Bill 641

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                    641
Ratification Number:            221
Act Number:                     222
Type of Legislation:            General Bill GB
Introducing Body:               Senate
Introduced Date:                19950315
Primary Sponsor:                Williams 
All Sponsors:                   Williams 
Drafted Document Number:        jud6037.mbw
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19960130
Date of Last Amendment:         19960125
Governor's Action:              S
Date of Governor's Action:      19960212
Subject:                        Election registration books,
                                closing of

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

------  19960222  Act No. A222
------  19960212  Signed by Governor
------  19960206  Ratified R221
Senate  19960130  Concurred in House amendment, 
                  enrolled for ratification
House   19960126  Read third time, returned to Senate
                  with amendment
House   19960125  Unanimous consent for third
                  reading on the next Legislative day
House   19960125  Amended, read second time
House   19960124  Committee report: Favorable with         25 HJ
                  amendment
House   19950425  Introduced, read first time,             25 HJ
                  referred to Committee
Senate  19950420  Read third time, sent to House
Senate  19950419  Amended, read second time
Senate  19950418  Committee report: Favorable with         11 SJ
                  amendment
Senate  19950315  Introduced, read first time,             11 SJ
                  referred to Committee

(A222, R221, S641)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 7-5-150, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE CLOSING OF REGISTRATION BOOKS BEFORE ELECTIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ANY PERSON ELIGIBLE TO REGISTER WHO HAS BEEN DISCHARGED OR SEPARATED FROM HIS SERVICE IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, AND RETURNED HOME TOO LATE TO REGISTER AT THE TIME WHEN REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED, IS ENTITLED TO REGISTER FOR THE PURPOSE OF VOTING IN THE NEXT ENSUING ELECTION AFTER THE DISCHARGE OR SEPARATION FROM SERVICE, UP TO 5:00 P.M. ON THE DAY OF THE ELECTION, PROVIDE FOR THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND THE ISSUANCE OF THE REGISTRATION NOTIFICATION STATING THE PRECINCT IN WHICH HE IS ENTITLED TO VOTE, AND A CERTIFICATION TO THE MANAGERS OF THE PRECINCT THAT HE IS ENTITLED TO VOTE AND PLACED ON THE REGISTRATION ROLLS OF THE PRECINCT; TO AMEND SECTION 7-15-175, RELATING TO THE CONSTRUING OF ARTICLE 3 OF CHAPTER 15, SO AS NOT TO ALLOW REGISTRATION AFTER THE REGISTRATION BOOKS HAVE BEEN CLOSED, SO AS TO INCLUDE A REFERENCE TO THE EXCEPTION UNDER SECTION 7-5-150; AND TO AMEND SECTION 7-5-220, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT REGISTRATION MADE THIRTY DAYS OR LESS BEFORE AN ELECTION IS NOT VALID FOR THAT ELECTION, SO AS TO INCLUDE AN EXCEPTION TO SECTION 7-5-150.

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

Closing of registration books

SECTION 1. Section 7-5-150 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-5-150. The registration books shall be closed thirty days before each election, but only as to that election or any second race or runoff resulting from that election, and shall remain closed until the election has taken place, anything in this article to the contrary notwithstanding; provided, that the registration books shall be closed thirty days before the June primary and shall remain closed until after the second primary and shall likewise be closed thirty days before the November general election. They shall thereafter be opened from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this article. Any person eligible to register who has been discharged or separated from his service in the Armed Forces of the United States, and returned home too late to register at the time when registration is required, is entitled to register for the purpose of voting in the next ensuing election after the discharge or separation from service, up to 5:00 p.m. on the day of the election. This application for registration must be made at the office of the board of voter registration in the county in which the person wishes to register, and if qualified, the person must be issued a registration notification stating the precinct in which he is entitled to vote and a certification to the managers of the precinct that he is entitled to vote and should be placed on the registration rolls of the precinct. Persons who become of age during this period of thirty days shall be entitled to register before the closing of the books if otherwise qualified."

Exception for construing article

SECTION 2. Section 7-15-175 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-15-175. Except as provided in Section 7-5-150, nothing in this article shall be construed as allowing registration under the provisions of this article after the registration books have been closed as required by Sections 7-5-150 and 7-5-220."

Exception for registration not being valid

SECTION 3. Section 7-5-220 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-5-220. Except as provided in Section 7-5-150, registration made thirty days or less before any election is not valid for that election or any second race or runoff resulting from that election but such registration shall be valid in any other election."

Time effective

SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 12th day of February, 1996.