S*0459(Rat #0104, Act #0083 of 2001)  General Bill, By Martin
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 7-15-470 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE A COUNTY BOARD OF REGISTRATION TO USE OTHER MEANS
 OF VOTING ABSENTEE INSTEAD OF BY PAPER BALLOT IF CERTIFIED BY THE STATE
 ELECTION COMMISSION AND TO AUTHORIZE THE COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS AND
 GUIDELINES TO EFFECTUATE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.

   03/14/01  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-15
   03/14/01  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-15
   04/04/01  Senate Committee report: Favorable Judiciary SJ-11
   04/05/01  Senate Read second time SJ-13
   04/10/01  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-15
   04/11/01  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-8
   04/11/01  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-8
   05/16/01  House  Committee report: Favorable Judiciary HJ-4
   05/22/01  House  Read second time HJ-17
   05/23/01  House  Read third time and enrolled HJ-30
   06/05/01         Ratified R 104
   08/10/01         Signed By Governor
   08/10/01         Effective date 08/10/01
   08/22/01         Copies available
   08/22/01         Act No. 83

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 7-15-470 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE A COUNTY BOARD OF REGISTRATION TO USE OTHER MEANS OF VOTING ABSENTEE INSTEAD OF BY PAPER BALLOT IF CERTIFIED BY THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION AND TO AUTHORIZE THE COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES TO EFFECTUATE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.

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

Nonpaper absentee ballot

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 7-15-470. Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, a county board of registration may use other methods of voting by absentee ballot instead of by paper ballot. No voting machine or voting system, other than a paper-based system, may be used for in-person absentee voting that has not received written certification from the State Election Commission that the voting machine or voting system meets all statutory requirements for use in the State and certification that the machine can be secured against voting at times other than business hours of the county board of registration, that the results of elections can be held secure from release until the time for counting ballots at any polling place, and votes cast using the machine can be challenged and held secure until the hearing on challenged ballots required by Section 7-13-830 is held. The State Election Commission must develop standards and guidelines for these purposes."

Time effective

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

Ratified the 5th day of June, 2001.

Approved the 10th day of August, 2001.