H4919: Absentee voting

Legislative Summary

Amend The Code Of Laws Of South Carolina, 1976, By Adding Section 7-13-25 So As To Establish Early Voting In The State; To Amend Section 7-11-10, Relating To Methods Of Nominating Candidates, So As To Prohibit Candidates From Filing More Than One Statement Of Intention Of Candidacy For A Single Election, And To Prohibit Candidates From Being Nominated By More Than One Political Party For A Single Office In An Election; To Amend Section 7-13-320, Relating To Ballots And Specifications, So As To Prohibit Candidates' Names From Appearing On The Ballot More Than Once; To Amend Sections 7-15-220 And 7-15-380, Both Relating To Absentee Ballot Oaths, Both So As To Require The Printed Name Of The Witness In Addition To The Required Signature And Address; To Amend Section 7-15-320, Relating To Persons Qualified To Vote By Absentee Ballot, So As To Delete Certain Reasons For Which Absentee Voting Is Allowed And Add A New Reason For Persons Who Are Going To Be Absent From The County For The Duration Of The Early Voting Period And Election Day; To Amend Section 7-15-340, Relating To The Form Of An Absentee Ballot Application, So As To Require The Voter's Driver's License Number Or Other Personal Or Unique Identifying Number Associated With A Government-issued Photo Identification; To Amend Section 7-15-385, Relating To The Marking And Return Of Absentee Ballots, So As To Require An Authorized Returnee To Produce A Current And Valid Form Of Government-issued Photo Identification; To Amend Section 7-15-420, As Amended, Relating To The Receipt, Tabulation, And Reporting Of Absentee Ballots, So As To Allow The Examination Of Return-addressed Envelopes To Begin At 7:00 A.m. On The Sunday Preceding Election Day, To Allow The Tabulation Of Absentee Ballots To Begin At 7:00 A.m. On The Calendar Day Immediately Preceding Election Day, And To Create A Penalty For Public Reporting Of The Results Of Absentee Ballots Before The Polls Are Closed; By Adding Section 7-15-325 So As To Provide That Any Voter Who Is Designated As Having Previously Voted Absentee May Cast A Provisional Ballot On Election Day To Be Counted Only If The Voter's Absentee Ballot Is Not Received; And To Repeal Section 7-15-470 Relating To In-person Absentee Voting.