Senator HARPOOTLIAN proposed the following amendment (ZW\5305C009.CC.ZW20):
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting clause and inserting:
/ SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the "South Carolina COVID-19 General Election Public Safety Act".
SECTION2. Article 5, Chapter 15, Title 7 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 7-15-397.For purposes of the 2020 general election and notwithstanding another provision of law, the county boards of voter registration and elections may utilize secure drop boxes for the collection of lawfully completed and timely cast absentee ballots. As used in this item, 'drop box' means a secure, locked structure operated by county election officials where qualified electors may deliver their absentee ballots from the time they receive them in the mail up to the time polls close on election day. Absentee ballot drop boxes must be available during regular business hours and monitored by trained county election workers during those hours."
SECTION3. The new section of the 1976 Code as added by SECTION 2 of this act is repealed on December 31, 2020.
SECTION4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. /