H 4611 General Bill, By Beck
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 7-7-1000 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH A MUNICIPALITY MAY POOL
 ITS PRECINCTS FOR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

   02/11/98  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-8
   02/11/98  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-8
   03/11/98  House  Committee report: Favorable Judiciary HJ-3
   03/17/98  House  Requests for debate-Rep(s). Howard HJ-23
   03/17/98  House  Read second time HJ-24
   03/18/98  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-28
   03/19/98  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-7
   03/19/98  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-7
   05/20/98  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Judiciary SJ-28

May 20, 1998

H. 4611

S. Printed 5/20/98--S.

Read the first time March 19, 1998.

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 4611), to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 7-7-1000, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting therein the following:

/SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 7-7-1000. For purposes of municipal elections only, a municipality may pool one or more precincts with other precincts and have one voting place for all of these pooled precincts upon the following conditions:

(1) Any precinct which contains five hundred or more registered voters within the municipality must have its own voting place.

(2) The total number of registered voters within the municipality in each group of pooled precincts cannot exceed two thousand five hundred.

(3) The voting place of any precinct pooled with others cannot be more than three miles from the nearest part of any pooled precinct.

(4) The notice requirements of Section 7-7-15 must be complied with and in addition to this requirement, the location of voting places for all precincts, including those pooled, must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality on the day of the election. If the newspaper is not published daily, then on the date of publication nearest and prior to the date of election.

(5) Whenever precincts are pooled in a municipal election, the voter registration lists, poll lists, and ballots for each precinct represented must be used by the managers of election. Results of the election must also be reported and certified by individual precinct.

(6) A municipality may not pool precincts for a general election to be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November if the pooling would result in a person voting at two locations in order to vote in both the municipal election and the general election."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor./

Amend title to conform.

ADDISON G. WILSON, for Committee.

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 7-7-1000 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH A MUNICIPALITY MAY POOL ITS PRECINCTS FOR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 7-7-1000. For purposes of municipal elections only, a municipality may pool one or more precincts with other precincts and have one voting place for all of these pooled precincts upon the following conditions:

(1) Any precinct which contains five hundred or more registered voters within the municipality must have its own voting place.

(2) The total number of registered voters within the municipality in each group of pooled precincts cannot exceed one thousand five hundred.

(3) The voting place of any precinct pooled with others cannot be more than three miles from the nearest part of any pooled precinct.

(4) The notice requirements of Section 7-7-15 must be complied with and in addition to this requirement, the location of voting places for all precincts including those pooled must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality on the day of the election. If the newspaper is not published daily, then on the date of publication nearest and prior to the date of election.

(5) Whenever precincts are pooled in a municipal election the voter registration lists, poll lists, and ballots for each precinct represented must be used by the managers of election. Results of the election must also be reported and certified by individual precinct."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.