South Carolina General Assembly
124th Session, 2021-2022

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Bill 4551


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


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

A JOINT RESOLUTION

TO CREATE THE 2020 GENERAL ELECTION STUDY COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE AND REVIEW THE CONDUCT AND RESULTS OF THE 2020 GENERAL ELECTION IN SOUTH CAROLINA, TO PROVIDE FOR THE STUDY COMMITTEE'S MEMBERSHIP, TO REQUIRE THE STUDY COMMITTEE TO ISSUE A REPORT WITH FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF THE STUDY COMMITTEE.

Whereas, full, free, and fair elections are the underpinnings of a stable constitutional democracy; and

Whereas, fraud in elections threatens the stability of a constitutional democracy by undermining public confidence in the legitimacy of governmental institutions and public officers chosen by election; and

Whereas, preventing a valid vote from being counted violates the basic constitutional rights guaranteed to each citizen by the United States Constitution; and

Whereas, election reform measures enacted to prevent fraud in the electoral process and to ensure that all legally cast ballots are counted strengthens the stability of a constitutional democracy and enhances public confidence in the legitimacy of public officers chosen by election. Now, therefore,

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

SECTION    1.    (A)    There is created the "2020 General Election Study Committee". The study committee shall examine the conduct and results of the 2020 general election in South Carolina, including, but not limited to:

        (1)    reviewing voter rolls and identifying significant discrepancies in voter signatures, addresses, or any other abnormal, inconsistent, or irregular voter data or documentation presented to or recorded by election officials or poll workers;

        (2)    identifying significant anomalies, irregularities, or variances in the 2020 precinct results compared with those from previous general elections;

        (3)    identifying any actions taken by election officials or poll workers that appear to violate the requirements of Title 7 of the 1976 Code;

        (4)    reviewing and identifying inadequate or irregular precinct or county voting office practices or documentation, including chain of custody documents for voting machines and ballots; and

        (5)    any other issues the study committee deems relevant or material to carrying out its assigned duties.

    (B)    The study committee must be composed of the following ten members:

        (1)    the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or his designee;

        (2)    the President of the Senate, or his designee;

        (3)    the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, or his designee;

        (4)    the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, or his designee;

        (5)    the Chairman of the House Legislative Oversight Committee, or his designee;

        (6)    the Chairman of the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee, or his designee;

        (7)    two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House; and

        (8)    two members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate.

    (C)(1)    The House of Representatives Judiciary Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee shall provide appropriate staffing for the study committee.

        (2)    The members of the study committee may not receive compensation and are not entitled to receive mileage, subsistence, or per diem authorized by law for members of state boards and committees.

    (D)    The study committee shall make a report of the committee's findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by December 31, 2022, at which time the study committee must be dissolved.

SECTION    2.    This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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