S 0254  General Bill, By Young
 A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 3, TITLE 7 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE STATE
 ELECTION COMMISSION, BY ADDING SECTION 7-3-80, TO PROVIDE THE AUTHORITY FOR
 THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH REGULATIONS RELATED TO THE CONDUCT
 OF POST-ELECTION AUDITS PRIOR TO THE CERTIFICATION OF ELECTIONS, AND TO
 REQUIRE THAT AUDIT DATA BE MADE PUBLIC; AND TO AMEND ARTICLE 11, CHAPTER 13,
 TITLE 7 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE CANVASSING AND COUNTING OF BALLOTS,
 BY ADDING SECTION 7-13-1155, TO REQUIRE COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSIONS OR COUNTY
 BOARDS OF REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS TO PERFORM A POST-ELECTION AUDIT BEFORE
 THE CERTIFICATION OF AN ELECTION.

   12/09/20  Senate Prefiled
   12/09/20  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
   01/12/21  Senate Introduced and read first time
                     (Senate Journal-page 236)
   01/12/21  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (Senate Journal-page 236)

TO AMEND CHAPTER 3, TITLE 7 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION, BY ADDING SECTION 7-3-80, TO PROVIDE THE AUTHORITY FOR THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH REGULATIONS RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF POST-ELECTION AUDITS PRIOR TO THE CERTIFICATION OF ELECTIONS, AND TO REQUIRE THAT AUDIT DATA BE MADE PUBLIC; AND TO AMEND ARTICLE 11, CHAPTER 13, TITLE 7 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE CANVASSING AND COUNTING OF BALLOTS, BY ADDING SECTION 7-13-1155, TO REQUIRE COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSIONS OR COUNTY BOARDS OF REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS TO PERFORM A POST-ELECTION AUDIT BEFORE THE CERTIFICATION OF AN ELECTION.

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

SECTION    1.    Chapter 3, Title 7 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

    "Section 7-3-80.    The State Election Commission shall promulgate regulations for the administration of post-election audits required pursuant to Section 7-13-1155, to include requirements for personnel training, the processing and time frames for audits, and the reporting of results to the executive director of the State Election Commission. Audit data and reports related to the audit must be made available to the public."

SECTION    2.    Article 11, Chapter 13, Title 7 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

    "Section 7-13-1155.    The county boards of registration and elections must perform a post-election audit pursuant to regulations promulgated by the State Election Commission and must report the results of the audit to the State Election Commission prior to the certification of an election."

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.