTEE REPORT

March 15, 2006

S. 975

Introduced by Senator Leventis

S. Printed 3/15/06--S.    [SEC 3/16/06 4:29 PM]

Read the first time January 10, 2006.

            

THE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 975) to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 7-5-275 so as to provide that a high school student in the tenth grade, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, beginning on line 41 of page 1, and ending on line 21 of page 2, by striking Section 7-5-275 in its entirety, as contained in SECTION 1, and inserting therein the following:

/        "Section 7-5-275.    Each county entity charged by law with registering persons to vote shall provide voter registration forms at the county's high schools so that all seventeen year old high school students have the opportunity to complete a voter registration form."        /

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

LARRY A. MARTIN for Committee.

            

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 7-5-275 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IN THE TENTH GRADE BE FURNISHED A VOTER REGISTRATION FORM AND BE INSTRUCTED IN A CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT OR THROUGH A METHOD APPROVED BY THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TO BE APPRISED OF THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING, TO ALLOW A STUDENT TO OPT OUT OF THE PROCESS, TO REQUIRE A HIGH SCHOOL REGISTRANT BE MAILED A VOTER REGISTRATION CARD BEFORE THE FIRST ELECTION IN WHICH HE IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE; AND TO PROVIDE THAT A CITIZEN OTHERWISE INELIGIBLE TO VOTE WHO IS RELEASED FROM INCARCERATION RECEIVE A REGISTRATION FORM IN THE MAIL WITH A LETTER EXPLAINING THAT HIS VOTING RIGHTS HAVE BEEN RESTORED AND THAT HE IS ELIGIBLE TO REGISTER AND VOTE.

Whereas, voter registration laws in South Carolina have been historically used to disenfranchise citizens, it is the intent of the General Assembly of this State that all citizens of voting age, not otherwise prohibited by law, be guaranteed the right to vote. Now, therefore,

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

SECTION    1.    Article 3, Chapter 5, Title 7 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 7-5-275.    (A)    The State Department of Education and the State Election Commission, the entities charged by law with registering a person to vote, shall ensure that all high school students in the tenth grade have the opportunity to complete a voter registration form. The high school shall submit the form to the appropriate registration office.

(B)    A student may opt out of the voter registration process for religious or philosophical reasons.

(C)    All students, through their social studies, civics classes, or a manner decided by the local school board, shall have the opportunity to discuss the importance of registering to vote and voting.

(D)    A registrant must be mailed a voter registration card before the first election in which he is eligible to vote. Each registrant must be added to the list of voters in his precinct and on the master list of registered voters.

(E)    The State Election Commission, in conjunction with the Department of Corrections, Department of Pardon, Probation and Parole, circuit solicitors, and clerks of court shall ensure that when a person completes a prison sentence, if he is not otherwise ineligible to vote, must receive a voter registration form in the mail with a letter explaining that his voting rights have been restored and that he is eligible to register and vote."

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

----XX----

This web page was last updated on Friday, December 4, 2009 at 3:33 P.M.