Rep. J. L. JOHNSON proposes the following amendment (LC-5683.HDB0073H):

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by deleting SECTION 4, subsection (C) in its entirety and inserting:

SECTION 4. (C)(1) Notwithstanding any provision in Title 7 of the S.C. Code to the contrary, all ballots cast in the special primary must be instant runoff ballots which allow each elector to vote his order of preference for each candidate for U.S. House of Representatives by indicating a rank next to the candidate's name on the ballot. However, the elector shall not be required to indicate his preference for more than one candidate on the ballot if he so chooses.

  (2) Any candidate who receives a majority of the votes cast for an individual U.S. House seat in the special primary shall be declared the nominee of the party for that seat. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast in the special primary, the two candidates who receive the most votes for each U.S. House seat in the special primary will proceed to a virtual runoff in which the candidate who received the higher ranking from a voter's instant runoff ballot will receive the elector's vote in the virtual runoff. The candidate who receives the most votes in the virtual instant runoff election shall be declared the nominee of the party for that seat.

  (3) Notwithstanding Sections 7-13-40 and 7-13-50, no special runoff or second primary may be held following the special primary for purposes of determining the nominees of each party to appear on the general election ballot.

  (4) The State Election Commission shall develop ballots appropriate for use in the special primaries to comply with the provisions of this subsection.

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.