South Carolina General Assembly
121st Session, 2015-2016

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Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

H. 4078

STATUS INFORMATION

Joint Resolution
Sponsors: Rep. W.J. McLeod
Document Path: l:\council\bills\nbd\11103cz15.docx

Introduced in the House on April 28, 2015
Currently residing in the House Committee on Judiciary

Summary: State Election Commission

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS 

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   4/28/2015  House   Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 143)
   4/28/2015  House   Referred to Committee on Judiciary 
                        (House Journal-page 143)

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

4/28/2015

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

A JOINT RESOLUTION

TO REQUIRE THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE ELECTION COMMISSION TO SUBMIT A PLAN AND PROCESS FOR THE PURCHASE OF NEW VOTING MACHINES BY DECEMBER 31, 2015, AND TO PROHIBIT THE PURCHASE OF NEW VOTING MACHINES UNTIL THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY REVIEWS AND APPROVES THE PLAN.

Whereas, the General Assembly is acutely aware that the South Carolina State Election Commission last purchased new voting machines in 2004, over ten years ago; and

Whereas, many studies have raised concerns over the security of voting machines and the ability of an attacker to hack into these machines and alter or delete votes. The use of a voter verified paper audit trail would provide an additional layer of accountability and allow for the verification of the electronic results; and

Whereas, the unacceptably long lines in the 2012 election clearly illustrated that South Carolina is in dire need of new machines and it would be irresponsible to allow the purchase of new machines that do not provide a voter verified paper audit trail that would allow for greater transparency and more accurate results in an election. Now, therefore,

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

SECTION    1.    The South Carolina State Election Commission shall submit a plan and process for the purchase of new voting machines to the General Assembly by December 31, 2015.

SECTION    2.    The South Carolina State Election Commission may not purchase new voting machines before the submitted plan has been reviewed and approved by the General Assembly.

SECTION    3.    This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor and will expire when the General Assembly receives the report.

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This web page was last updated on April 30, 2015 at 3:48 PM