Bill 874

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                    874
Type of Legislation:            General Bill GB
Introducing Body:               Senate
Introduced Date:                19980114
Primary Sponsor:                Drummond 
All Sponsors:                   Drummond, Mescher, Washington and
                                Leventis
Drafted Document Number:        pt\1456dw.98
Residing Body:                  Senate
Current Committee:              Finance Committee 06 SF
Subject:                        County to use means other than
                                paper ballots for voting absentee;
                                Elections

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

Senate  19980505  Recommitted to Committee                 06 SF
Senate  19980205  Read second time, notice of
                  general amendments
Senate  19980204  Committee report: Favorable              11 SJ
Senate  19980114  Introduced, read first time,             11 SJ
                  referred to Committee
Senate  19971215  Prefiled, referred to Committee          11 SJ

COMMITTEE REPORT

February 4, 1998

S. 874

Introduced by Senators Drummond, Mescher, Washington and Leventis

S. Printed 2/4/98--S.

Read the first time January 14, 1998.

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 874), to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 7-15-470 so as to authorize a county board of registration to use other means of voting absentee instead of by paper ballot, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

DONALD H. HOLLAND, for Committee.

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 7-15-470 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE A COUNTY BOARD OF REGISTRATION TO USE OTHER MEANS OF VOTING ABSENTEE INSTEAD OF BY PAPER BALLOT IF CERTIFIED BY THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION AND TO AUTHORIZE THE COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES TO EFFECTUATE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 7-15-470. Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, a county board of registration may use other methods of voting by absentee ballot instead of by paper ballot. No voting machine or voting system, other than a paper-based system, may be used for in-person absentee voting that has not received written certification from the State Election Commission that the voting machine or voting system meets all statutory requirements for use in the State and certification that the machine can be secured against voting at times other than business hours of the county board of registration, that the results of elections can be held secure from release until the time for counting ballots at any polling place, and votes cast using the machine can be challenged and held secure until the hearing on challenged ballots required by Section 7-13-830 is held. The State Election Commission must develop standards and guidelines for these purposes."

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