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H. 4621
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. W. Newton, Erickson, Bradley, Herbkersman, Wooten, Forrest, Oremus, G.R. Smith, M.M. Smith, Bennett, Gilliam, Hiott, Hixon, Blackwell, Gagnon, Taylor, McCabe, Morgan, Huggins and Davis
Document Path: l:\council\bills\ar\8001zw22.docx
Companion/Similar bill(s): 894
Introduced in the House on January 11, 2022
Currently residing in the House Committee on Judiciary
Summary: Elections
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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11/17/2021 House Prefiled
11/17/2021 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
1/11/2022 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 72)
1/11/2022 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
(House Journal-page 72)
1/12/2022 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Gilliam
1/27/2022 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hiott, Hixon,
Blackwell, Gagnon, Taylor, McCabe, Morgan, Huggins
2/2/2022 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Davis
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO AMEND SECTION 7-3-20, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ESTABLISH RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR VOTER REGISTRATIONS PERFORMED BY PRIVATE ENTITIES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 7-5-170, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTER REGISTRATION, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE COUNTY BOARDS OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS TO DATE STAMP ALL VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS DELIVERED BY HAND OR BY MAIL.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 7-3-20(C) of the 1976 Code is amended by adding an appropriately numbered item at the end to read:
"( ) establish rules and regulations for voter registrations performed by private entities."
SECTION 2. Section 7-5-170 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 7-5-170. (1) Written application required.--A person may not be registered to vote except upon written application or electronic application pursuant to Section 7-5-185, which shall become a part of the permanent records of the board to which it is presented and which must be open to public inspection. However, the social security number contained in the application must not be open to public inspection.
(2) Form of application. -- The application must be on a form prescribed and provided by the executive director and shall contain the following information: name, sex, race, social security number, date of birth, residence address, mailing address, telephone number of the applicant, and location of prior voter registration. The applicant must affirm that he is not under a court order declaring him mentally incompetent, confined in any public prison, has never been convicted of a felony or offense against the election laws, or if previously convicted that he has served his entire sentence, including probation and parole time, or has received a pardon for the conviction. Additionally, the applicant must take the following oath: 'I, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am a citizen of the United States and that on the date of the next ensuing election, I will have attained the age of eighteen years and am a resident of South Carolina, this county, and of my precinct. I further swear (or affirm) that the present residence address listed herein is my sole legal place of residence, and that I claim no other place as my legal residence, and that I am neither registered nor intend to register to vote in another state, county, or municipality.' Any applicant convicted of fraudulently applying for registration is guilty of perjury and is subject to the penalty for that offense.
(3) Date stamp voter registration applications. -- The county board of voter registration and elections shall date stamp all voter registration applications delivered by hand, online, or by mail as of the date received.
(4) Administration of oaths. -- Any member of the county board of voter registration and elections, deputy registrar, or any registration clerk must be qualified to administer oaths in connection with the application.
(4)(5) Decisions on applications. -- Any member of the county board of voter registration and elections, deputy registrar, or registration clerk may pass on the qualifications of the prospective voter. In case of a question of an applicant being refused registration, at least one member of the board shall pass on the qualifications of the voter. A concise statement of the reasons for the refusal must be written on the application."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on
February 2, 2022 at 11:26 AM