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TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 6-1-180 SO AS TO PROHIBIT COUNTIES, MUNICIPALITIES, OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS OF THEM FROM USING THE AT-LARGE OR THE PLURALITY AT-LARGE VOTING METHOD TO CHOOSE MORE THAN FIFTY PERCENT OF ITS MEMBERS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT MUST NOT BE CONSTRUED TO SHORTEN THE TERM OF A DULY ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICIAL WHOSE CURRENT TERM OF OFFICE COMMENCED BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2019.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 1, Title 6 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 6-1-180. (A) As used in this section, 'political subdivision' includes, but is not limited to, a county, municipality, school district, special purpose district, or public service district.
(B)(1) Notwithstanding another provision of law, beginning January 1, 2019, a county, a municipality, or a political subdivision of them, whose governing body, board, or council consists of publicly elected officials may not use the at-large or the plurality at-large voting method to choose more than fifty percent of its members.
(2) Notwithstanding another provision of law, after December 31, 2018, a county, a municipality, or a political subdivision of them, whose governing body, board, or council consists of publicly elected officials shall use single-member election districts to choose at least fifty percent of its members.
(C) The provisions of this section must not be construed to shorten the term of a duly elected public official whose current term of office commenced before January 1, 2019."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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