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TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 7-13-195 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE CIRCUIT COURT AND APPELLANT COURTS OF THIS STATE, WHEN HEARING ELECTION PROTESTS CONCERNING ANY STATE, COUNTY, OR LOCAL GENERAL OR NONPARTISAN ELECTION, SHALL RENDER THEIR DECISION WITHIN SIXTY DAYS AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE PROCEEDINGS OR ORAL ARGUMENTS UNLESS BY ORDER THE COURT SPECIFIES THE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH WOULD PREVENT THEIR RENDERING A DECISION WITHIN THIS SIXTY-DAY PERIOD.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Chapter 13, Title 7 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 7-13-195. In the interest of certainty and continuity of government, the circuit court and appellant courts of this State, when hearing election protests concerning any state, county, or local general or nonpartisan election, shall render its decision within sixty days after the conclusion of the proceedings or oral arguments unless by order the court specifies the extenuating circumstances which would prevent its rendering a decision within this sixty-day period.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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