S 204 Session 125 (2023-2024) S 0204 General Bill, By Fanning A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING CHAPTER 2 TO TITLE 4 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS A bill TO AMEND the south carolina code of laws by adding chapter 2 to TITLE 4 so as TO PROVIDE THAT COUNTY COUNCIL Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina: SECTION 1. Title 4 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding: CHAPTER 2 Nonpartisan County Council Section 4-2-10. County council Section 4-2-20. (A) All county council (1) the legislative delegation representing the county, by resolution, designates that county council (2) a majority of the qualified electors of the county choose, through a referendum held pursuant to Section 4-2-30, to hold county council (B) In a county that has chosen to elect members of the county council on a non-partisan basis, the (1) a resolution adopted by the legislative delegation representing the county; or (2) a referendum on that question held pursuant to Section 4-2-30 supported by a majority of the qualified electors voting in the referendum. (C) A legislative delegation may exercise the authority provided in subsection (A)(1) or (B)(1) only once every four years. (D) The nomination of candidates for partisan county council Section 4-2-30. (A) A referendum on the question of whether to hold county council (B) Referendums shall be conducted by the county board of voter registration and Section 4-2-40. If a legislative delegation exercises its authority pursuant to Section 4-2-20(A)(1) or a referendum held on the question of whether to hold county council (1) the nonpartisan plurality method prescribed in Section 4-2-50; (2) the nonpartisan election and runoff election method prescribed in Section 4-2-60; or (3) the nonpartisan primary election and general election method prescribed in Section 4-2-70. Section 4-2-50. In conducting nonpartisan Section 4-2-60. (A) Except as otherwise provided in this section, results in nonpartisan county council (B) If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast in the first election, a runoff election shall be held two weeks later between the two candidates receiving the largest number of votes in the first election. The candidate receiving a majority of the votes cast in the runoff election shall be declared elected. Section 4-2-70. (A) In counties whose county council (B) In the primary election, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared nominated. (C) In the election, the names of those candidates declared nominated without a primary election or those candidates nominated in the primary election shall be placed on the ballot. The candidate for a single office receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected. Section 4-2-80. The county council in a county whose county council SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor. ----XX---- |