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TO PROVIDE THAT A STATEWIDE ADVISORY REFERENDUM MUST BE CONDUCTED BY THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION AT THE SAME TIME AS THE 2016 GENERAL ELECTION ON THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT THE SOUTH CAROLINA INFANTRY BATTLE FLAG OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA SHOULD BE FLOWN AT ITS FORMER LOCATION IN 2015 ADJACENT TO THE CONFEDERATE SOLDIER MONUMENT ON THE GROUNDS OF THE STATE CAPITOL COMPLEX TOGETHER WITH THE SAME TYPE OF FLAGPOLE AND FENCING AS FORMERLY EXISTED RATHER THAN AT ITS PRESENT LOCATION IN THE CONFEDERATE RELIC ROOM.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. (A) A statewide advisory referendum must be conducted by the State Election Commission at the same time as the 2016 general election on the question of whether or not the South Carolina Infantry Battle Flag of the Confederate States of America should be flown at its former location in 2015 adjacent to the Confederate Soldier Monument on the grounds of the State Capitol Complex together with the same type of flagpole and fencing as formerly existed rather than at its present location in the Confederate Relic Room. The state election laws shall apply to the referendum, mutatis mutandis. The State Board of Canvassers shall publish the results of the referendum and certify them to the Governor and each house of the General Assembly.
(B) Ballots must be provided to all qualified electors participating in the referendum with the following question printed on the ballot:
"Do you favor flying the South Carolina Infantry Battle Flag of the Confederate States of America at its former location in 2015 adjacent to the Confederate Soldier Monument on the grounds of the State Capitol Complex together with the same type of flagpole and fencing as formerly existed rather than at its present location in the Confederate Relic Room?
Those voting in favor of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'Yes', and those voting against the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'No'."
(C) The cost of the referendum must be paid from funds appropriated to the State Election Commission and the results of the referendum are advisory only.
SECTION 2. This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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