S 1274 Session 110 (1993-1994)
S 1274 General Bill, By Patterson and Jackson
A Bill to amend Chapter 13, Title 7, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by
adding Article 16 so as to require the State Election Commission to determine
the cost of producing ballots for a statewide automated electronic voting
system and require the Commission to report the resulting economies to the
governing bodies of all counties, require the Commission to study the
reduction in the need for polling workers made possible by the implementation
of the automated system and use the resulting savings to fund expansion of
automation and require the Commission to establish a list of counties wishing
to participate in the automated system and establish a method for determining
priorities in assisting with funding of this system for a county.
03/17/94 Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-9
03/17/94 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-9
A BILL
TO AMEND CHAPTER 13, TITLE 7, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH
CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 16 SO AS TO
REQUIRE THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION TO
DETERMINE THE COST OF PRODUCING BALLOTS FOR A
STATEWIDE AUTOMATED ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEM
AND REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO REPORT THE
RESULTING ECONOMIES TO THE GOVERNING BODIES OF
ALL COUNTIES, REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE
REDUCTION IN THE NEED FOR POLLING WORKERS MADE
POSSIBLE BY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AUTOMATED
SYSTEM AND USE THE RESULTING SAVINGS TO FUND
EXPANSION OF AUTOMATION AND REQUIRE THE
COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH A LIST OF COUNTIES WISHING
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AUTOMATED SYSTEM AND
ESTABLISH A METHOD FOR DETERMINING PRIORITIES IN
ASSISTING WITH FUNDING OF THIS SYSTEM FOR A
COUNTY.
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:
"Article 16
Electronic Voting Systems
Section 7-13-2010. (A) Using previously purchased electronic
ballot printing equipment and software necessary for the operation of
the State's automated system as outlined in the five-year plan filed
with the State Budget and Control Board and Joint Bond Review
Committee in July, 1987, the State Election Commission shall
determine the cost of producing automated ballots for the system.
(B) The average cost for each voter, as a result of automation in
the five-year plan, must be compared with the average cost for each
voter utilizing other systems for elections conducted by counties using
other systems. The resulting economies must be reported by the State
Election Commission to the governing bodies of all counties. Funds
saved by automation must be ascertained and deducted from the total
of leftover ballot printing costs as appropriated in the State Election
Commission budget for elections and used by the State to fund its
portion of expansion of automation by the same ratio of
reimbursement to participating counties as contained in the original
plan.
Section 7-13-2020. The State Election Commission shall make a study
of the reduction in the need for poll workers made possible by
automation. The resulting number of poll workers needed must be
used to replace the existing number of poll workers prescribed by law
in those counties that use part of the automated system. Any savings
in poll worker salaries created by a reduction of poll worker costs due
to automation must be ascertained and deducted from the amount of
unused poll worker salaries appropriated in the State Election
Commission's budget and these funds used by the State to fund
expansion of automation by the same ratio of reimbursement to
participating counties as contained in the five-year original plan.
Section 7-13-2030. The State Election Commission shall establish a
list of counties wishing to participate in the electronic voting system
program. Priority for state assisted funding must be obtained by
counties wishing to participate by submitting a resolution by their
governing body to the State Election Commission reflecting their
desire to participate. Priority of participation must be based on the
date of receipt of this resolution. If there are no state funds available
for reimbursement at the time of the county's purchase of the
electronic automated system utilized by the five-year plan filed by the
State Election Commission to the State Budget and Control Board,
reimbursement must be made retroactively by the State to that county
on a priority basis when funds become available."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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