S*1166(Rat #0428, Act #0445 of 1998)  Joint Resolution, By Moore
 A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 7, ARTICLE III OF THE
 CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE QUALIFICATIONS OF
 SENATORS AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A
 CANDIDATE FOR THE SENATE OR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MUST BE A LEGAL RESIDENT
 OF THE DISTRICT IN WHICH HE IS A CANDIDATE AT THE TIME HE FILES FOR THE
 OFFICE.

   04/02/98  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-15
   04/02/98  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-15
   04/08/98  Senate Committee report: Favorable Judiciary SJ-15
   04/14/98  Senate Read second time SJ-39
   04/14/98  Senate Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day SJ-39
   04/15/98  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-16
   04/16/98  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-5
   04/16/98  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-6
   05/27/98  House  Committee report: Favorable Judiciary HJ-9
   06/02/98  House  Read second time HJ-27
   06/02/98  House  Roll call Yeas-102  Nays-0 HJ-27
   06/03/98  House  Read third time and enrolled HJ-13
   06/04/98         Ratified R 428
   06/04/98         No signature required
   06/25/98         Copies available
   09/14/98         Act No. 445

A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 7, ARTICLE III OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE QUALIFICATIONS OF SENATORS AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A CANDIDATE FOR THE SENATE OR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MUST BE A LEGAL RESIDENT OF THE DISTRICT IN WHICH HE IS A CANDIDATE AT THE TIME HE FILES FOR THE OFFICE.

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

Candidates must be legal residents

SECTION 1. It is proposed that Section 7, Article III of the Constitution of this State be amended to read:

"Section 7. No person is eligible for a seat in the Senate or House of Representatives who, at the time of his election, is not a duly qualified elector under this Constitution in the district in which he may be chosen. Senators must be at least twenty-five and Representatives at least twenty-one years of age. A candidate for the Senate or House of Representatives must be a legal resident of the district in which he is a candidate at the time he files for the office. No person who has been convicted of a felony under state or federal law or convicted of tampering with a voting machine, fraudulent registration or voting, bribery at elections, procuring or offering to procure votes by bribery, voting more than once at elections, impersonating a voter, or swearing falsely at elections/taking oath in another's name, or who has pled guilty or nolo contendere to these offenses, is eligible to serve as a member of the Senate or the House of Representatives. However, notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, this prohibition does not apply to a person who has been pardoned under state or federal law or to a person who files for public office fifteen years or more after the completion date of service of the sentence, including probation and parole time, nor shall any person, serving in office prior to the ratification of this provision, be required to vacate the office to which he is elected."

Submission to electors

SECTION 2. The proposed amendment must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballot:

"Shall Section 7, Article III of the Constitution of this State, relating to the qualifications of Senators and members of the House of Representatives, be amended so as to provide that a candidate for the Senate or House of Representatives must be a legal resident of the district in which he is a candidate at the time he files for the office?

Those voting in favor of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'Yes', and those voting against the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'No'."

Ratified the 4th day of June, 1998.