Current Status Bill Number:1232 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:Senate Introduced Date:19960307 Primary Sponsor:J. Verne Smith All Sponsors:J. Verne Smith Drafted Document Number:pfm\8092dw.96 Residing Body:Senate Current Committee:Judiciary Committee 11 SJ Subject:Voter registration, social security number not required
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
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Senate 19960307 Introduced, read first time, 11 SJ
referred to Committee
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TO AMEND SECTION 7-5-170, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE WRITTEN APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION TO VOTE, SO AS TO MAKE A PERSON'S SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC INSPECTION, PROVIDE THAT AN ELECTION OFFICIAL MAY NOT DISQUALIFY A PROSPECTIVE VOTER FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE HIS SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER ON THE APPLICATION, AND PROVIDE A PROCEDURE FOR PROCESSING THE APPLICATION OF A PERSON WHO OBJECTS TO PROVIDING HIS SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 7-5-170 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 90 of 1993, is further amended to read:
"Section 7-5-170. (1) Written application required. - (A) No person may be registered to vote except upon written application which shall become becomes a part of the permanent records of the board to which it is presented and must be open to public inspection. However, the social security number contained in the application as required by this section must not be open to public inspection.
(2) Form of application. - (B) The application must be on a form prescribed and provided by the executive director and shall contain the following information: name, sex, race, social security number, date of birth, residence address, mailing address, telephone number of the applicant, and location of prior voter registration. The applicant must affirm that he is not under a court order declaring him mentally incompetent, confined in any public prison, has never been convicted of a felony or offense against the election laws, or if previously convicted that he has served his entire sentence, including probation and parole time, or has received a pardon for the conviction. Additionally, the applicant must take the following oath: `I, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am a citizen of the United States and that on the date of the next ensuing election, I will have attained the age of eighteen years and am a resident of South Carolina, this county, and of my precinct. I further swear (or affirm) that the present residence address listed herein is my sole legal place of residence and that I claim no other place as my legal residence.' Any applicant convicted of fraudulently applying for registration is guilty of perjury and is subject to the penalty for that offense.
(3) Administration of oaths. - (C) Any member of the registration board, deputy registrar, or any registration clerk must be qualified to administer oaths in connection with the application. Any member of the registration board, deputy registrar, or registration clerk may pass on the qualifications of the prospective voter except as provided in subsection (D). In case of a question of an applicant being refused registration, at least one member of the board shall pass on the qualifications of the voter. A concise statement of the reasons for the refusal must be written on the application.
(4) Decisions on applications. - Any member of the registration board, deputy registrar, or registration clerk may pass on the qualifications of the prospective voter. In case of a question of an applicant being refused registration, at least one member of the board shall pass on the qualifications of the voter. A concise statement of the reasons for the refusal must be written on the application.
(D) If an applicant objects to providing his social security number on the application, he shall state his objection in writing and attach it to the application. The board shall register the applicant if he is otherwise qualified. The board shall maintain a separate voter registration list for these persons which shall consist of an alphabetical listing by the person's name and address. If at any time after the person is registered to vote there is a change in the person's name or address, he shall immediately notify the registration board of the change. If a person fails to notify the board of a change in his name or address and a discrepancy in the name or address appears at the time of an election, the person must not be permitted to vote in the election."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.