H 3203  General Bill, By Rutherford
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 7-15-398 SO AS TO REQUIRE BOTH IN PERSON AND BY MAIL ABSENTEE VOTING IN
 PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARY ELECTIONS HELD PURSUANT TO SECTION 7-11-20 AND
 TO DEFINE WHEN THE IN PERSON AND BY MAIL ABSENTEE VOTING REQUIRED BY THIS
 SECTION SHALL BEGIN, AND TO REQUIRE THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION TO FURNISH
 CERTAIN LISTS TO THE STATE'S CERTIFIED POLITICAL PARTIES.

   12/09/20  House  Prefiled
   12/09/20  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
   01/12/21  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 113)
   01/12/21  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (House Journal-page 113)

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 7-15-398 SO AS TO REQUIRE BOTH IN PERSON AND BY MAIL ABSENTEE VOTING IN PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARY ELECTIONS HELD PURSUANT TO SECTION 7-11-20 AND TO DEFINE WHEN THE IN PERSON AND BY MAIL ABSENTEE VOTING REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION SHALL BEGIN, AND TO REQUIRE THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION TO FURNISH CERTAIN LISTS TO THE STATE'S CERTIFIED POLITICAL PARTIES.

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

SECTION    1.    Article 5, Chapter 15, Title 7 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

    "Section 7-15-398.    (A)(1)    Notwithstanding another provision of law, both in person and by mail absentee voting must be allowed in presidential preference primary elections held pursuant to section 7-11-20.

        (2)    The State Election Commission shall ensure that the in person and by mail absentee voting required by this subsection shall begin no later that fourteen days before the start of absentee or early voting in any state whose absentee or early voting begins prior to February first of a presidential election year.

    (B)(1)    After the start of absentee voting in presidential preference primary elections pursuant to subsection (A), each week the State Election Commission shall provide the state's certified political parties an electronic list of those voters by name who have:

            (a)    submitted an application to vote by absentee ballot;

            (b)    returned an absentee ballot in a manner prescribed by law; or

            (c)    cast an absentee ballot in person.

        (2)    The list of voters required by this subsection also shall identify which political party's presidential preference primary election in which the voter chose to participate."

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