H 4944 Joint Resolution, By Loftis, Cooper, Davenport, Hinson, Leach, 
Littlejohn and Young-Brickell
 A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE FOR AN ADVISORY REFERENDUM TO BE HELD AT THE
 SAME TIME AS THE 2000 GENERAL ELECTION TO ASCERTAIN THE WISHES OF THE
 QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THIS STATE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE CONFEDERATE FLAG
 SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE FLOWN ABOVE THE STATE HOUSE, AND CONTINUE TO BE
 DISPLAYED ABOVE THE ROSTRUM IN THE CHAMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 AND THE SENATE, WHETHER OR NOT THE CONFEDERATE FLAG SHOULD BE COMPLETELY
 REMOVED FROM THE STATE HOUSE AND STATE HOUSE GROUNDS; AND WHETHER OR NOT THE
 CONFEDERATE FLAG FLOWN ABOVE THE STATE HOUSE SHOULD BE REMOVED AND DISPLAYED
 ONLY AT THE CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS MONUMENT ON THE STATE HOUSE GROUNDS AND TO
 PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH THIS REFERENDUM SHALL BE CONDUCTED AND THE
 COST THEREOF PAID.

   04/13/00  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-52
   04/13/00  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-52

TO PROVIDE FOR AN ADVISORY REFERENDUM TO BE HELD AT THE SAME TIME AS THE 2000 GENERAL ELECTION TO ASCERTAIN THE WISHES OF THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THIS STATE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE CONFEDERATE FLAG SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE FLOWN ABOVE THE STATE HOUSE, AND CONTINUE TO BE DISPLAYED ABOVE THE ROSTRUM IN THE CHAMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE, WHETHER OR NOT THE CONFEDERATE FLAG SHOULD BE COMPLETELY REMOVED FROM THE STATE HOUSE AND STATE HOUSE GROUNDS; AND WHETHER OR NOT THE CONFEDERATE FLAG FLOWN ABOVE THE STATE HOUSE SHOULD BE REMOVED AND DISPLAYED ONLY AT THE CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS MONUMENT ON THE STATE HOUSE GROUNDS AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH THIS REFERENDUM SHALL BE CONDUCTED AND THE COST THEREOF PAID.

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

SECTION 1. (A) A statewide advisory referendum must be held at the same time as the 2000 general election to ascertain the wishes of the qualified electors of this State as to: whether or not the Confederate Flag should continue to be flown above the State House, and continue to be displayed above the rostrum in the chambers of the House of Representatives and the Senate; whether the Confederate Flag should be completely removed from the State House and State House grounds; and whether the Confederate Flag flown above the State House should be removed and displayed only at the Confederate Soldiers Monument on the State House Grounds. The State Election Commission must place the questions contained in this section on the general election ballot in November, 2000. The state election laws shall apply to the referendum, mutatis mutandis. The State Board of Canvassers shall publish the results of the referendum and certify them to the Secretary of State and each house of the General Assembly.

(B) The three questions put before the voters at the 2000 referendum shall read as follows:

"Do you favor continuing to fly the Confederate Flag above the State House in Columbia and continuing to display the Confederate Flag above the rostrum in the chambers of the House of Representatives and the Senate?

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'."

"Do you favor completely removing the Confederate Flag from the State House and State House grounds in Columbia?

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'."

"Do you favor removing the Confederate Flag from above the State House in Columbia and displaying the Confederate Flag only at the Confederate Soldiers Monument on the State House Grounds in Columbia?

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'."

(C) The cost of the referendum shall be paid from funds appropriated to the State Election Commission and the results of the referendum shall be advisory only.

SECTION 2. This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.