South Carolina General Assembly
116th Session, 2005-2006

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S. 733

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Senators Knotts and Cromer
Document Path: l:\council\bills\dka\3143dw05.doc

Introduced in the Senate on April 12, 2005
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Judiciary

Summary: Elections Division created

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   4/12/2005  Senate  Introduced and read first time SJ-4
   4/12/2005  Senate  Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-4
   4/15/2005  Senate  Referred to Subcommittee: Martin (ch), Malloy, Campsen, 
                        Williams

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

4/12/2005

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A BILL

TO CREATE THE DIVISION OF ELECTIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF SECRETARY OF STATE AND DEVOLVE CERTAIN POWERS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES FROM THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION TO THE DIVISION OF ELECTIONS BY ADDING SECTION 1-30-97 AND TO AMEND SECTIONS 7-1-20, 7-3-10, 7-3-20, AS AMENDED, 7-3-30, 7-3-40, BOTH AS AMENDED, 7-3-50, 7-3-60, 7-5-10, AS AMENDED, 7-5-35, AS AMENDED, 7-5-125, 7-5-155 AS AMENDED, 7-5-170, 7-5-180, BOTH AS AMENDED, 7-5-280, 7-5-310, 7-5-330, 7-5-340, 7-5-470, 7-5-660, CHAPTER 7 OF TITLE 7, 7-9-10, 7-9-80, 7-9-100, AS AMENDED, 7-11-15, 7-11-20, BOTH AS AMENDED, 7-11-40, 7-11-50, AS AMENDED, 7-11-55, 7-11-70, BOTH AS AMENDED, 7-11-80, 7-11-85, 7-13-15, 7-13-40, 7-13-50, 7-13-70, ALL AS AMENDED, 7-13-72, 7-13-180, 7-13-310, 7-13-320, AS AMENDED, 7-13-325, AS AMENDED, 7-13-335, 7-13-340, 7-13-350, AS AMENDED, 7-13-351, 7-13-355, BOTH AS AMENDED, 7-13-420, 7-13-610, AS AMENDED, 7-13-611, 7-13-710, AS AMENDED, 7-13-1160, 7-13-1330, AS AMENDED, 7-13-1340, 7-13-1360, 7-13-1370, 7-13-1371, AS AMENDED, 7-13-1380, 7-13-1390, 7-13-1400, 7-13-1490, 7-13-1620, 7-13-1640, AS AMENDED, 7-13-2120, 7-15-10, AS AMENDED, 7-15-340, AS AMENDED, 7-15-385, AS AMENDED, 7-15-400, 7-15-460, 7-15-470, 7-17-90, 7-17-210, 7-17-220, AS AMENDED, 7-17-330, 7-17-510, AS AMENDED, 7-17-530, 7-17-550, 7-17-570, 14-7-130, ALL AS AMENDED, 14-7-150, 14-7-390, 14-25-155, 22-2-30, 22-2-50, AS AMENDED, 33-56-20, AS AMENDED, 48-11-100, 56-1-90, AS AMENDED, 61-6-2010, AS AMENDED, SO AS TO AMEND THEM RESPECTIVELY TO CONFORM TO THE CREATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SECRETARY OF STATE AND DEVOLUTION OF POWER, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES FROM THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION TO THE DIVISION OF ELECTIONS.

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

SECTION    1.    Chapter 30, Title 1 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 1-30-97.    Effective January 1, 2006, all programs, including all allied, advisory, affiliated, or related entities as well as employees, funds, property, and all contractual rights and obligations associated with the Election Commission as provided in Chapter 3, Title 7, except those included in or transferred to another department or division, are transferred to and incorporated in and must be administered as part of the Office of the Secretary of State, Division of Elections. All powers, duties, obligations, and responsibilities of the Election Commission, except those powers, duties, obligations, and responsibilities of the commission while functioning as the State Board of Canvassers, are devolved upon the Office of the Secretary of State, Division of Elections."

SECTION    2.    Section 7-1-20(7) and (15) of the 1976 Code are amended to read:

"(7)    'Political party' means a political party, organization, or association certified as such by the State Election Commission Division of Elections in the manner provided for in this title;

(15)    'Voter', 'Registered voter', 'Elector', 'Registered elector', 'Qualified elector', or 'Qualified registered elector' means any person whose name is contained on the active roster of voters maintained by the State Election Commission Division of Elections and whose name has not been removed from the roster for any of the reasons named in items (2) and (3) of subsection (C) of Section 7-3-20 and who possesses a valid registration certificate."

SECTION    3.    Section 7-3-10(a) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(a)    There is hereby created the State Election Commission composed of five members, at least one two of whom shall be a member members of the majority political party represented in the General Assembly and at least one two of whom shall be a member members of the largest minority political party represented in the General Assembly, to be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate to serve terms of four years and until their successors have been elected and qualify, except of those first appointed three shall serve for terms of two years. Any vacancy on the Commission shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term in the same manner as the original appointment."

SECTION    4.    Section 7-3-20 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 466 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-3-20.    (A)    The State Election Commission Secretary of State shall elect appoint an executive director who shall be is directly responsible to the Commission Secretary of State and who shall serve at the pleasure of the Commission Secretary of State. The executive director shall be is the chief administrative officer for the State Election Commission Division of Elections.

(B)    The executive director shall receive such compensation and employ such staff, subject to the approval of the State Election Commission Secretary of State, as may be provided by law.

(C)    The executive director shall:

(1)    maintain a complete master file of all qualified electors by county and by precincts;

(2)    delete the name of any elector

(a)    who is deceased,

(b)    who is no longer qualified to vote in the precinct where currently registered,

(c)    who has been convicted of a disqualifying crime,

(d)    who is otherwise no longer qualified to vote as may be provided by law, or

(e)    who requests in writing that his name be removed;

(3)    enter names on the master file as they are reported by the county registration boards;

(4)    furnish each county registration board with a master list of all registered voters in the county, together with a copy of all registered voters in each precinct of the county, at least ten days prior to each election. The precinct copies shall be used as the official list of voters;

(5)    maintain all information furnished his office relating to the inclusion or deletion of names from the master file for four years;

(6)    purchase, lease, or contract for the use of such equipment as may be necessary to properly execute the duties of his office, subject to the approval of the State Election Commission Secretary of State;

(7)    secure from the United States courts and federal and state agencies available information as to persons convicted of disqualifying crimes;

(8)    obtain information from any other source which may assist him in carrying out the purposes of this section;

(9)    perform such other duties relating to elections as may be assigned him by the State Election Commission Secretary of State;

(10)    furnish at reasonable price any precinct lists to a qualified elector requesting them; and

(11)    serve as the chief state election official responsible for implementing and coordinating the state's responsibilities under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993."

SECTION    5.    Section 7-3-30 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 466 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-3-30.    (a)    The executive director shall notify by mail each elector at the address last filed in the office, whose name has been deleted. The notice shall state the reason for the deletion and inform the elector of his right to appeal to the county board of registration and the time in which to perfect such appeal. A copy of such notice shall be forwarded to the appropriate county board of registration.

(b)    Each elector whose name has been deleted has twenty days from the date the notice is mailed to appeal. The appeal must be to the county board of registration from whose master file the deletion has been made. If the board determines that the elector's name should not have been deleted, it shall instruct the central registration office to restore his name to the registration books; however, if the deletion is for conviction, the appeal must be to the Executive Director of the State Election Commission Division of Elections."

SECTION    6.    Section 7-3-40 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 434 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-3-40.    The Bureau of Vital Statistics must furnish the executive director a monthly report of all persons eighteen years of age or older who have died in the State since making the previous report. All reports must contain the name of the deceased, county of residence, his social security or other identification number, and his date and place of birth. The bureau must provide that this information be furnished to it by each county."

SECTION    7.    Section 7-3-50 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-3-50.    Each county board of registration must furnish the executive director information as may be requested by him concerning each registered elector by the fifteenth day of each month and within five days after closing of the books prior to an election."

SECTION    8.    Section 7-3-60 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-3-60.    The clerks of the courts of common pleas and general sessions and every magistrate in the State must, annually on or before June first, make out under their respective hands and seals and report to the executive director a complete list as shown by the records of their respective offices for the preceding calendar year of all persons convicted in that year of felonies or crimes against the election laws, together with the social security or identification numbers of these persons and the month of conviction. Where there is no person to be reported, the report shall so state. Any clerk of the court or magistrate who fails or neglects to make any report required by this section must forfeit and pay to the county in which he holds office the sum of fifty dollars for each failure or neglect to make the report."

SECTION    9.    Section 7-5-10 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 304 of 1998, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-5-10.    Between the first day of January and the fifteenth day of March in every even-numbered year the Governor shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, not less than three nor more than five competent and discreet persons in each county, who are qualified electors of that county and who must be known as the board of registration of __________ County. The Governor shall notify the State Election Commission Division of Elections in writing of the appointments. The members appointed are subject to removal by the Governor for incapacity, misconduct, or neglect of duty.

Any appointment made by the Governor to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term when the Senate is not in session is made pursuant to Section 1-3-210.

Members and such staff as designated by the board must complete, within eighteen months after their appointment or reappointment, a training and certification program conducted by the State Election Commission division. Following initial certification, each board member and staff person designated by the board or commission must take at least one training course each year."

SECTION    10.    Section 7-5-35 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 304 of 1998, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-5-35.    If a county operates its elections through a combined election and registration commission, the structure and composition are not affected or changed by the provisions of this section. However, the provisions for inclusion of majority and minority party representatives upon the combined commission and upon the expanded commission as constituted for primary elections and protests must be applied to the combined commission, mutatis mutandis.

Commissioners and such staff as designated by the commission must complete, within eighteen months after their appointment or reappointment, a training and certification program conducted by the State Election Commission Division of Elections. Following initial certification, each commission member and staff person designated by the commission must take at least one training course each year."

SECTION    11.    Section 7-5-125 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 507 of 1988, is amended to read:

"Section 7-5-125.    Any person who applies for registration to vote and is found to be qualified by the county board of registration to whom application is made must be issued a written notification of registration. This notification must be on a form prescribed and provided by the State Election Commission Division of Elections."

SECTION    12.    Section 7-5-155 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 466 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-5-155.    (a)    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the following procedures may be used in the registration of electors in addition to the procedure otherwise provided by law.

(1)    Subject to the provision of Section 7-5-150, any qualified citizen may register to vote by mailing or having delivered a completed state registration by mail application form or a completed national registration by mail application form prescribed by the Federal Election Commission not later than thirty days before any election to his registration board. The postmark date of a mailed application is considered the date of mailing. If the postmark date is missing or illegible, the county board of voter registration must accept the application if it is received by mail no later than five days after the close of the registration books before any election.

(2)    If the registration board determines that the applicant is qualified and his application is legible and complete, the registration board shall mail the voter written notification of approval on a form to be prescribed and provided by the State Election Commission Division of Elections pursuant to Section 7-5-180. When the county board of registration mails the written notification of approval, it must do so without requiring the elector to sign anything in the presence of a member of the board, a deputy member, or a registration clerk, and the attestation of the elector's signature is not required so long as the conditions set forth above are met.

(3)    Any application must be rejected for any of the following reasons:

(i)    any portion of the application is not complete;

(ii)    any portion of the application is illegible in the opinion of a member and the clerk of the board;

(iii)    the board is unable to determine, from the address stated on the application, the precinct in which the voter should be assigned or the election districts in which he is entitled to vote.

(4)    Any person whose application is rejected must be notified of the rejection together with the reason for rejection. The applicant must further be informed that he still has a right to register by appearing in person before the board of registration or by submitting the information by mail necessary to correct his rejected application. The form for notifying applicants of rejection must be prescribed and provided by the State Election Commission division pursuant to Section 7-5-180.

(b)    Every application for registration by mail shall contain spaces for the home and work telephone numbers of the applicant and the applicant shall enter the numbers on the application where applicable.

(c)    The State Election Commission division shall furnish a sufficient number of application forms to the county boards of voter registration and voter registration agencies specified in Section 7-5-310(B) so that distribution of the application forms may be made to various locations throughout the counties and mailed to persons requesting them.

County boards of registration shall distribute application forms to various locations in their respective counties, including city halls and public libraries, where they must be readily available to the public.

(d)    The original applications must remain on file in the office of the county board of registration.

(e)    The State Election Commission division may promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this section."

SECTION    13.    Section 7-5-170(2) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 90 of 1993, is further amended to read:

"(2)    Form of application. -- 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."

SECTION    14.    Section 7-5-180 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 408 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-5-180.    Except as otherwise provided by law, a person who has not attained the age of eighteen years before the closing of the books of registration preceding any election, including presidential primary elections, but attains that age before the next ensuing election appears before the board of registration and makes application for registration, under oath as to the facts above stated entitling a person to registration, the board shall register the applicant, if he is otherwise qualified. Any person not laboring under the disabilities named in the Constitution and in Section 7-5-120 and whose qualification as an elector is completed after the closing of the registration books, but before the next ensuing election, has the right to apply for and secure registration at any time within one hundred twenty days immediately preceding the closing of the books for the election or for the primary election preceding the election. Written notification of approval or rejection must be issued personally or mailed by the board to each applicant on a form to be prescribed and provided by the State Election Commission Division of Elections. The decision of the board of registration may be appealed as provided by Section 7-5-230."

SECTION    15.    Section 7-5-280 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-5-280.    The applications provided for in this article as well as all other forms necessary for registration, must be furnished to each county by the State Election Commission Division of Elections."

SECTION    16.    Section 7-5-310(F)(2)(a)(v) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 466 of 1996, is amended to read:

"(v)    the statement, 'If you believe that someone has interfered with your right to register or decline to register to vote, your privacy in deciding whether to register or in applying to register to vote, you may file a complaint with the State Election Commission Division of Elections.' The name, address, and telephone number of the Executive Director of the State Election Commission Division of Elections must be printed on the form; and"

SECTION    17.    A.        Section 7-5-330(E)(2) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 466 of 1996, is amended to read:

"(2)    If the notice sent pursuant to the provisions of subitem (a) of this item is returned to the board of voter registration as undeliverable, the elector to whom it was sent must be reported by the board to the State Election Commission Division of Elections. The State Election Commission division must place the elector in an inactive status on the master file and may remove this elector upon compliance with the provisions of Section 7-5-330(F)."

B.     Section 7-5-330(F)(1) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 466 of 1996, is amended to read:

"(1)    The State Election Commission Division of Elections may not remove the name of a qualified elector from the official list of eligible voters on the ground that the qualified elector has changed residence unless the qualified elector:

(a)    confirms in writing that the qualified elector has changed residence to a place outside the county in which the qualified elector is registered; or

(b)(i)    has failed to respond to a notice described in item (2); and

(ii)    has not voted or appeared to vote and, if necessary, correct the county board of voter registration's record of the qualified elector's address, in an election during the period beginning on the date of the notice and ending on the day after the date of the second general election that occurs after the date of the notice."

SECTION    18.    Section 7-5-340 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 466 of 1996, is amended to read:

"Section 7-5-340.    The State Election Commission Division of Elections shall:

(1)    ensure that the name of a qualified elector may not be removed from the official list of eligible voters except:

(a)    at the request of the qualified elector;

(b)    if the elector is adjudicated mentally incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction; or

(c)    as provided under item (2);

(2)    conduct a general program that makes a reasonable effort to remove the names of ineligible voters from the official lists of eligible voters by reason of:

(a)    the death of the qualified elector; or

(b)    a change in the residence of the qualified elector;

(3)    inform applicants under Sections 7-5-155, 7-5-310, and 7-5-320 of:

(a)    voter eligibility requirements; and

(b)    penalties provided by law for submission of a false voter registration application;

(4)    complete, no later than ninety days before the date of a statewide primary or general election, a program to systematically remove the names of ineligible voters from the official lists of eligible voters in compliance with the provisions of Section 7-5-330(F); this subitem may not be construed to preclude:

(a)    the removal of names from official lists of voters on a basis described in items (1) and (2); or

(b)    correction of registration records pursuant to this article."

SECTION    19.    Section 7-5-470 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-5-470.    The board of registration may divide the registration books into as many separate sections as shall be directed by the county committee of any political party, the cost of such additional separate section or sections to be borne by such county committee. The books constituting a separate section or sections shall first be approved by the State Election Commission Division of Elections."

SECTION    20.    Section 7-5-660 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-5-660.    The Executive Director of the State Election Commission Division of Elections must, along with the county board of registration in each county, prepare duplicate sets of books of registration for each ward or each precinct, showing the duly registered electors, according to the county registration books, living in each particular ward or precinct in the municipality."

SECTION    21.    Chapter 7, Title 7 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"CHAPTER 7

Polling Precincts and Voting Places

Article 1

Location of Precincts and Voting Places

Section 7-7-10.    For the purpose of holding any general, primary, or special election in this State, the voting precincts and voting places in the several counties of the State shall be designated, fixed, and established by the General Assembly. Nothing in this chapter prohibits a county election commission from establishing multiple polling places within a precinct, provided that voters are assigned to these polling places alphabetically or geographically as determined by the county election commission and approved by a majority of that county's legislative delegation. A voter must be notified in writing of his transfer to a new polling place and the location of the new polling place.

Section 7-7-15.     When a polling place established by statute or ordinance or by an entity allowed by law to establish polling places is changed the entity charged with conducting elections at the polling place shall post at the time of the first election held after the change a notice on or next to the door of the entrance of the previous polling place stating in printing with letters large enough to be read easily by a person with normal vision from a distance of at least twenty feet the location of the new polling place and the address and telephone number of the entity in charge of the conduct of the election.

Section 7-7-30.    (A)    In Abbeville County there are the following voting precincts:

Abbeville No. 1;

Abbeville No. 2;

Abbeville No. 3;

Abbeville No. 4;

Antreville;

Broadmouth;

Calhoun Falls;

Cold Springs;

Donalds;

Due West;

Hall's Store;

Keowee;

Lowndesville;

Lebanon.

(B)    The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on map document P-0195 and filed with the clerk of court of the county and also on file with the State Election Commission Division of Elections as provided and maintained by the Division of Research and Statistical Services of the State Budget and Control Board.

(C)    The polling places for the voting precincts in Abbeville County must be determined by the Abbeville County Election Commission with the approval of a majority of the Abbeville County Legislative Delegation.

Section 7-7-40.    (A)    In Aiken County there are the following voting precincts:

(1)     Aiken #1

(2)     Aiken #2

(3)     Aiken #3

(4)     Aiken #4

(5)     Aiken #5

(6)     Aiken #6

(7)     Aiken #47

(8)     Anderson Pond #69

(9)     Ascauga Lake

(10)    Bath

(11)    Beech Island

(12)    Belvedere #9

(13)    Belvedere #44

(14)    Belvedere #62

(15)    Breezy Hill

(16)    Carolina Heights

(17)    Cedar Creek #64

(18)    China Springs

(19)    Clearwater

(20)    College Acres

(21)    Couchton

(22)    Eureka

(23)    Fox Creek

(24)    Gem Lakes

(25)    Gloverville

(26)    Graniteville

(27)    Hammond

(28)    New Holland

(29)    Hitchcock #66

(30)    Hollow Creek

(31)    Jackson

(32)    Langley

(33)    Levels

(34)    Levels #72

(35)    Lynwood

(36)    Midland Valley #51

(37)    Midland Valley #71

(38)    Millbrook

(39)    Misty Lakes

(40)    Monetta

(41)    Montmorenci

(42)    New Ellenton

(43)    North Augusta #25

(44)    North Augusta #26

(45)    North Augusta #27

(46)    North Augusta #28

(47)    North Augusta #29

(48)    North Augusta #54

(49)    North Augusta #55

(50)    North Augusta #67

(51)    North Augusta #68

(52)    Oak Grove

(53)    Perry

(54)    Redds Branch

(55)    Salley

(56)    Sandstone #70

(57)    Shaws Fork

(58)    Shiloh

(59)    Silver Bluff

(60)    Six Points #35

(61)    Six Points #46

(62)    Sleepy Hollow #65

(63)    Tabernacle

(64)    Talatha

(65)    Pine Forest

(66)    Vaucluse

(67)    Wagener

(68)    Ward

(69)    Warrenville

(70)    White Pond

(71)    Willow Springs

(72)    Windsor

(B)    The precinct lines defining the precincts provided in subsection (A) of this section are as shown on the official map prepared by and on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the State Budget and Control Board designated as document P-03-04 and as shown on certified copies of the official map provided by the office to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the Aiken County Board of Elections and Registration.

(C)    The polling places for the precincts provided in subsection (A) of this section must be established by the Aiken County Board of Elections and Registration with the approval of a majority of the county legislative delegation.

Section 7-7-50.    (A)    In Allendale County there are the following voting precincts:

Allendale No. 1

Allendale No. 2

Fairfax No. 1

Fairfax No. 2

Martin

Sycamore

Ulmer

Woods.

(B)    The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on maps on file with the State Election Commission Division of Elections as provided and maintained by the Office of Research and Statistics of the State Budget and Control Board designated as document P-05-04.

Section 7-7-55.    The polling places for the precincts provided in Section 7-7-50 must be established by the Registration and Elections Commission for Allendale County subject to the approval of the majority of the Allendale County Legislative Delegation.

Section 7-7-80.    (A)    In Anderson County there are the following voting precincts:

Appleton-Equinox

Barker's Creek-McAdams

Belton

Bishop's Branch

Bowling Green

Broadview

Broadway

Brushy Creek

Cedar Grove

Centerville Station A

Centerville Station B

Chiquola Mill

Concrete

Concrete A

Craytonville

Denver-Sandy Springs

Edgewood Station A

Edgewood Station B

Five Forks

Flat Rock

Fork No. 1

Fork No. 2

Friendship

Gluck Mill

Green Pond Station A

Green Pond Station B

Grove School

Hall

Hammond School

Hammond Annex

High Point

Homeland Park Station A

Homeland Park Station B

Honea Path

Hopewell

Iva

Jackson Mill

LaFrance

Lakeside

Melton

Mount Tabor

Mountain Creek

Neal's Creek

Orr Mill

Pelzer

Pendleton

Piedmont

Piercetown

Rock Mill

Rock Spring

Shirley's Store

Simpsonville

Starr

Three and Twenty

Three and Twenty A

Toney Creek

Townville

Varennes

West Pelzer

West Savannah

White Plains

Williamston

Williamston Mill

Wright's School

Ward 1 Precinct 1

Ward 1 Precinct 2

Ward 2 Precinct 1

Ward 2 Precinct 2

Ward 3 Precinct 1

Ward 3 Precinct 2

Ward 4 Precinct 1

Ward 4 Precinct 2

Ward 5 Station A

Ward 5 Station B

Ward 6 Precinct 1

Ward 6 Precinct 2.

(B)    The precinct lines defining the above precincts in Anderson County are as shown on the official map prepared by and on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the State Budget and Control Board designated as document P-07-04 and as shown on certified copies of the official map provided to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the Anderson County Board of Voter Registration by the office.

(C)    The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be established by the Anderson County Election Commission subject to the approval of the majority of the Anderson County Legislative Delegation.

Section 7-7-90.    In Bamberg County there shall be voting precincts as follows: Colston; East Denmark; Edisto; Ehrhardt; Govan; Hightower's Mill; Hunter's Chapel; Kearse; Little Swamp; North Bamberg; Olar; South Bamberg; and West Denmark.

The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on maps filed with the Clerk of Court of the county and also on file with the State Election Commission Division of Elections as provided and maintained by the Division of Research and Statistical Services of the State Budget and Control Board.

The voting place for Edisto Precinct is the Edisto Rural Fire Department.

Section 7-7-100.    (A)    In Barnwell County there shall be voting precincts as follows: Barnwell No. 1; Barnwell No. 2; Barnwell No. 3; Barnwell No. 4; Blackville No. 1; Blackville No. 2; Elko; Friendship; Kline; Healing Springs; Hilda; Snelling; Williston No. 1; Williston No. 2; and Williston No. 3. The voting place for Barnwell No. 1; Barnwell No. 2; Barnwell No. 3; and Barnwell No. 4 shall be the Barnwell National Guard Armory.

(B)    The precinct lines defining the precincts provided in subsection (A) are as shown on the official map prepared by and on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the State Budget and Control Board designated as P-11-04 and as shown on copies of the official map provided to the State Election Commission Division of Elections, the Barnwell County Board of Voter Registration, and the Barnwell County Election Commission.

(C)    The polling places for the precincts listed in subsection (A) must be determined by the Barnwell County Election Commission with the approval of a majority of the Barnwell County Legislative Delegation.

Section 7-7-110.    (A)    In Beaufort County there are the following voting precincts:

Beaufort 1

Beaufort 2

Beaufort 3

Bluffton 1A

Bluffton 1B

Bluffton 1C

Bluffton 2A

Bluffton 2B

Bluffton 2C

Bluffton 3A

Bluffton 3B

Bluffton 4A

Bluffton 4B

Burton 1A

Burton 1B

Burton 1C

Burton 2A

Burton 2B

Burton 2C

Burton 3

Chechessee

Dale Lobeco

Daufuskie

Hilton Head 1A

Hilton Head 1B

Hilton Head 2A

Hilton Head 2B

Hilton Head 3

Hilton Head 4A

Hilton Head 4B

Hilton Head 4C

Hilton Head 4D

Hilton Head 5A

Hilton Head 5B

Hilton Head 5C

Hilton Head 6A

Hilton Head 6B

Hilton Head 7A

Hilton Head 7B

Hilton Head 8A

Hilton Head 8B

Hilton Head 9A

Hilton Head 9B

Hilton Head 10

Hilton Head 11

Hilton Head 12

Hilton Head 13

Hilton Head 14

Hilton Head 15A

Hilton Head 15B

Ladys Island 1A

Ladys Island 1B

Ladys Island 2A

Ladys Island 2B

Ladys Island 3A

Ladys Island 3B

Mossy Oaks 1A

Mossy Oaks 1B

Mossy Oaks 2

Port Royal 1

Port Royal 2

Seabrook 1

Seabrook 2

Seabrook 3

Sheldon 1

Sheldon 2

St. Helena 1A

St. Helena 1B

St. Helena 1C

St. Helena 2A

St. Helena 2B

St. Helena 2C

Sun City 1A

Sun City 1B

Sun City 2

Sun City 3

(B)    The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on the official map prepared by and on file with the Office of Research and Statistical Services of the Budget and Control Board designated as document P-13-02 and as shown on certified copies of the official map provided to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the Beaufort County Board of Voter Registration by the Office of Research and Statistical Services.

Section 7-7-120.    (A)    In Berkeley County there are the following voting precincts:

(1)     Alvin;

(2)     Bethera;

(3)     Bonneau;

(4)     Bonneau Beach;

(5)     Boulder Bluff No. 1;

(6)     Boulder Bluff No. 2;

(7)     Cainhoy;

(8)     Carnes Cross Road No. 1;

(9)     Carnes Cross Road No. 2;

(10)    Cordesville;

(11)    Cross;

(12)    Daniel Island;

(13)    Devon Forest;

(14)    Eadytown;

(15)    Goose Creek No. 1;

(16)    Goose Creek No. 2;

(17)    Goose Creek No. 3;

(18)    Hanahan No. 1;

(19)    Hanahan No. 2;

(20)    Hanahan No. 3;

(21)    Hanahan No. 4;

(22)    Hilton Cross Roads;

(23)    Howe Hall;

(24)    Huger;

(25)    Jamestown;

(26)    Lebanon;

(27)    Macedonia;

(28)    McBeth;

(29)    Moncks Corner No. 1;

(30)    Moncks Corner No. 2;

(31)    Moncks Corner No. 3;

(32)    Moncks Corner No. 4;

(33)    Pimlico;

(34)    Pinopolis;

(35)    Russellville;

(36)    Sangaree No. 1;

(37)    Sangaree No. 2;

(38)    Sangaree No. 3;

(39)    Shulerville;

(40)    St. Stephen;

(41)    Stratford No. 1;

(42)    Stratford No. 2;

(43)    Stratford No. 3;

(44)    Stratford No. 4;

(45)    Wassamassaw No. 1;

(46)    Wassamassaw No. 2;

(47)    Westview No. 1;

(48)    Westview No. 2;

(49)    Westview No. 3;

(50)    Whitesville-Berkeley;

(51)    Absentee.

(B)    The precinct lines defining the precincts provided in subsection (A) are as shown on the official map prepared by and on file with the Division of Research and Statistical Services of the State Budget and Control Board designated as document P-15-01 and as shown on certified copies of the official map provided by the division to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Berkeley County.

(C)    The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be established by the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Berkeley County subject to the approval of a majority of the Senators and a majority of the House members of the Berkeley County Delegation.

Section 7-7-130.    In Calhoun County there shall be the following voting precincts: Bethel; Cameron; Center Hill; Creston; Dixie; Fall Branch; Fort Motte; Lone Star; Midway; Murph Mill; Sandy Run; and St. Matthews.

The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on maps filed with the clerk of court of the county and also on file with the State Election Commission Division of Elections as provided and maintained by the Division of Research and Statistical Services of the State Budget and Control Board.

Section 7-7-140.    (A)    In Charleston County there are the following precincts:

Awendaw

Charleston 1

Charleston 2

Charleston 3A

Charleston 3B

Charleston 4A

Charleston 6

Charleston 7

Charleston 8

Charleston 9A

Charleston 10

Charleston 11A

Charleston 12A

Charleston 13A

Charleston 17

Charleston 18A

Charleston 20

Charleston 21

Charleston 22A

Charleston 24

Charleston 25A

Charleston 27

Charleston 28A

Charleston 30

Christ Church 1A

Christ Church 1B

Christ Church 2A

Christ Church 2B

Christ Church 3

Christ Church 4

Christ Church 5

Christ Church 6

Christ Church 7A

Christ Church 7B

Christ Church 7C

Christ Church 8A

Christ Church 8B

Christ Church 8C

Christ Church 8D

Christ Church 9A

Christ Church 9B

Deer Park 1A

Deer Park 1B

Deer Park 2A

Deer Park 2B

Deer Park 2C

Deer Park 3

Edisto Island

Folly Beach 1

Folly Beach 2

Isle of Palms 1A

Isle of Palms 1B

Isle of Palms 1C

James Island 1A

James Island 3

James Island 5A

James Island 5B

James Island 6

James Island 7

James Island 8

James Island 9

James Island 10

James Island 11

James Island 12

James Island 13

James Island 14

James Island 15

James Island 17

James Island 19

James Island 20

James Island 22

Johns Island 1A

Johns Island 1B

Johns Island 2

Johns Island 3A

Johns Island 3B

Johns Island 4

Kiawah Island

Ladson

Lincolnville

McClellanville

Mount Pleasant 1

Mount Pleasant 2

Mount Pleasant 3

Mount Pleasant 4

Mount Pleasant 5

Mount Pleasant 6

Mount Pleasant 7

Mount Pleasant 8

Mount Pleasant 9B

Mount Pleasant 9C

Mount Pleasant 9D

Mount Pleasant 10

Mount Pleasant 11

North Charleston 1A

North Charleston 1B

North Charleston 2A

North Charleston 3C

North Charleston 5

North Charleston 6

North Charleston 7

North Charleston 8

North Charleston 9C

North Charleston 10A

North Charleston 10B

North Charleston 11

North Charleston 12A

North Charleston 12C

North Charleston 13B

North Charleston 14A

North Charleston 14B

North Charleston 15A

North Charleston 16

North Charleston 17

North Charleston 19

North Charleston 20A

North Charleston 23

North Charleston 24

North Charleston 25A

North Charleston 27

North Charleston 28A

North Charleston 30

North Charleston 31

North Charleston 32

North Charleston 33B

Saint Andrews 1

Saint Andrews 2

Saint Andrews 3

Saint Andrews 4

Saint Andrews 5

Saint Andrews 6

Saint Andrews 8

Saint Andrews 9

Saint Andrews 10

Saint Andrews 11

Saint Andrews 12

Saint Andrews 13

Saint Andrews 14

Saint Andrews 15

Saint Andrews 16

Saint Andrews 17

Saint Andrews 18

Saint Andrews 19

Saint Andrews 20B

Saint Andrews 21

Saint Andrews 22

Saint Andrews 23

Saint Andrews 24

Saint Andrews 25

Saint Andrews 26

Saint Andrews 27A

Saint Andrews 27B

Saint Andrews 28

Saint Andrews 29A

Saint Andrews 29B

Saint Andrews 30A

Saint Andrews 31A

Saint Andrews 31B

Saint Andrews 31C

Saint Andrews 32A

Saint Andrews 32C

Saint Andrews 32D

St. Pauls 1

St. Pauls 2A

St. Pauls 2B

St. Pauls 3

St. Pauls 4

St. Pauls 5

St. Pauls 6

Sullivans Island

Town of Seabrook

Wadmalaw Island 1

Wadmalaw Island 2

Barrier Free

Absentee

Fail-Safe

(B)    The precinct lines defining the above precincts in Charleston County are as shown on the official map of the United States Census Bureau designated as P-19-00 on file with the Division of Research and Statistical Services of the State Budget and Control Board. The Division of Research and Statistical Services shall provide revised certified copies of maps of the above precincts defining precinct changes incorporated pursuant to this act to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the Board of Voter Registration of the county by the Division of Research and Statistical Services.

(C)    The Charleston County Election Commission shall designate, from time to time, the polling place in each precinct.

Section 7-7-160.    (A)    In Cherokee County there are voting precincts as follows:

Allens;

Alma Mill;

Antioch and King's Creek;

Ashworth;

Blacksburg Ward No. 1;

Blacksburg Ward No. 2;

Blacksburg Ward No. 3;

Blacksburg Ward No. 4;

Central;

Draytonville;

Ezells and Butler;

Gaffney Ward No. 1;

Gaffney Ward No. 2;

Gaffney Ward No. 3;

Gaffney Ward No. 4;

Gaffney Ward No. 5;

Gaffney Ward No. 6;

Goucher and Thicketty;

Grassy Pond;

Holly Grove and Buffalo;

Limestone Mill;

Littlejohn's and Sarratt's;

Macedonia;

Morgan;

Musgrove Mill;

Ninety Nine and Cherokee Falls;

Pleasant Grove;

Pleasant Meadows;

Ravenna and Brown's Mill;

Timber Ridge;

White Plains;

Wilkinsville and Metcalf; and

Wood's.

(B)    The polling places of the various voting precincts in Cherokee County must be designated by the Cherokee County Election Commission. The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on the official map designated as P-21-02 on file with the Office of Research and Statistical Services of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board and as shown on certified copies provided to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the board of voter registration of the county by the Office of Research and Statistical Services. The official map may not be changed except by act of the General Assembly.

Section 7-7-170.    (A)    In Chester County there are the following voting precincts: Baldwin Mill; Baton Rouge; Beckhamville; Blackstock; Edgemoor; Eureka Mill; Fort Lawn; Halsellville; Hazelwood; Lando; Lansford; Lowrys; Richburg; Rodman; Rossville; Wilksburg; Great Falls Nos. 1 and 2; Great Falls No. 3; Chester, Ward 1; Chester, Ward 2; Chester, Ward 3; and Chester, Ward 4.

(B)    The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on maps filed with the clerk of court of the county and also on file with the State Election Commission Division of Elections as provided and maintained by the Division of Research and Statistical Services of the State Budget and Control Board.

(C)    The polling places for the above precincts must be determined by the Chester County Election Commission with the approval of a majority of the Chester County Legislative Delegation.

Section 7-7-180.    In Chesterfield County there are the following voting precincts: Angelus-Catarrh; Bay Springs; Black Creek; Brocks Mill; Cash; Cat Pond; Center Grove-Winzo; Center Point; Cheraw No. 1; Cheraw No. 2; Cheraw No. 3; Court House; Cross Roads; Dudley-Mangum; Grants Mills; Jefferson; Middendorf; Mt. Crogan; McBee; Ousleydale; Pageland; Patrick; Pee Dee; Ruby; Shiloh; Snow Hill; Vaughn; Wesford; and White Oak.

The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on maps filed with the clerk of court of the county and also on file with the State Election Commission Division of Elections as provided and maintained by the Division of Research and Statistical Services of the State Budget and Control Board.

Section 7-7-190.    (A)    In Clarendon County there are the following voting precincts:

Alcolu;

Barrineau;

Barrows Mill;

Bloomville;

Calvary;

Davis Station;

Harmony;

Hicks;

Home Branch;

Jordan;

Manning No. 1;

Manning No. 2;

Manning No. 3;

Manning No. 4;

Manning No. 5;

New Zion;

Oakdale;

Paxville;

Panola;

Sardinia-Gable;

Summerton No. 1;

Summerton No. 2;

Summerton No. 3;

Turbeville; and

Wilson-Foreston.

(B)    The polling places for the above precincts must be determined by the Clarendon County Election Commission with the approval of a majority of the Clarendon County Legislative Delegation.

(C)    The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on map document P-2796 and filed with the clerk of court of the county and also on file with the State Election Commission Division of Elections as provided and maintained by the Division of Research and Statistical Services of the State Budget and Control Board.

Section 7-7-200.    In Colleton County there shall be the following voting precincts: Ashton; Bells; Berea (the boundaries of Berea precinct are hereby extended to include the area formerly included in Pine Grove precinct); Canady's; Cottageville; Edisto; Green Pond; Hendersonville; Horse Pen; Hudson's Mill; Jacksonboro; Lodge; Maple Cane; Mashawville; Peniel; Peoples; Petits; Rice Patch; Ritter; Round O; Ruffin; Sidney; Smoaks; Sniders; Stokes; Walterboro No. 1; Walterboro No. 2; Walterboro No. 3; Walterboro No. 4; Williams; Edisto Beach; and Wolfe Creek.

The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on maps filed with the Clerk of Court of the county and also on file with the State Election Commission Division of Elections as provided and maintained by the Division of Research and Statistical Services of the State Budget and Control Board.

Section 7-7-210.    (A)    In Darlington County there are the following voting precincts: Antioch; Auburn; Bethel; Burnt Branch; Black Creek-Clyde; Darlington No. 1; Darlington No. 2; Darlington No. 3; Darlington No. 4; Darlington No. 5; Darlington No. 6; Dovesville; Hartsville No. 1; Hartsville Nos. 2 and 3 (combined); Hartsville No. 4; Hartsville No. 5; Hartsville No. 6; Hartsville No. 7; Hartsville No. 8; Hartsville No. 9; High Hill; Indian Branch; Kelleytown; Lake Swamp; Lamar No. 1; Lamar No. 2; Lydia; Mechanicsville; New Market; Oates; Palmetto; Society Hill; and Swift Creek.

(B)    The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on map document P-31-04 on file with the State Election Commission Division of Elections as provided and maintained by the Office of Research and Statistics of the State Budget and Control Board.

(C)    The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be determined by the Darlington County Board of Elections and Registration with the approval of a majority of the Darlington County Legislative Delegation to include the member or members from that district.

Section 7-7-220.    (A)    In Dillon County there are the following voting precincts: Bermuda; Carolina; East Dillon; South Dillon; West Dillon; Floydale; Fork; Gaddy's Mill; Hamer; Kemper; Lake View; Latta; Little Rock; Manning; Minturn; Mt. Calvary; New Holly; Oak Grove; Oakland; and Pleasant Hill.

(B)    The precinct lines defining these precincts are as shown on maps filed with the Clerk of Court of the county and also on file with the State Election Commission Division of Elections as provided and maintained by the Division of Research and Statistical Services of the State Budget and Control Board.

(C)    Polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be determined by the Dillon County Election Commission with the approval of a majority of the Senators and a majority of the members of the House of Representatives representing Dillon County.

Section 7-7-230.    (A)    In Dorchester County there are the following voting precincts:

Precinct Name

Archdale

Ashborough East

Ashborough West

Ashley River

Bacons Bridge

Beech Hill

Brandymill

Briarwood

Butternut

Carolina

Central

Clemson

Coastal

Coosaw

Cypress

Delemars

Dorchester

Flowertown

Four Hole

German Town

Givhans

Greenwave

Greenhurst

Grover

Harleyville

Indian Field

Irongate

King's Grant

Knightsville

Lincoln

Miles/Jamison

Newington

North Summerville

Oakbrook

Patriot

Reevesville

Ridgeville

Rosinville

Rosses

Saul Dam

Sawmill Branch

Spann

St. George No. 1

St. George No. 2

Stallsville

Tranquil

Trolley

Tupperway

Windsor

(B)    The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on maps filed with the Office of Research and Statistics of the State Budget and Control Board designated as document P-35-04 and as shown on certified copies provided to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the Dorchester County Board of Elections and Registration by the office.

(C)    The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be established by the Dorchester County Board of Elections and Registration.

Section 7-7-240.    In Edgefield County there shall be the following voting precincts: Edgefield No. 1; Edgefield No. 2; Kendall; Johnston No. 1; Johnston No. 2; Trenton; Merriweather; West Side; Harmony; North Side; and Brunson.

The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on maps filed with the Clerk of Court of the county and also on file with the State Election Commission Division of Elections as provided and maintained by the Division of Research and Statistical Services of the State Budget and Control Board.

Section 7-7-250.    In Fairfield County there are the following voting precincts: Centerville; Feasterville; Horeb-Glenn; Mitford; Monticello; Ridgeway; Winnsboro, composed of Winnsboro Polling Place No. 1 (area west of Congress Street) and Winnsboro Polling Place No. 2 (area east of Congress Street); Woodward; Greenbrier; Lebanon; Jenkinsville; Winnsboro Mills; South Winnsboro; New Hope; Blairs; Gladden Grove; Hickory Ridge; White Oak; Simpson; Dutchman Creek; and Blackstock.

The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on the official map prepared by and on file with the Division of Research and Statistical Services of the Budget and Control Board and as shown on copies of the official map provided to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the Fairfield County Board of Voter Registration by the Division of Research and Statistical Services. The official date of the map is June 15, 1989.

The polling places for the above precincts must be determined by the Fairfield County Election Commission with the approval of a majority of the Fairfield County Legislative Delegation.

Section 7-7-260.    (A)    In Florence County there are the following voting precincts:

Back Swamp

Brookgreen

Cartersville

Claussen

Coles Crossroads

Coward 1

Coward 2

Delmae 1

Delmae 2

Ebenezer 1

Ebenezer 2

Ebenezer 3

Effingham

Elim-Glenwood

Evergreen

Florence Ward 1

Florence Ward 2

Florence Ward 3

Florence Ward 4

Florence Ward 5

Florence Ward 6

Florence Ward 7

Florence Ward 8

Florence Ward 9

Florence Ward 10

Florence Ward 11

Florence Ward 12

Florence Ward 14

Florence Ward 15

Friendfield

Gilbert

Greenwood

Hannah

High Hill

Johnsonville

Kingsburg-Stone

Lake City No. 1

Lake City No. 2

Lake City No. 3

Lake City No. 4

Leo

Mars Bluff No. 1

Mars Bluff No. 2

McAllister Mill

Mill Branch

Oak Grove-Sardis

Olanta

Pamplico No. 1

Pamplico No. 2

Prospect

Quinby

Salem

Savannah Grove

Scranton

South Florence 1

South Florence 2

Spaulding

Tans Bay

Timmonsville 1

Timmonsville 2

Vox

West Florence 1

West Florence 2

(B)    The precinct lines defining the precincts in subsection (A) are as shown on the official map designated P-4199 and on file with the Division of Research and Statistical Services of the State Budget and Control Board and as shown on certified copies provided to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the Board of Voter Registration of the county by the Division of Research and Statistical Services.

(C)    The polling places for the precincts provided for in subsection (A) must be established by the Florence County Election Commission.

Section 7-7-270.    (A)    In Georgetown County there are the following voting precincts: Andrews; Andrews Outside; Bethel; Black River; Brown's Ferry; Carver's Bay; Cedar Creek; Choppee; Folly Grove; Georgetown No. 1; Georgetown No. 2-Dream Keepers; Georgetown No. 3; Georgetown No. 4; Georgetown No. 5; Grier's; Kensington; Murrell's Inlet No. 1; Murrell's Inlet No. 2; Murrell's Inlet No. 3; Murrell's Inlet No. 4; Myersville; Pawley's Island No. 1; Pawley's Island No. 2; Pawley's Island No. 3; Pawley's Island No. 4; Pawley's Island No. 5; Pennyroyal; Plantersville; Pleasant Hill; Potato Bed Ferry; Sampit; Santee; Spring Gulley; and Winyah Bay.

(B)    The precinct lines defining the above precincts in Georgetown County are as shown on the official map prepared by and on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the State Budget and Control Board designated as P-43-04 and as shown on copies of the official map provided by the office to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the Georgetown County Board of Voter Registration.

(C)    The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be established by the Georgetown County Election Commission subject to approval by a majority of the Georgetown County Legislative Delegation.

Section 7-7-280.    (A)    In Greenville County there are the following voting precincts:

Precinct Name

Aiken

Altamont Forest

Asheton Lakes

Avon

Belle Meade

Bells Crossing

Belmont

Berea

Boiling Springs

Botany Woods

Brookglenn

Canebrake

Carolina

Chestnut Hills

Clear Creek

Cobblestone

Conestee

Darby Ridge

Del Norte

Devenger

Donaldson

Dove Tree

Dunklin

Eastside

Ebenezer

Edwards Forest

Enoree

Feaster

Fork Shoals

Fountain Inn 1

Fountain Inn 2

Frohawk

Furman

Garrison

Gilder Creek

Gowensville

Greenbriar

Greenville 1

Greenville 3

Greenville 4

Greenville 5

Greenville 6

Greenville 7

Greenville 8

Greenville 10

Greenville 14

Greenville 16

Greenville 17

Greenville 18

Greenville 19

Greenville 20

Greenville 21

Greenville 22

Greenville 23

Greenville 24

Greenville 25

Greenville 26

Greenville 27

Greenville 28

Greenville 29

Grove

Highland Creek

Hillcrest

Jennings Mill

Lakeview

Laurel Ridge

Leawood

Long Creek

Maple Creek

Maridell

Mauldin 1

Mauldin 2

Mauldin 3

Mauldin 4

Mauldin 5

Mauldin 6

Mauldin 7

Mission

Monaview

Mountain Creek

Mountain View

Neely Farms

Northwood

Oneal

Orchard Farms

Palmetto

Paris Mountain

Pebble Creek

Pelham Falls

Piedmont

Pineview

Poinsett

Raintree

Riverside

Riverwalk

Rock Hill

Rocky Creek

Rolling Green

Royal Oaks

Saluda

Sandy Flat

Sevier

Silverleaf

Simpsonville 1

Simpsonville 2

Simpsonville 3

Simpsonville 4

Simpsonville 5

Simpsonville 6

Skyland

Slater Marietta

Southside

Spaulding Farms

Spring Forest

Standing Springs

Stonehaven

Suber Mill

Sugar Creek

Sulphur Springs

Sycamore

Tanglewood

Taylors

Thornblade

Tigerville

Timberlake

Trade

Travelers Rest

Tubbs Mountain

Tyger River

Wade Hampton

Walnut Springs

Ware Place

Welcome

Wellington

Westcliffe

Westside

Woodmont

(B)    The precinct lines defining the precincts in subsection (A) are as shown on maps filed with the Greenville County Board of Voter Registration and also on file with the State Election Commission Division of Elections as provided and maintained by the Office of Research and Statistics of the State Budget and Control Board designated as document P-45-03.

(C)    The polling places for the precincts provided in subsection (A) must be established by the Greenville County Board of Voter Registration and the Greenville County Election Commission with the approval of a majority of the members of the Greenville County Legislative Delegation.

Section 7-7-290.    (A)    In Greenwood County there are the following voting precincts:

1-Greenwood No. 1

2-Greenwood No. 2

3-Greenwood No. 3

4-Greenwood No. 4

5-Greenwood No. 5

6-Greenwood No. 6

7-Greenwood No. 7

8-Greenwood No. 8

9-Glendale

10-Harris

11-Laco

12-Ninety-Six

13-Ninety-Six Mill

14-Ware Shoals

15-Hodges

16-Cokesbury

17-Coronaca

18-Greenwood High

19-Georgetown

20-Sandridge

21-Callison

22-Bradley

23-Troy

24-Epworth

25-Verdery

26-New Market

27-Emerald

28-Airport

29-Emerald High

30-Civic Center

31-Riley

32-Shoals Junction

33-Greenwood Mill

(B)    The precinct lines defining the precincts are as shown on the official map P-4700 on file with the Division of Research and Statistical Services of the State Budget and Control Board and as shown on certified copies provided to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the Greenwood Board of Voter Registration. The official map may not be changed except by act of the General Assembly.

(C)    The Greenwood County Election Commission shall designate the polling places of each precinct.

Section 7-7-300.    (A)    In Hampton County there are the following voting precincts: Brunson, polling place at Brunson Fire Department; Hampton Courthouse No. 1, polling place at Ben Hazel School; Hampton Courthouse No. 2, polling place at County Courthouse; Varnville, polling place at Fire House at Town Hall; Early Branch, polling place at Early Branch Grocery on Highway 68 (formerly McTeer's Store); Garnett, polling place at Garnett Learning Center; Gifford, polling place at Gifford Lodge Hall; Estill, polling place at Estill Fire Department; Bonnett, polling place at Bonnett Fire Department; Furman, polling place at Old Furman School; Yemassee, polling place at Yemassee Town Hall; Horse Gall, polling place at Vincent Smith's Garage; Rivers Mill, polling place at Hickory Grove Community Center; Hopewell, polling place at Hopewell Community Center; Crocketville-Miley, polling place at Crocketville Community Center; Cummings, polling place at Cummings Fire Department; Scotia, polling place at Scotia Town Hall; and Black Creek, polling place at Will Kinard's Home.

(B) The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on maps filed with the clerk of court of the county and also on file with the State Election Commission Division of Elections as provided and maintained by the Office of Research and Statistics of the State Budget and Control Board.

Section 7-7-310.    The registration books for the Estill Precinct shall be prepared in such manner as to reflect the names of persons entitled to vote at the respective polling places.

Section 7-7-320.    (A)    In Horry County there are the following voting precincts:

Adrian;

Allsbrook;

Atlantic Beach;

Aynor;

Bayboro;

Brooksville;

Brownway;

Burgess;

Carolina Forest;

Cedar Grove;

Cherry Grove Beach 1;

Cherry Grove Beach 2;

Coastal Carolina;

Coastal Lane 1;

Coastal Lane 2;

Cool Springs;

Crescent Beach;

Daisy;

Deerfield;

Dog Bluff;

Dogwood;

Dunes 1;

Dunes 2;

Dunes 3;

East Conway;

East Loris;

Ebenezer;

Emerald Forest;

Enterprise;

Floyds;

Forest Brook;

Four Mile;

Galivants Ferry;

Garden City 1;

Garden City 2;

Garden City 3;

Garden City 4;

Glenns Bay;

Green Sea;

Gurley;

Hickory Grove;

Hickory Hill;

Homewood;

Horry;

Inland;

Jackson Bluff;

Jamestown;

Jernigan's Cross Roads;

Jet Port;

Jordanville;

Joyner Swamp;

Juniper Bay;

Lake Park;

Leon;

Little River 1;

Little River 2;

Live Oak;

Maple;

Marlowe;

Methodist Rehobeth;

Mill Swamp;

Mt. Olive;

Mt. Vernon;

Myrtlewood 1;

Myrtlewood 2;

Myrtlewood 3;

Nixon's Cross Roads 1;

Nixon's Cross Roads 2;

North Conway 1;

North Conway 2;

Norton;

Ocean Drive 1;

Ocean Drive 2;

Ocean Forest 1;

Ocean Forest 2;

Ocean Forest 3;

Pawley's Swamp;

Pleasant View;

Poplar Hill;

Port Harrelson;

Race Path 1;

Race Path 2;

Red Bluff;

Red Hill 1;

Red Hill 2;

Salem;

Sea Oats 1;

Sea Oats 2;

Sea Winds;

Shell;

Socastee 1;

Socastee 2;

Socastee 3;

Spring Branch;

Surfside Beach 1;

Surfside Beach 2;

Surfside Beach 3;

Surfside Beach 4;

Sweet Home;

Taylorsville;

Tilly Swamp;

Toddville;

Wampee;

West Conway;

West Loris;

White Oak;

Wild Wing; and

Windy Hill.

(B)    The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on maps filed with the clerk of court of the county and also on file with the State Election Commission Division of Elections as provided and maintained by the Office of Research and Statistics of the State Budget and Control Board designated as document P-51-04.

(C)    The polling places for the precincts listed in subsection (A) must be determined by the Horry County Board of Registration and Elections with the approval of a majority of the Horry County Legislative Delegation.

Section 7-7-330.    (A)    In Jasper County there are the following voting precincts:

Coosawhatchie

Gillisonville

Grahamville 1

Grahamville 2

Grays

Hardeeville 1

Hardeeville 2

Levy

Okatie

Pineland

Ridgeland 1

Ridgeland 2

Ridgeland 3

Tillman

(B)    The precinct lines defining the precincts in subsection (A) are as shown on maps filed with the clerk of court of the county and also on file with the State Election Commission Division of Elections as provided and maintained by the Division of Research and Statistical Services of the State Budget and Control Board designated as document P-5399.

(C)    The polling places for the precincts listed in subsection (A) must be determined by the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Jasper County with the approval of a majority of the Jasper County Legislative Delegation.

Section 7-7-340.    (A)    In Kershaw County there are the following voting precincts: Airport, Antioch, Bethune, Buffalo, Camden No. 1, Camden No. 2, Camden No. 3, Camden No. 4, Camden No. 5, Camden No. 5-A, Camden No. 6, Cassatt, Charlotte Thompson, Doby's Mill, East Camden-Hermitage, Elgin No. 1, Elgin No. 2, Gates Ford, Liberty Hill, Lugoff No. 1, Lugoff No. 2, Lugoff No. 3, Malvern Hill, Rabon's Crossroads, Riverdale, Salt Pond, Shaylor's Hill, Springdale, Westville, and White's Gardens.

(B) The precinct lines defining the above precincts in Kershaw County are as shown on the official map prepared by and on file with the Division of Research and Statistical Services of the State Budget and Control Board and as shown on copies of the official map provided by the division to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the Kershaw County Board of Voter Registration.

(C)    The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be established by the Kershaw County Election Commission subject to approval by a majority of the Kershaw County Legislative Delegation.

Section 7-7-350.    (A)    In Lancaster County there are the following voting precincts:

Antioch;

Belaire;

Camp Creek;

Carmel;

Chesterfield Avenue;

Douglas;

Dwight;

Elgin;

Erwin Farm;

Gooch's Cross Road;

Heath Springs;

Hyde Park;

Jacksonham;

Kershaw North;

Kershaw South;

Lancaster East;

Lancaster West;

Lynwood Drive;

Midway;

Pleasant Hill;

Pleasant Valley;

Rich Hill;

Riverside;

Spring Hill;

Unity;

Van Wyck; and

Wylie Park.

(B)    The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on maps filed with the clerk of court of the county and also on file with the State Election Commission Division of Elections as provided and maintained by the Division of Research and Statistical Services of the State Budget and Control Board designated as document P-5796.

(C)    The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be established by the Lancaster County Board of Elections and Voter Registration subject to approval by a majority of the Lancaster County Legislative Delegation.

Section 7-7-360.    (A)    In Laurens County there are the following precincts:

Bailey;

Barksdale-Narnie;

Brewerton;

Clinton Mill;

Clinton No. 1;

Clinton No. 2;

Clinton No. 3;

Cooks;

Cross Hill;

Ekom;

Gray Court;

Greenpond;

Hickory Tavern;

Joanna;

Jones;

Long Branch;

Lydia Mill;

Madden;

Martins-Poplar Springs;

Mount Olive;

Mountville;

Ora-Lanford;

Owings;

Princeton;

Trinity Ridge;

Ward 1;

Ward 2;

Ward 3;

Ward 4;

Ward 5;

Ward 6;

Waterloo;

Wattsville; and

Youngs.

(B)    The precinct lines defining the precincts in subsection (A) are as shown on the official map designated as P-59-04 and on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the State Budget and Control Board and as shown on certified copies provided to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the Registration and Elections Commission for Laurens County by the Office of Research and Statistics.

(C)    The polling places for the precincts listed in subsection (A) must be established by the Registration and Elections Commission for Laurens County with the approval of a majority of the Laurens County Legislative Delegation.

Section 7-7-370.    (A)(1)    In Lee County there are the following voting precincts:

Ashland/Stokes Bridge

Ashwood

Bishopville No. 1

Bishopville No. 2

Bishopville No. 3

Bishopville No. 4

Cedar Creek

Cypress

Elliott

Hickory Hill

Ionia

Lynchburg

Manville

Mt. Clio

Rattlesnake Springs

Schrocks Mill/Lucknow

South Lynchburg

Spring Hill

St. Charles

St. Matthews

Turkey Creek

Woodrow.

(2)    The division line between the voting precincts at Bishopville is Main Street and Church Street, Bishopville No. 1 being the southwest corner, Bishopville No. 2 the southeast corner, Bishopville No. 3 the northeast corner, and Bishopville No. 4 the northwest corner.

(B)    The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on maps filed with the Clerk of Court of the county and also on file with the State Election Commission Division of Elections as provided and maintained by the Office of Research and Statistics of the State Budget and Control Board designated as document P-61-04.

(C)    The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be established by the Lee County Board of Elections and Registration upon approval of the Lee County Legislative Delegation.

Section 7-7-380.    (A)    In Lexington County there are the following voting precincts:

Amicks Ferry

Barr Road

Batesburg

Beulah Church

Boiling Springs

Boiling Springs South

Bush River

Cayce No. 1

Cayce No. 2

Cayce No. 3

Cayce 2A

Chalk Hill

Challedon

Chapin

Coldstream

Congaree

Cromer

Dutchman Shores

Edenwood

Edmund

Emmanuel Church

Fairview

Faith Church

Gardendale

Gaston 1

Gaston 2

Gilbert

Grenadier

Hollow Creek

Hook's Store

Irmo

Kitti Wake

Lake Murray

Leaphart Road

Leesville

Lexington No. 1

Lexington No. 2

Lexington No. 3

Lexington No. 4

Mack-Edisto

Midway

Mims

Mount Horeb

Murraywood

Old Barnwell Road

Park Road

Pelion

Pilgrim Church

Pine Ridge

Pineview

Pond Branch

Providence Church

Quail Hollow

Quail Valley

Red Bank

Red Bank South

Ridge Road

Round Hill

Saluda River

Sandy Run

Seven Oaks

Sharpe's Hill

Springdale

Springdale South

St. Michael

Summit

Swansea

West Columbia No. 1

West Columbia No. 2

West Columbia No. 3

West Columbia No. 4

Westover

White Knoll

Whitehall

Woodland Hills

(B)    The polling places of the various voting precincts in Lexington County must be designated by the Lexington County Election Commission. The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the State Budget and Control Board designated as document P-63-03 and as shown on certified copies provided to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the Board of Voter Registration of the county by the Office of Research and Statistics. The official map may not be changed except by act of the General Assembly.

Section 7-7-390.    In McCormick County there are voting precincts numbered and named as follows: Number 1 -- Mt. Carmel; Number 2 -- Willington; Number 3- Savannah; Number 4 -- McCormick No. 1; Number 5 -- Bethany; Number 6 -- McCormick No. 2; Number 7 -- Plum Branch; Number 8 -- Parksville; Number 9 -- Modoc; and Number 10- Clarks Hill.

The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on official maps on file with the Division of Research and Statistical Services of the State Budget and Control Board and as shown on certified copies provided to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the McCormick County Board of Voter Registration by the Division.

Polling places must be determined by the McCormick County Election Commission with the approval of the McCormick County Legislative Delegation.

Section 7-7-400.    In Marion County there shall be the following voting precincts: Britton's Neck; Friendship; Centenary; Rains; Marion No. 1; Marion No. 2; Marion North; Marion South; Marion West; Sellers; Temperance; Zion; Northwest; Mullins; Southwest Mullins; Northeast Mullins; Southeast Mullins; and Nichols.

The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on maps filed with the Clerk of Court of the county and also on file with the State Election Commission Division of Elections as provided and maintained by the Division of Research and Statistical Services of the State Budget and Control Board.

Section 7-7-410.    (A)    In Marlboro County there are the following precincts:

(1)     Adamsville

(2)     Blenheim

(3)     Brightsville

(4)     Brownsville

(5)     Clio

(6)     McColl

(7)     East McColl

(8)     Quick's Cross Roads

(9)     Red Hill

(10)    Tatum

(11)    Wallace

(12)    North Bennettsville

(13)    South Bennettsville

(14)    East Bennettsville

(15)    West Bennettsville

(B)    The precinct lines defining the precincts provided in subsection (A) of this section are as shown on the official map prepared by and on file with the Division of Research and Statistical Services of the State Budget and Control Board designated as document P-69-93 and as shown on certified copies of the official map provided by the division to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the Marlboro County Board of Elections and Registration.

(C)    The polling places for the precincts provided in subsection (A) of this section must be established by the Marlboro County Board of Elections and Registration with the approval of a majority of the Marlboro County Legislative Delegation.

Section 7-7-420.    (A)    In Newberry County there are the following voting precincts:

Beth-Eden

Bush River

Chappells

Fairview

Hartford

Helena

Johnstone

Kinards-Jalapa

Little Mountain

Maybinton

Midway

Mt. Bethel-Garmany

Consolidated Number 5

Newberry Ward 1

Newberry Ward 2

Newberry Ward 3-1

Newberry Ward 3-2

Newberry Ward 4

Newberry Ward 5

Newberry Ward 6

Oakland

O'Neal

Peak

Pomaria

Prosperity

St. Phillips-Jolly Street

Silverstreet

Stoney Hill

Wheeland

Whitmire City

Whitmire Outside

(B)    The precinct lines defining the precincts provided in subsection (A) in Newberry County are as shown on the official map prepared by and on file with the Office of Research and Statistical Services of the State Budget and Control Board designated as document P-71-02 and as shown on certified copies of the official map provided by the office to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the Newberry County Registration and Election Commission.

(C)    The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be established by the Newberry County Registration and Election Commission subject to the approval of the majority of the Newberry County Delegation.

Section 7-7-430.    (A)    In Oconee County there are the following voting precincts:

Bounty Land

Earles Grove

Fair Play

Friendship

Holly Springs

Keowee

Long Creek

Madison

Mountain Rest

Newry-Corinth

Oakway

Ravenel

Return

Richland

Salem

Seneca No. 1

Seneca No. 2

Seneca No. 3

Seneca No. 4

Shiloh

South Union

Stamp Creek

Tamassee

Tokeena/Providence

Utica

Walhalla No. 1

Walhalla No. 2

Westminster No. 1

Westminster No. 2

West Union.

(B)    The precinct lines defining the above precincts in Oconee County are as shown on the official map prepared by and on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the State Budget and Control Board designated as document P-73-03 and as shown on certified copies of the official map provided to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the Oconee Registration and Elections Commission by the division.

(C)    The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be established by the Oconee Registration and Elections Commission.

Section 7-7-440.    (A)    In Orangeburg County there are the following voting precincts:

Precinct Name

Orangeburg Ward 1

Orangeburg Ward 2

Orangeburg Ward 3

Orangeburg Ward 4

Orangeburg Ward 5

Orangeburg Ward 6

Orangeburg Ward 7

Orangeburg Ward 8

Orangeburg Ward 9

Orangeburg Ward 10

Suburban 1

Suburban 2

Suburban 3

Suburban 4

Suburban 5

Suburban 6

Suburban 7

Suburban 8

Suburban 9

Bethel

Bolentown

Bowman 1

Bowman 2

Branchville 1

Branchville 2

Brookdale

Cope

Cordova 1

Cordova 2

Edisto

Elloree 1

Elloree 2

Eutawville 1

Eutawville 2

Four Holes

Holly Hill 1

Holly Hill 2

Jamison

Limestone 1

Limestone 2

Neeses-Livingston

Nix

North 1

North 2

Norway

Pinehill

Providence

Rowesville

Santee 1

Santee 2

Springfield

Vance

Whittaker

(B)    The precinct lines defining the precincts in subsection (A) are as shown on official maps on file with the Office of Research and Statistical Services of the Budget and Control Board and as shown on certified copies provided to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the Orangeburg County Board of Voter Registration by the office and designated as P-75-02.

(C)    The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be determined by the Orangeburg County Election Commission subject to the approval of a majority of the Orangeburg County Legislative Delegation.

Section 7-7-450.    (A)    In Pickens County there are the following voting precincts:

Albert R. Lewis

Arial Mill

Brushy Creek

Calhoun

Cedar Rock

Central 1

Central 2

Clemson 1

Clemson 2

Crossroads

Crosswell 1

Crosswell 2

Dacusville 1

Dacusville 2

Easley

Flat Rock

Forest Acres

Georges Creek

Glassy Mountain

Griffin

Holly Springs

Lawrence Chapel

Liberty 1

Liberty 2

McKissick

Morrison

Mountain View

Norris

Park Street

Pickens 1

Pickens 2

Pickens 3

Pickens 4

Pickensville

Pike

Powdersville 1

Powdersville 2

Praters Creek 1

Praters Creek 2

Pumpkintown

Rice's Creek

Rock Springs

Saluda

Simpson

Six Mile

Skelton

Smith Grove

Stone Church

University

Woodside

Zion

(B)    The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on official maps on file with the Office of Research and Statistical Services of the Budget and Control Board designated as document P-77-01 and as shown on certified copies provided to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the Pickens County Board of Voter Registration by the office.

(C)    The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be established by the Pickens County Registration and Elections Commission subject to the approval of the majority of the Pickens County Legislative Delegation.

Section 7-7-465.    (A)    In Richland County there are the following voting precincts:

Ward 1

Ward 2

Ward 3

Ward 4

Ward 5

Ward 6

Ward 7

Ward 8

Ward 9

Ward 10

Ward 11

Ward 12

Ward 13

Ward 14

Ward 15

Ward 16

Ward 17

Ward 18

Ward 19

Ward 20

Ward 21

Ward 22

Ward 23

Ward 24

Ward 25

Ward 26

Gregg Park

Ward 29

Ward 30

Ward 31

Ward 32

Ward 33

Ward 34

Arcadia

Ardincaple

Ballentine

Barrier Free

Beatty Road

Bluff

Blythewood #1

Blythewood #2

Brandon

Briarwood

Caughman Road

College Place

Cooper

Dennyside

Dentsville

Dutch Fork

Eastover

Edgewood

Estates

Fairlawn

Fairwold

East Forest Acres

North Forest Acres

South Forest Acres

Friarsgate #1

Friarsgate #2

Old Friarsgate

Gadsden

Garners

Greenview

Hampton

Harbison

Hopkins

Horrell Hill

Hunting Creek

Keels

Keenan

Killian

Kingswood

Lincolnshire

Long Creek

Lykesland

Meadowfield

Meadowlake

McEntire

Midway

Mill Creek

Monticello

North Springs #1

North Springs #2

Oakwood

Olympia

Parkway

Pennington

Pine Lakes

Pinewood

Polo Road

Pontiac

Rice Creek

Ridgewood

Riverside

Riversprings

Riverwalk

St. Andrews

Satchelford

Skyland

South Beltline

Spring Valley

Springville

Trenholm Road

Valhalla

Valley State Park

Walden

Westminster

Whitewell

Wildewood

Woodfield

Woodlands

(B)    The precinct lines defining the precincts provided in subsection (A) are as shown on the official map prepared by and on file with the Division of Research and Statistical Services of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board designated as document P-7901 and as shown on certified copies of the official map provided to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the Richland County Board of Voter Registration by the Division of Research and Statistical Services.

Section 7-7-480.    (A)    In Saluda County there are the following voting precincts:

Centennial

Clyde

Delmar

Fruit Hill

Higgins/Zoar

Holly

Hollywood

Holstons

Mayson

Mt. Willing

Pleasant Cross

Pleasant Grove

Richland

Ridge Spring/Monetta

Saluda No. 1

Saluda No. 2

Sardis

Ward

(B)    The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on official maps on file with the Division of Research and Statistical Services of the Budget and Control Board designated as document P-81-94 and as shown on certified copies provided to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the Saluda County Board of Voter Registration by the division.

(C)    The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be established by the Saluda County Election Commission subject to the approval of a majority of the Saluda County Legislative Delegation.

Section 7-7-490.    (A)    In Spartanburg County there are the following voting precincts:

American Legion

Arcadia

Arkwright

Arlington

Arrowood

Ballenger

Beaumont Methodist Church

Ben Avon

Bishop

Bobo

Boiling Springs

Bowen

Brooklyn-Cooley Springs-Fingerville

Bunton Church

Camelot Fire Station

Campobello

Campton

Canaan

Cannon's Campground

Carver Junior High School

Cavins-Hobbysville

C. C. Woodson Center

Cedar Springs

Central Fire Station

Cherokee-Springs

Chesnee--Chesnee Mill

Cleveland Elementary School

Clifton

Converse

Cowpens

Crescent

Croft

Cross Anchor

Cunningham

DeYoung

Drayton

Duncan

East Greer

Enoree

Evans Human Resources Center

Fairforest

Fairmont

Glendale

Gramling

Hayne Shop

Hill Top

Holly Springs

Inman

Jackson Mill

Johnson City

Landrum

Lyman

Mayo

Memorial Auditorium Arena

Moore-Switzer

Motlow

New Prospect

Pacolet

Pacolet Mills

Park Hills Elementary School

Park Hills Baptist Church

Pauline-Glenn Springs

Pelham

Pine Street Elementary School

Poplar Springs

Powell Saxon

Reidville

Roebuck

Spartanburg High School

Startex

Trinity Methodist Church

Una

Union Street Fire Station

Victor Mill

Walnut Grove

Wellford

White Stone

Whitney Station A-I

Whitney Station A-II

Whitney Station B

Woodland Heights Recreation Center

Woodruff No. 1

Woodruff No. 2

Woodruff No. 3

Woods Chapel

Zion Hill

(B)    The precinct lines defining the precincts in subsection (A) are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board and as shown on certified copies provided to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the Board of Voter Registration of the county by the Office of Research and Statistics designated as document P-83-04.

(C)    The polling places for the precincts listed in subsection (A) must be determined by the Spartanburg County Election Commission with the approval of a majority of the Spartanburg County Legislative Delegation.

Section 7-7-501.    (A)    In Sumter County there are the following voting precincts:

Bates

Birnie

Burns-Downs

Causeway Branch

Cherryvale

Crosswell

Dalzell

Delaine

Ebenezer

Folsom Park

Furman

Green Swamp

Hampton Park

Hillcrest

Horatio

Lemira

Loring

Magnolia-Harmony

Manchester Forest

Mayesville

Mayewood

McCray's Mill 1

McCray's Mill 2

Millwood

Morris College

Mulberry

Oakland Plantation 1

Oakland Plantation 2

Oswego

Palmetto Park

Pinewood

Pocotaligo 1

Pocotaligo 2

Privateer

Rembert

Saint John

Saint Paul

Salem

Salterstown

Savage-Glover

Second Mill

Shaw

South Liberty

South Red Bay

Spectrum

Stone Hill

Sumter High 1

Sumter High 2

Sunset

Swan Lake

Thomas Sumter

Turkey Creek

Wilder

Wilson Hall.

(B)    The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on official maps on file with the Office of Research and Statistical Services of the Budget and Control Board designated as document P-85-01 and as shown on certified copies provided to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the Sumter County Registration and Elections Commission by the office.

(C)    The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be established by the Sumter County Registration and Elections Commission subject to the approval of a majority of the Sumter County Legislative Delegation.

Section 7-7-510.    (A)    In Union County there are the following voting precincts:

Adamsburg

Black Rock

Bonham

Buffalo, Box 1

Carlisle

Cross Keys

East Buffalo

Excelsior

Jonesville, Box 1

Jonesville, Box 2

Kelton

Lockhart

Monarch, Box 1

Monarch, Box 2

Putnam

Santuck

Union, Ward 1, Box 1

Union, Ward 1, Box 2

Union, Ward 2

Union, Ward 3

Union, Ward 4, Box 1

Union, Ward 4, Box 2

West Springs

(B)    The precinct lines defining the precincts in subsection (A) are as shown on maps filed with the clerk of court of the county and also on file with the State Election Commission Division of Elections as provided and maintained by the Office of Research and Statistics of the State Budget and Control Board designated as document P-87-03.

(C)    The polling places for the precincts listed in subsection (A) must be determined by the Board of Election and Registration of Union County with the approval of a majority of the Union County Legislative Delegation.

Section 7-7-520.    In Williamsburg County there are the following voting precincts: Black River; Bloomingvale; Cades; Cedar Swamp; Central; Earls; Ebenezer; Greeleyville; Harmony; Hebron; Hemingway; Henry-Poplar Hill; Indiantown; Kingstree No. 1; Kingstree No. 2; Kingstree No. 3; Lane; Lenuds; Midway; Millwood; Morrisville; Mount Vernon; Muddy Creek; Nesmith; Oak Ridge; Pergamos; Piney Forest; Salters; Sanday Ray; Singletary; Suttons; Trio; and Workman.

The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on maps filed with the clerk of court of the county and also on file with the State Election Commission Division of Elections as provided and maintained by the Division of Research and Statistical Services of the State Budget and Control Board.

The polling places for the precincts provided in this section must be established by the Williamsburg County Election Commission subject to the approval of a majority of the Williamsburg County Delegation, including the Senators. The Williamsburg County Election Commission shall establish the following polling places:

Hemingway Precinct J.J. Mitcheom Building

Mt. Vernon Precinct Mt. Vernon Fire Station

Salters Precinct Salters Fire Department.

Section 7-7-530.    (A)    In York County there are the following voting precincts:

Allison Creek Church;

Anderson Road;

Bethany;

Bethel No. 1;

Bethel No. 2;

Bethel School;

Bowling Green;

Bullocks Creek;

Cannon Mill;

Catawba;

Clover No. 1;

Clover No. 2;

Cotton Belt;

Delphos;

Doby's Bridge;

Ebenezer;

Ebinport;

Edgewood;

Fewell Park;

Filbert;

Fort Mill No. 1;

Fort Mill No. 2;

Fort Mill No. 3;

Fort Mill No. 4;

Fort Mill No. 5;

Fort Mill No. 6;

Hickory Grove;

Highland Park;

India Hook;

Lakeshore;

Lesslie No. 1;

Lesslie No. 2;

McConnellsville;

Mt. Holly;

Museum;

New Home;

Newport;

Northside;

Northwestern;

Oak Ridge;

Oakwood;

Ogden;

Orchard Park;

Riverview;

Rock Hill No. 2;

Rock Hill No. 3;

Rock Hill No. 4;

Rock Hill No. 5;

Rock Hill No. 6;

Rock Hill No. 7;

Rock Hill No. 8;

Rosewood;

Sharon;

Smyrna;

Tega Cay 1;

Tega Cay 2;

Tirzah;

University;

York No. 1; and

York No. 2.

(B)    The precinct lines defining the above precincts are as shown on the official map on file with the Office of Research and Statistics of the State Budget and Control Board designated as document P-91-04 and as shown on certified copies provided to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the Registration and Elections Commission for York County by the Office of Research and Statistics.

(C)    The polling places for the above precincts must be determined by the Registration and Elections Commission for York County with the approval of a majority of the York County Legislative Delegation.

Article 3

Alteration of Precincts

Section 7-7-710.    The State Election Commission Division of Elections shall report the names of all polling precincts by county that have more than one thousand five hundred registered electors as of January first to the General Assembly not later than the fourth Tuesday of each odd-numbered year. If, by April first of the same year, the General Assembly has failed to alter the precincts so that no precinct shall have more than one thousand five hundred qualified electors the State Election Commission Division of Elections shall notify the respective county registration boards which shall make such alterations as necessary to conform all precincts to such limitations. Provided, that precincts isolated by water shall not be required to meet minimum requirements.

Section 7-7-720.    (A)    A person whose registration is transferred to another precinct by virtue of the provisions of this article must be notified by mail by the county board of voter registration of the transfer.

(B)    A person whose notification is returned to the board of registration as undeliverable must be reported by the board to the State Election Commission Division of Elections. The State Election Commission Division of Elections must place the elector in an inactive status on the master file and may remove this elector's name from inactive status upon compliance with the provisions of Section 7-5-330(F).

Section 7-7-730.    When a precinct has more than seven hundred fifty registered electors, the precinct list must be divided alphabetically so that no list contains more than seven hundred fifty electors and separate managers and facilities are provided within the polling place for each list of electors. Local registration boards dividing precincts alphabetically shall notify the State Election Commission Division of Elections of this division so that separate alphabetically arranged poll lists may be printed by the commission. Upon completion of the above, the provisions of Section 7-7-710 are considered to be complied with regardless of the number of electors in the precinct. Nothing in this section prevents the alteration of precincts pursuant to Section 7-7-710 where the General Assembly or local registration boards consider this alteration advisable.

Article 5

Where Electors to Vote

Section 7-7-910.    Subject to the provisions of Section 7-7-920 and Section 7-5-440, every elector must be registered and, unless otherwise specified on his voting certificate, shall vote at the designated polling place within the precinct of his residence, but in incorporated municipalities in which officers are elected by wards or other municipal subdivisions, electors must be registered and shall vote at their designated polling places.

Section 7-7-920.    In all municipal elections when the aldermen or councilmen are elected by wards, the electors shall vote at the voting place within their ward nearest their residences, and in all municipal elections when the aldermen, councilmen or other officials are elected by a vote at large within the municipality, the electors shall vote at the voting place in the precinct within which they reside which is nearest their residences.

In all municipal elections when the ward lines and the precinct lines coincide within the city limits of the municipality, electors shall vote at the nearest voting place within the ward or precinct.

In any city or town having not more than one polling precinct, established by ordinance, for municipal elections, all duly qualified electors shall be permitted to vote in municipal elections at such voting place if such electors are authorized to vote at any voting precinct within such city or town.

Section 7-7-940.    In case of the moving of a registered elector from one precinct to another in the same county, the elector must notify the board of registration of the county. The board must note the fact upon the proper book and give the elector a notification of the precinct into which he is moved.

Section 7-7-950.    When a new voting precinct is established by law, the board of registration must transfer from the books of registration the names of electors registered to vote in other voting precincts as should register and vote in the new voting precinct and shall notify electors of the change of polling precincts.

Section 7-7-960.    (a)    Any elector whose precinct or ward is changed by a change of ward or precinct boundaries must have notification mailed to him by the county registration board reflecting his new precinct or ward.

(b)    Any area in the county annexed to a municipality which is divided into wards shall be made part of a ward to which it is contiguous by the county board of registration. In the event the annexed area in a municipality divided into wards contains at least five hundred qualified electors the area annexed shall be made a separate ward which must be given a numerical designation. As soon as practicable following annexation, the board must mail all registered electors of record residing in the annexed area notification designating the number of the ward, if appropriate, and precinct to which they have been assigned.

(c)    The envelope in which notifications mailed out in conjunction with the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) must have printed on the front "DO NOT FORWARD". All electors whose precinct or ward is changed by boundary changes must be added to the records of the precinct or ward to which they are assigned and deleted from those of the precinct or ward to which they were formerly assigned.

Section 7-7-970.    When one voting place has been changed to another in the same township or polling precinct, or when the name of the voting place has been changed since the last general election, the registration of electors for the former voting place shall be valid and effectual for the new voting place.

Section 7-7-980.    Federal, State and county officers and their spouses temporarily residing at or near the capital or county seat may register and vote in their former home precincts if they so desire.

Section 7-7-990.    A.    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the county election commission in each county of the State is encouraged to make every polling place barrier free and shall provide at least one polling place, free of architectural barriers, which shall be known as the Countywide Barrier-Free Voting Precinct, for use by physically handicapped electors of the county. Such polling place may be within any existing polling place that now is barrier-free or that is made barrier-free. Any physically handicapped elector, regardless of his place of residence in the county, may vote in this polling place if he meets the following criteria:

(1)    Elector either cannot ambulate without the aid of a wheelchair, leg braces, crutches or a walker, or elector suffers from a lung disease to such an extent that he is unable to walk without the aid of a respirator.

(2)    Elector has applied in writing to and obtained from the county board of registration thirty days before the election a voting registration transfer authorizing the elector to vote at the county barrier-free polling place. An elector whose physical handicap, as defined in item (1) of this subsection, is permanent, as certified by a licensed physician, is not required to register once he has done so initially under the provisions of this item.

B.    For every election the State Election Commission Division of Elections shall furnish to the proper county or party officials a separate roster of those handicapped electors registered to vote at the barrier-free polling place, and the county election officials shall ensure that election managers are designated to staff the barrier-free polling place. Such roster shall also contain appropriate precinct and district references for each voter when practical and reasonable.

C.    The county election commission shall be authorized to use paper ballots in lieu of voting machines in the Countywide Barrier-Free Voting Precinct in those counties where voting machines are used.

D.    When the Countywide Barrier-Free Voting Precinct in the respective counties closes, the votes of the Countywide Barrier-Free Voting Precinct shall be tabulated and reported as a separate precinct when other ballots of the county are counted on election day.

E.    The provisions of this section shall only apply to elections conducted by the county election commission or county executive committee of a political party and are in lieu of voting by absentee ballot.

Section 7-7-1000.    For purposes of municipal elections only, a municipality may pool one or more precincts with other precincts and have one voting place for all of these pooled precincts upon the following conditions:

(1)    Any precinct which contains five hundred or more registered voters within the municipality must have its own voting place.

(2)    The total number of registered voters within the municipality in each group of pooled precincts cannot exceed one thousand five hundred.

(3)    The voting place of any precinct pooled with others cannot be more than three miles from the nearest part of any pooled precinct.

(4)    The notice requirements of Section 7-7-15 must be complied with and in addition to this requirement, the location of voting places for all precincts including those pooled must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality on the day of the election. If the newspaper is not published daily, then on the date of publication nearest and prior to the date of election.

(5)    Whenever precincts are pooled in a municipal election, the voter registration lists, poll lists, and ballots for each precinct represented must be used by the managers of election. Results of the election must also be reported and certified by individual precinct.

SECTION    22.    Section 7-9-10 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-9-10.    Political parties desiring to nominate candidates for offices to be voted on in a general or special election shall, before doing so, have applied to the State Election Commission (Commission) Division of Elections (division) for certification as such. Parties shall nominate candidates of that party on a regular basis, as provided in this title, in order to remain certified. Any certified political party that fails to organize on the precinct level as provided by Section 7-9-50, hold county conventions as provided by Sections 7-9-70 and 7-9-80, and hold a state convention as provided by Section 7-9-100; that fails to nominate candidates for national, state, multi-county district, countywide, or less than countywide office by convention or party primary as provided by Sections 7-11-20, 7-11-30, and 7-13-40; and that fails to certify the candidates as provided by Section 7-13-350 in at least one of two consecutive general elections held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November of an even-numbered year, or that fails to nominate and certify candidates in any other election which might be held within the period of time intervening between the two general elections, must be decertified by the State Election Commission division. The party must be notified in writing of its decertification at the last address of record. If the notification of decertification is returned as undeliverable, it must be placed on file in the office of the State Election Commission and with the division.

Any decertified party or any noncertified party, organization, or association may obtain certification as a political party at any time by filing with the Commission division a petition for the certification signed by ten thousand or more registered electors residing in this State, giving the name of the party, which must be substantially different from the name of any other party previously certified.

No petition for certification may be submitted to the Commission division later than six months prior to any election in which the political party seeking certification wishes to nominate candidates for public office.

At the time a petition is submitted to the Commission division for certification, the Commission division shall issue a receipt to the person submitting the petition which reflects the date the petition was submitted and the total number of signatures contained therein. Once the petition is received by the Commission division, the person submitting the petition shall not submit or add additional signatures.

If the Commission division determines, after checking the validity of the signatures in the petition, that it does not contain the required signatures of registered electors, the person submitting the petition must be notified and shall not submit any new petition seeking certification as a political party under the same name for one year from the date the petition was rejected.

Once a petition for certification has been submitted and rejected by the Commission division, the same signatures may not be submitted in any subsequent petition to certify a new political party.

Once submitted for verification, a petition for certification may not be returned to the political party, organization, or association seeking certification, but shall become a part of the permanent records of the Commission division."

SECTION    23.    Section 7-9-80 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-9-80.    Each county convention shall be called to order by the county chairman and shall proceed to elect a temporary president, a temporary secretary and a committee on credentials for the purpose of organizing. When organized, it shall elect a permanent president, a secretary and treasurer. It shall also elect the county chairman, the county vice-chairman and a member of the State committee from the county and as many delegates to the State convention as triple the number of members from the county in the House of Representatives, plus one. But county conventions at their discretion may elect double the number of delegates in which case each delegate shall have one-half vote. The secretary of the convention shall keep a record of the proceedings in the minute book.

All officers except delegates shall be reported to the clerk of court of the county and to the Secretary of State Division of Elections prior to the state convention. The reports shall be public record."

SECTION    24.    Section 7-9-100 of 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 136 of 1989, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-9-100.    The state convention shall meet at a location in this State determined by the state committee to have adequate facilities during a thirteen-month period ending May fifteenth of every general election year on a day and at a time fixed by the state committee and announced publicly at least ten days before the meeting. The state committee shall notify the delegates to the state convention of the accommodations that are available for the delegates during the convention. This listing must be as complete as practicable and must include the accommodations in close proximity to the convention site as well as any other accommodations that are chosen by the state committee. This notice must include the name and location of the accommodations, the cost per day, and any discounts or surcharges that are applicable during the period of the convention. Should the state committee fix the date for the state convention in a nongeneral election year, it must be held for the purpose of reorganization only. The convention to be held for the purpose of nominating candidates for public office to be filled in the general election must be held in the general election year. At the time that the state committee sets the date for the state convention it shall set what month during the twelve-month period ending March thirty-first of every general election year that the county convention must be held. If it sets a month in a nongeneral election year for the county conventions to be held for the purpose of reorganization, it must set a month during the general election year for the county convention to be reconvened for the purpose of nominating candidates for public office to be filled in the general election. Sufficient advance notice of the month set for county conventions must be given to county executive committees so that the public notices required by law may be met. The convention must be composed of delegates elected by the county conventions. Each county is entitled to one delegate for each six thousand residents of the county, according to the latest official United States Census, plus two additional members. If a county has a fractional portion of population of at least three thousand residents above its last six thousand resident figure it is entitled to an additional delegate. When the state convention assembles, it must be called to order by the chairman of the state committee. A temporary president must be nominated and elected by the convention, and after its organization the convention shall proceed immediately to the election of permanent officers and to the transaction of business. When the business has concluded it shall adjourn sine die, or may recess. The state chairman may recall the state convention into special session at any time he determines appropriate.

The officers of the state convention must be a president, vice president, two secretaries, and a treasurer. Each county delegation to a state convention may fill any vacancies therein. Any county failing or refusing to organize under the provisions of this title may not have representation in the state convention. The state officers must be reported to the Secretary of State and to the State Election Commission Division of Elections within fifteen days of their election and the reports must be public record."

SECTION    25.    Section 7-11-15 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 3 of 2003, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-11-15.    In order to qualify as a candidate to run in the general election, all candidates seeking nomination by political party primary or political party convention must file a statement of intention of candidacy between noon on March sixteenth and noon on March thirtieth as provided in this section.

(1)    Candidates seeking nomination for a statewide, congressional, or district office that includes more than one county must file their statements of intention of candidacy with the state executive committee of their respective party.

(2)    Candidates seeking nomination for the State Senate or House of Representatives must file their statements of intention of candidacy with the county executive committee of their respective party in the county of their residence. The county committees must, within five days of the receipt of the statements, transmit the statements along with the applicable filing fees to the respective state executive committees. However, the county committees must report all filings to the state committees no later than five p.m. on March thirtieth. The state executive committees must certify candidates pursuant to Section 7-13-40.

(3)    Candidates seeking nomination for a countywide or less than countywide office shall file their statements of intention of candidacy with the county executive committee of their respective party.

Except as provided herein, the county executive committee of any political party with whom statements of intention of candidacy are filed must file, in turn, all statements of intention of candidacy with the county election commission by noon on the tenth day following the deadline for filing statements by candidates. If the tenth day falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday, the statements must be filed by noon the following day. The state executive committee of any political party with whom statements of intention of candidacy are filed must file, in turn, all the statements of intention of candidacy with the State Election Commission Division of Elections by noon on the tenth day following the deadline for filing statements by candidates. If the tenth day falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday, the statements must be filed by noon the following day. No candidate's name may appear on a primary election ballot, convention slate of candidates, general election ballot, or special election ballot, except as otherwise provided by law, if (1) the candidate's statement of intention of candidacy has not been filed with the county election commission or State Election Commission Division of Elections, as the case may be, by the deadline and (2) the candidate has not been certified by the appropriate political party as required by Sections 7-13-40 and 7-13-350, as applicable. The candidate's name must appear if the candidate produces the signed and dated copy of his timely filed statement of intention of candidacy.

The statement of intention of candidacy required in this section and in Section 7-13-190(B) must be on a form designed and provided by the State Election Commission Division of Elections. This form, in addition to all other information, must contain an affirmation that the candidate meets, or will meet by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, the qualifications for the office sought. It must be filed in triplicate by the candidate, and the political party committee with whom it is filed must stamp it with the date and time received, sign it, keep one copy, return one copy to the candidate, and send one copy to either the county election commission or the State Election Commission Division of Elections, as the case may be.

If, after the closing of the time for filing statements of intention of candidacy, there are not more than two candidates for any one office and one or more of the candidates dies, or withdraws, the state or county committee, as the case may be, if the nomination is by political party primary or political party convention only may, in its discretion, afford opportunity for the entry of other candidates for the office involved; however, for the office of State House of Representatives or State Senator, the discretion must be exercised by the state committee.

The provisions of this section do not apply to nonpartisan school trustee elections in any school district where local law provisions provide for other dates and procedures for filing statements of candidacy or petitions, and to the extent the provisions of this section and the local law provisions conflict, the local law provisions control."

SECTION    26.    Section 7-11-20 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 489 of 1992, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-11-20.    Party conventions or party primary elections held by political parties certified as such by the State Election Commission Division of Elections under the provisions of this Title to nominate candidates for any of the offices to be filled in a general or special election shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of this Title and in accordance with party rules not in conflict with the provisions of this Title or of the Constitution and laws of this State or of the United States.

A certified political party wishing to hold a presidential primary election may do so in accordance with the provisions of this title and party rules. However, notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the state committee of the party shall set the date and the hours that the polls will be open for the presidential primary election and the filing requirements. If a party holds a presidential primary election on a Saturday, an absentee ballot must be provided to a person who signs an affirmation stating that for religious reasons he does not wish to take part in the electoral process on a Saturday."

SECTION    27.    Section 7-11-40 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-11-40.    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a political party in this State shall nominate candidates by party primary election, the person with whom candidates of that party for the House of Representatives file shall report to the State Election Commission Division of Elections the names and addresses of all candidates so filing within twenty-four hours after the close of the filing period for the House of Representatives."

SECTION    28.    Section 7-11-50 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 81 of 1991, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-11-50.    If a party nominee who was nominated by a method other than party primary election dies, becomes disqualified after his nomination, or resigns his candidacy for a legitimate nonpolitical reason as defined in this section and sufficient time does not remain to hold a convention to fill the vacancy or to nominate a nominee to enter a special election, the respective state or county party executive committee may nominate a nominee for the office, who must be duly certified by the respective county or state chairman.

'Legitimate nonpolitical reason' as used in this section is limited to:

(a)    reasons of health, which include any health condition which, in the written opinion of a medical doctor, would be harmful to the health of the candidate if he continued;

(b)    family crises, which include circumstances which would substantially alter the duties and responsibilities of the candidate to the family or to a family business;

(c)    substantial business conflict, which includes the policy of an employer prohibiting employees being candidates for public offices and an employment change which would result in the ineligibility of the candidate or which would impair his capability to carry out properly the functions of the office being sought.

A candidate who withdraws based upon a legitimate nonpolitical reason which is not covered by the inclusions in (a), (b) or (c) has the strict burden of proof for his reason. A candidate who wishes to withdraw for a legitimate nonpolitical reason shall submit his reason by sworn affidavit.

This affidavit must be filed with the state party chairman of the nominee's party and also with the election commission of the county if the office concerned is countywide or less including members of the General Assembly and with the State Election Commission Division of Elections if the office is statewide. No substitution of candidates is authorized, except for death or disqualification, unless the election commission or Division of Elections to which the affidavit is submitted approves the affidavit as constituting a legitimate nonpolitical reason for the candidate's resignation within ten days of the date the affidavit is submitted to the commission. However, where this party nominee is unopposed each political party registered with the State Election Commission Division of Elections has the privilege of nominating a candidate for the office involved. If the nomination is certified two weeks or more before the date of the general election, that office is to be filled at the general election. If the nomination is certified less than two weeks before the date of the general election, that office must not be filled at the general election but must be filled in a special election to be held on the second Tuesday in the month following the election, provided that the date of the special election to be conducted after the general election may be combined with other necessary elections scheduled to occur within a twenty-eight day period in the manner authorized by Section 7-13-190(D)."

SECTION    29.    Section 7-11-55 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 81 of 1991, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-11-55.    If a party nominee dies, becomes disqualified after his nomination, or resigns his candidacy for a legitimate nonpolitical reason as defined in Section 7-11-50 and was selected through a party primary election, the vacancy must be filled in a special primary election to be conducted as provided in this section. The filing period for this special primary election opens the second Tuesday after the death, disqualification, or approval of the resignation for one week. The special primary election then must be conducted on the second Tuesday immediately following the close of the filing period. A runoff, if necessary, must be held two weeks after the first primary. The nomination must be certified not less than two weeks before the date of the general election. If the nomination is certified two weeks or more before the date of the general election, that office is to be filled at the general election.

If the nomination is certified less than two weeks before the date of the general election, that office must not be filled at the general election but must be filled in a special election to be held on the second Tuesday in the month following the election, provided that the date of the special election to be conducted after the general election may be combined with other necessary elections scheduled to occur within a twenty-eight day period in the manner authorized by Section 7-13-190(D).

The procedures for resigning a candidacy under this section for legitimate nonpolitical reasons are the same as provided in Section 7-11-50.

Where the party nominee was unopposed, each political party registered with the State Election Commission Division of Elections has the privilege of nominating a candidate for the office involved through a special primary election in the same manner and under the same procedures stipulated by this section."

SECTION    30.    Section 7-11-70 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 405 of 1984, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-11-70.    A candidate's nominating petition for any office in this State shall contain the signatures of at least five percent of the qualified registered electors of the geographical area of the office for which he offers as a candidate; provided, that no petition candidate is required to furnish the signatures of more than ten thousand qualified registered electors for any office. The official number of qualified registered electors of the geographical area of any office must be the number of registered electors of such area registered one hundred twenty days prior to the date of the election for which the nomination petition is being submitted.

The petition must be certified to the State Election Commission Division of Elections in the case of national, state, circuit, and multicounty district offices; with the county election commission in the case of countywide or less than countywide offices with the exception of municipal offices; with the clerk of a municipality in case of a municipal office, and the certified petition shall constitute and be kept as a public record."

SECTION    31.    Section 7-11-80 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-11-80.    (A)    All nominating petitions for any political office or petition of any political party seeking certification as such in the State of South Carolina shall be standardized as follows:

(1)    Shall be on good quality original bond paper sized 8 1/2 '' X 14''.

(2)    Shall contain a concise statement of purpose; in the case of nomination of candidates, the name of the candidate, the office for which he offers and the date of the election for such office shall be contained in such petition.

(3)    Shall contain in separate columns from left to right the following:

(a)    Signature of voter and printed name of voter;

(b)    Address of residence where registered; and

(c)    Precinct of voter.

(4)    No single petition page shall contain the signatures of registered voters from different counties.

(5)    All signatures of registered voters shall be numbered consecutively.

(6)    Petitions with more than one page must have the pages consecutively numbered upon filing with the appropriate authority.

(B)    The State Election Commission Division of Elections may furnish petition forms to the county election officials and to interested persons."

SECTION    32.    Section 7-11-85 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-11-85.    Every signature on a petition requiring five hundred or less signatures must be checked for validity by the respective county board of voter registration against the signatures of the voters on the original applications for registration on file in the registration board office. When a petition requires more than five hundred signatures, every one of the first five hundred signatures must be checked for validity and at least one out of every ten signatures thereafter beginning with the five hundred and first signature must be checked for validity. If the projected number of valid signatures, using this percentage method for the signatures over five hundred plus the number of valid signatures in the first five hundred, total at least the number of signatures required by law on the petition, it must be certified as a valid petition. No petition, however, may be rejected if the number of signatures over five hundred checked using the percentage method plus the number of valid signatures in the first five hundred does not total at least the number required by law. If insufficient signatures are found using the percentage method in order to certify as a valid petition, the board of voter registration must check every signature over five hundred separately, or such number over five hundred until the required number of valid signatures is found.

If it is a petition seeking to certify a new political party or if the office for which the petition has been submitted comprises more than one county, and using the percentage method of checking does not result in the required number of valid signatures, the executive director of the Commission Division of Elections shall designate which counties must check additional signatures.

No signatures on a petition may be rejected if the address of a voter, registration certificate number of a voter, or the precinct of a voter, as required by Section 7-11-80, is missing or incorrect if the signature is otherwise valid. The signature of a voter may only be rejected if it is illegible and cannot be found in the records of the board of voter registration, is missing from the petition, or is not that of the voter, or if the registration of the voter has been deleted for any of the reasons named in items (2) or (3) of Subsection (C) of Section 7-3-20.

The board of voter registration shall complete a summary form containing the results of checking any petition and must give the completed form to the requesting authority. The form used for this purpose must be prescribed and provided by the executive director."

SECTION    33.    Section 7-13-15 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-13-15.    Except for municipal primaries, all primaries for national offices, excluding the Office of President, and all primaries for state offices, offices including more than one county, and countywide and less than countywide offices, specifically including, but not limited to, all school boards and school trustees, special purpose district offices, which include, but are not limited to, water, sewer, fire, soil conservation, and other similar district offices, must be conducted by the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the county election commissions on the second Tuesday in June of each general election year."

SECTION    34.    Section 7-13-40 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 236 of 2000, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-13-40.    In the event that a party nominates candidates by party primary, a party primary must be held by the party and conducted by the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the respective county election commissions on the second Tuesday in June of each general election year, and a second and third primary each two weeks successively thereafter, if necessary. Written certification of the names of all candidates to be placed on primary ballots must be made by the political party chairman, vice chairman, or secretary to the State Election Commission Division of Elections or the county election commission, whichever is responsible under law for preparing the ballot, not later than twelve o'clock noon on April ninth, or if April ninth falls on a Saturday or Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday. Political parties nominating candidates by party primary must verify the qualifications of those candidates prior to certification to the appropriate election commission or Division of Elections of the names of candidates to be placed on primary ballots. The written verification required by this section must contain a statement that each candidate certified meets, or will meet by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, the qualifications for office for which he has filed. Political parties must not accept the filing of any candidate who does not or will not by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, meet the qualifications for the office for which the candidate desires to file, and such candidate's name shall not be placed on a primary ballot. The filing fees for all candidates filing to run in all primaries, except municipal primaries, must be transmitted by the respective political parties to the State Election Commission Division of Elections and placed by the executive director of the commission Division of Elections in a special account designated for use in conducting primary elections and must be used for that purpose. The filing fee for each office is one percent of the total salary for the term of that office or one hundred dollars, whichever amount is greater."

SECTION    35.    Section 7-13-50 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 253 of 1992, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-13-50.    A second primary, when necessary, must be held two weeks after the first and is subject to the rules governing the first primary. At the second primary the two candidates among those who do not withdraw their candidacies and who received more votes in the first primary than any other remaining candidate alone shall run for any one office and if only one candidate remains, he is considered nominated, except that if there are two or more vacancies for any particular office, the number of candidates must be double the number of vacancies to be filled if so many candidates remain. In all second primaries the candidate receiving the largest number of votes cast for a given office must be declared the nominee for the office whether or not he has received a majority of the votes cast for that office, and when there are several candidates for several different offices, then the several candidates receiving the largest number of votes for the several positions are considered as nominated for the offices whether or not they received a majority of the votes cast. Other primaries, if necessary, must be ordered in a similar manner by the county election commission or the State Election Commission Division of Elections, as appropriate."

SECTION    36.    Section 7-13-70 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 465 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-13-70.    For the purpose of carrying on general or special elections provided for in Section 7-13-10, the Governor, at least ninety days before the election, must appoint for each county not less than three nor more than five commissioners of election upon the recommendation of the senatorial delegation and at least half of the members of the House of Representatives from the respective counties. The Governor must notify the State Election Commission Division of Elections in writing of the appointments. The division must verify that at least one of the appointees represents the largest political party and one represents the second largest political party as determined by the composition of that county's delegation in the General Assembly or the makeup of the General Assembly as a whole if the county's delegation is composed of only one party's members. The commissioners shall continue in office until their successors are appointed and qualified. After their appointment the commissioners must take and subscribe, before any officer authorized to administer oaths, the following oath of office prescribed by Section 26 of Article III of the Constitution: 'I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am duly qualified, according to the Constitution of this State, to exercise the duties of the office to which I have been appointed, and that I will, to the best of my ability, discharge the duties thereof, and preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of this State and of the United States. So help me God'.

The oath must be immediately filed in the office of the clerk of court of common pleas of the county in which the commissioners are appointed, or if there is no clerk of court, in the office of the Secretary of State.

Commissioners must complete, within eighteen months after their appointment or reappointment, a training and certification program conducted by the State Election Commission division."

SECTION    37.    Section 7-13-72 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 465 of 1996, is amended to read:

"Section 7-13-72.    For the general election held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year, the commissioners of election must appoint three managers of election for each polling place in the county for which they must respectively be appointed for each five hundred electors, or portion of each five hundred electors, registered to vote at the polling place.

For primary elections held on the second Tuesday in June of each general election year, the commissioners of election must appoint three managers of election for each polling place in the county for which they must respectively be appointed for the first five hundred electors registered to vote in each precinct in the county, and may appoint three additional managers for each five hundred electors registered to vote in the precinct above the first five hundred electors, or portion thereof. The commissioners must also appoint from among the managers a clerk for each polling place in the county, and none of the officers may be removed from office except for incompetence or misconduct.

For all other primary, special, or municipal elections, the authority charged by law with conducting the primary, special, or municipal elections must appoint three managers of election for the first five hundred electors registered to vote in each precinct in the county, municipality, or other election district and one additional manager for each five hundred electors registered to vote in the precinct above the first five hundred electors. The authority responsible by law for conducting the election must also appoint from among the managers a clerk for each polling place in a primary, special, or municipal election.

Forty-five days prior to any primary, except municipal primaries, each political party holding a primary may submit to the county election commission a list of prospective managers for each precinct. The county election commission must appoint at least one manager for each precinct from the list of names submitted by each political party holding a primary. However, the county election commission may refuse to appoint any prospective manager for good cause.

No person may be appointed as a manager in a primary, general, or special election who has not completed a training program approved by the State Election Commission Division of Elections concerning his duties and responsibilities as a poll manager and who has not received certification of having completed the training program. The training program and the issuance of certification must be carried out by the county election commission. After their appointment, the managers and clerks must take and subscribe, before any officer authorized to administer oaths, the following oath of office prescribed by Section 26 of Article III of the Constitution: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am duly qualified, according to the Constitution of this State, to exercise the duties of the office to which I have been appointed, and that I will, to the best of my ability, discharge the duties thereof, and preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of this State and of the United States. So help me God".

The oath must be immediately filed in the office of the clerk of court of common pleas of the county in which the managers and clerks are appointed, or if there is no clerk of court, in the office of the Secretary of State. Before opening the polls, the managers of election must take and subscribe the oath provided for in Section 7-13-100. Upon the completion of the canvassing of votes, this oath must be filed with the commissioners of election along with the ballots from that election precinct."

SECTION    38.    Section 7-13-180 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-13-180.    Whenever an amendment to the Constitution of this State shall be voted upon at any election, the commissioners of election of each county in the State shall have such amendment conspicuously posted at each voting precinct in the county upon the day of the election. Such printed amendments shall be furnished to the commissioners of election by the Secretary of State Division of Elections."

SECTION    39.    Section 7-13-310 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-13-310.    In the general elections provided for in Section 7-13-10, there shall be four kinds of ballots called, respectively: "Official Ballot for Presidential Elector"; "Official Ballot for State Offices, United States Senator and Members of Congress"; "Official Ballot for State Senator, Member of the House of Representatives, County, Circuit and Other Offices" and "Official Ballot on Constitutional Amendments or other Propositions Submitted." Each such kind of ballot shall be printed upon different colored paper as shall be provided for by the executive director."

SECTION    40.    Section 7-13-320 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 236 of 2000, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-13-320.    General election ballots shall conform to the following standards and specifications:

(A)    The ballot shall be printed on paper of such thickness that the printing cannot be distinguished from the back and shall be of such size and color as directed by the State Election Commission Division of Elections. If more than one ballot is to be used in any election, each such ballot shall be printed upon different colored paper;

(B)    Across the top of the ballot shall be printed 'Official Ballot, General Election,' beneath which shall be printed the date of the election, the county and the precinct. Above the caption of each ballot shall be one stub, with a perforated line between the stub and the top of the ballot. The stub shall have printed thereon 'Official Ballot, General Election' and then shall appear the name of the county, the precinct and the date of the election. On the right side there shall be a blank line under which there shall be 'Initials of Issuing Officer.' Stubs on ballots for each precinct shall be renumbered consecutively, beginning with No. 1;

(C)    On the ballot for presidential electors there shall be printed, under the titles of the offices, the names of the candidates for President and Vice President of the United States nominated by each political party qualified under the provisions of Section 7-9-10 and those nominated by petition. A separate column shall be assigned to each political party with candidates and to each separate petition slate of candidates on the ballot and each party and each petition candidate's columns shall be separated by distinct black lines. At the head of each column the party or petition name shall be printed in large type and below it a circle, one-half inch in diameter, and below the circle the names of the party's and petition candidates for President and Vice President in that order. On the face of the ballot above the party and petition candidate's column division the following instruction shall be printed in heavy black type:

a.    To vote this ballot make a cross (X) mark in the circle below the name of the political party or petition column for whose candidates you wish to vote.

b.    A vote for the names of a political party's candidates or petition candidates for President and Vice President is a vote for the electors of that party or petition candidates, the names of whom are on file with the Secretary of State.

On the bottom of the ballot shall be printed an identified facsimile of the signature of the Executive Director of the State Election Commission Division of Elections.

The official ballot for presidential electors shall not be combined with any other official ballots.

(D)    The names of candidates offering for any other office shall be placed in the proper place on the appropriate ballot, stating whether it is a state, congressional, legislative, county or other office.

(E)    The names of the several officers to be voted for and the tickets of the parties and petition candidates shall be placed on the ballots in an order as arranged by the State Election Commission division as to those ballots for which it is responsible for distribution and by the commissioners of election for the respective counties as to the ballots for which they are responsible for distribution, including those for State Senator and member of the House of Representatives. If the State Senator or member of the House of Representatives or any other officer is to be elected from more than one county, the commissioners of election from the various counties from which they are to be elected shall assure that there shall be uniformity of placement on the ballots of their respective counties and should the commissioners fail to agree within sixty days prior to the general election, and upon receipt of written certification by at least one commissioner, that they have failed to act, the State Election Commission division shall determine the order of placing the names on the ballots.

(F)    Each county election commission must provide a copy of each ballot style to be used for primary, general, and special elections in the absentee precinct in the county to the Executive Director of the State Election Commission Division of Elections not later than September fifteenth in the case of general elections, and not later than forty days prior to the date of the election in the case of special and primary elections. If the ballot styles are not available by these deadlines, the executive director must determine when absentee ballots for that county will be available. If a determination is made that absentee ballots will not be available in sufficient time to adequately effectuate absentee voting, the executive director is empowered to direct the county board of voter registration to provide the blank ballots provided by Section 7-15-360 until the regular ballots are available. The executive director must also notify the chairman of the county's legislative delegation of his findings and the action taken."

SECTION    41    Section 7-13-325 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 106 of 1989, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-13-325.    The name of a candidate authorized by law to appear on a ballot in a general, special, or primary election in this State for any office may be one of the following or a combination of them:

(1)    the candidate's given name;

(2)    a derivative of the candidate's given name properly acquired under the common law and used in good faith for honest purposes; or

(3)    a nickname which bears no relation to the candidate's given name but which is used in good faith for honest purposes and does not exceed fifteen letters on the ballot.

The derivative name or nickname may not imply professional or social status, an office, or military rank.

A candidate wanting to use a derivative name or a nickname, as permitted by items (2) and (3), respectively, of this section, shall notify the authority responsible by law for conducting the election, in writing, before a deadline for receiving or certifying candidates' names for inclusion on the ballot, the name he wishes to have appear and shall present evidence required by the authority conducting the election that the name indicated is his derivative name or nickname. In deciding whether the name indicated is the candidate's derivative name or nickname, the authority conducting the election shall consider appropriate criteria, including, but not limited to, the following:

(a)    whether the name is the designation by which the candidate is usually and commonly known in the community in which he resides or called by other persons;

(b)    whether the name is the designation by which the candidate calls himself or which he has adopted;

(c)    whether the name is the designation under which the candidate transacts private and official business.

The State Election Commission Division of Elections may promulgate regulations to carry out the provisions of the section, including, but not limited to, forms to be completed by the candidate and the deadline by which a candidate shall indicate the name he wished to have appear on the ballot."

SECTION    42.    Section 7-13-335 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 242 of 1996, is amended to read:

"Section 7-13-335.    The State Election Commission Division of Elections or the local entity responsible for printing general or special election ballots or the arrangement of a ballot by mechanical or electronic means shall conform these ballots to the requirements of Section 7-13-330. The names of candidates in nonpartisan and at-large, multi-seat races must be listed in alphabetical order."

SECTION    43.    Section 7-13-340 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-13-340.    All ballots cast in general elections for national, State, county, municipal, district and circuit officers in the towns, counties, districts, circuits, cities and other political divisions shall be printed and distributed at public expense. The printing and distribution of all ballots, other than the county, State Senator, member of the House of Representatives, local or circuit ballots herein designated, the ballots for elections in cities and towns and the ballots for election on bonds or other local measures, shall be arranged and handled by the State Election Commission Division of Elections and shall be paid for by the State. The State Election Commission division shall have all necessary ballots for elections for presidential electors, State officers, United States Senators and members of Congress printed, and shall deliver such ballots to the various county commissioners of election at least ten days prior to the date of the election and the county commissioners of election shall place such ballots in ballot boxes for distribution to the election managers of the various precincts.

The printing and distribution of ballots in all State Senate, member of the House of Representatives, county, local and circuit elections shall be arranged and handled by the commissioners of election of the several counties and shall be paid for by the respective counties, and the commissioners of election shall place such ballots in ballot boxes for distribution to the election managers of the various precincts. The printing and distribution of ballots in all municipal elections shall be arranged and handled by the municipal authorities conducting such elections and shall be paid for by the municipalities.

The terms 'municipal' and 'municipalities' as used in this section shall be construed to include school districts, public service districts and like political subdivisions."

SECTION    44.    Section 7-13-350(B) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 393 of 2003, is further amended to read:

"(B)    Candidates for President and Vice President must be certified not later than twelve o'clock noon on September tenth to the State Election Commission Division of Elections, or if September tenth falls on Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday."

SECTION    45.    The second paragraph of Section 7-13-351 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 236 of 2000, is further amended to read:

"The petition of any candidate in any special election, including municipal special elections, must be submitted to the authority charged with printing the ballot for those offices not later than twelve o'clock noon on the sixtieth day prior to the date of the holding of the election, or if the sixtieth day falls on Sunday, by not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday. At the time a petition is submitted, the authority charged with accepting it must issue a receipt to the person submitting the petition which must reflect the date the petition was submitted and the total number of signatures contained in the petition. The candidate submitting the petition must certify, on a form designed and provided by the State Election Commission Division of Elections, that he meets, or will meet by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, the qualifications for the office sought. The board of voter registration of each respective county must check the petition at the request of the authority charged with printing of the ballots for that office and must certify the results thereof to the authority not later than twelve o'clock noon on the forty-fifth day prior to the date of holding the election, or if the forty-fifth day falls on Sunday, by twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday.

SECTION    46.    Section 7-13-355 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 131 of 1987, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-13-355.    No question may be submitted to the qualified electors in a referendum held at the time of a general election unless the question is submitted to the appropriate election commission or Division of Elections to be placed on the ballot no later than 12:00 noon on August fifteenth or, if August fifteenth falls on Saturday or Sunday, not later than 12:00 noon on the following business day."

SECTION    47.    Section 7-13-420 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-13-420.    The printer with whom the executive director, commissioners of election or other authority, as the case may be, shall contract for the printing of official ballots shall, before the work is commenced, take an oath before the Executive Director of the State Election Commission Division of Elections or the chairman of the commissioners or other authority, as the case may be, who may administer such oath, to the following effect: "I, __________, do solemnly swear that I will print (here insert number) ballots according to the instructions of the __________ of __________; that I will not print or permit to be printed, directly or indirectly, more than the above number; that I will at once destroy all imperfect and perfect impressions other than those required to be delivered to the electoral board; that as soon as said number of ballots is printed I will distribute the type used for such work and that I will not communicate to anyone whomsoever, in any manner whatsoever, the size, style or contents of such ballots.

The above oath shall be reduced to writing and signed by the person taking it and also a similar affidavit shall be required of any employee or other person engaged upon the work or who shall have access to it. Any intentional violation of such oath shall constitute the crime of perjury. Any other violation of the provisions of this section shall be a misdemeanor and punished by a fine of one hundred dollars or imprisonment for thirty days in jail.

Nothing herein contained shall be construed to prohibit the executive director, the commissioners or other authority from publishing or otherwise disclosing the contents, style and size of ballots required to be printed by them which they are respectively authorized and empowered to publish or otherwise disclose."

SECTION    48.    Section 7-13-610 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 242 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-13-610.    (A)    The State Election Commission Division of Elections and the respective county election commissions shall prepare separate ballots for each political party holding a primary. The ballots for each party must contain in print only the names of the candidates who have filed to run in that particular party primary and must have a stub at the top perforated so as to be easily detached. On the stub must be printed 'Official state (or county) Ballot, (name of party) Primary', the name of the county and the precinct, and the date of the primary. On the right side there must be a blank line under which must be printed 'Initials of Issuing Officer'. Stubs on ballots for each precinct must be numbered consecutively, beginning with 'No. 1'. The ballots must be furnished by the State Election Commission division for all except members of the General Assembly, county officers, less than county officers, and circuit solicitors, for which the county election commission shall furnish the ballots. One ballot must contain the names of all persons in alphabetical order running for state and federal offices. The other ballot must contain, in alphabetical order, the names of all persons running for the General Assembly, county offices, less than county officers, and solicitors.

(B)    Ballots furnished by the State Election Commission division under this section must have marked on them in plain type, both on the stub and on the ballot, the words 'Official State Ballot'. Ballots furnished by the county election commission under this section must have marked on them in plain type, both on the stub and on the ballot, the words 'Official County Ballot'.

(C)    The ballot must be printed on paper of a thickness so that the printing cannot be distinguished from the back and must be of a size and color as directed by the State Election Commission division. If more than one ballot is to be used in a primary, each ballot must be printed on different colored paper. The ballot must contain a voting square opposite the name of each candidate, and the voter shall vote by putting a mark in the voting square opposite the name of the candidate of his choice. The State Election Commission division may establish, under Chapter 23 of Title 1, such rules and regulations as are necessary for the proper administration of this section."

SECTION    49.    The last paragraph of Section 7-13-611 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 253 of 1992, is further amended to read:

"The State Election Commission Division of Elections is hereby empowered to promulgate such rules and regulations under Chapter 23 of Title 1 as are necessary for the arrangement of the official county ballot."

SECTION    50.    Section 7-13-710 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 459 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-13-710.    When any person presents himself to vote, he shall produce his valid South Carolina driver's license or other form of identification containing a photograph issued by the Department of Public Safety, if he is not licensed to drive, or the written notification of registration provided for by Sections 7-5-125 and 7-5-180 if the notification has been signed by the elector. If the elector loses or defaces his registration notification, he may obtain a duplicate notification from his county board of registration upon request in person, or by telephone or mail. After presentation of the required identification, his name must be checked by one of the managers on the margin of the page opposite his name upon the registration books, or copy of the books, furnished by the board of registration. The managers shall keep a poll list which must contain one column headed 'Names of Voters'. Before any ballot is delivered to a voter, the voter shall sign his name on the poll list, which must be furnished to the appropriate election officials by the State Election Commission Division of Elections. At the top of each page the voter's oath appropriate to the election must be printed. The signing of the poll list or the marking of the poll list is considered to be an affirmation of the oath by the voter. One of the managers shall compare the signature on the poll list with the signature on the voter's driver's license, registration notification, or other identification and may require further identification of the voter and proof of his right to vote under this title as he considers necessary. If the voter is unable to write or if the voter is prevented from signing by physical handicap, he may sign his name to the poll list by mark with the assistance of one of the managers."

SECTION    51.    Section 7-13-1160 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-13-1160.    Within twenty-four hours of the completion of the canvassing and counting of ballots, the persons in charge of each such election in each county shall notify the State Election Commission Division of Elections of the unofficial results of such election in each such county; provided, however, that failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall not invalidate the votes cast therein."

SECTION    52.    Section 7-13-1330 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 103 of 1999, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-13-1330.    (A)    Before any kind of vote recorder system, including an optical scan voting system, is used at any election, it shall be approved by the State Election Commission Division of Elections which shall examine the vote recorder and shall make and file in the commission's division's office a report, attested by the signature of the executive director, stating whether, in the opinion of the commission division, the kind of vote recorder so examined can be accurately and efficiently used by electors at elections, as provided by law. No vote recorder or optical scan voting system may be approved for use in the State unless certified by an Independent Testing Authority (ITA) accredited by the National Association of State Election Directors and the State Election Commission Division of Elections as meeting or exceeding the minimum requirements of the Federal Election Commission's national voting system standards. If this report states that the vote recorder can be so used, the recorder shall be considered approved and vote recorders of its kind may be adopted for use at elections, as herein provided.

(B)    No kind of vote recorder not approved pursuant to this section shall be used at any election and if, upon the reexamination of any type vote recorder previously approved, it appears that the vote recorder so reexamined can no longer be accurately and efficiently used by electors at elections as provided by law, the approval of the vote recorder must immediately be revoked by the State Election Commission Division of Elections, and no such type vote recorder shall thereafter be purchased for use or used in this State.

(C)    If a vote recorder, including an optical scan voting system, which was approved for use before July 1, 1999, is improved or otherwise changed in a way since its approval that does not impair its accuracy, efficiency, or capacity, the vote recorder may be used in elections. However, if the software, hardware, or firmware of the system is improved or otherwise changed, the system must comply with the requirements of subsection (A).

(D)    Any person or company who requests an examination of any type of vote recorder or optical scan voting system shall pay a nonrefundable examination fee of one thousand dollars for a new voting system and a nonrefundable examination fee of five hundred dollars for an upgrade to any existing system to the State Election Commission Division of Elections. The State Election Commission Division of Elections may at any time, in its discretion, reexamine any vote recorder or optical scan voting system when evidence is presented to the commission division that the accuracy or the ability of the system to be used satisfactorily in the conduct of elections is in question.

(E)    Any person or company who seeks approval for any vote recorder or optical scan voting system in this State must file with the State Election Commission Division of Elections a list of all states or jurisdictions in which the system has been approved for use. This list must state how long the system has been used in the state; contain the name, address, and telephone number of that state or jurisdiction's chief election official; and must disclose any reports compiled by state or local government concerning the performance of the system. The vendor is responsible for filing this information on an ongoing basis.

(F)    Any person or company who seeks approval for any vote recorder or optical scan voting system must file with the State Election Commission Division of Elections copies of all contracts and maintenance agreements used in connection with the sale of the voting system. All changes to standard contracts and maintenance agreements must be filed with the State Election Commission Division of Elections.

(G)    Any person or company who seeks approval for any vote recorder or optical scan voting system must conduct, under the supervision of the State Election Commission Division of Elections and any county election commission, a field test for any new voting system, as part of the certification process. The field test shall involve South Carolina voters and election officials and must be conducted as part of a scheduled primary, general, or special election. This test must be held in two or more precincts, and all costs relating to the voting system must be borne by the vendor. The test must be designed to gauge voter reaction to the system, problems that voters have with the system, and the number of voting units required for the efficient operation of an election. The test must also demonstrate the accuracy of votes cast and reported on the system.

(H)    Before any vote recorder or optical scan voting system approved after July 1, 1999, may be used in elections in the State, all source codes for the system must be placed in escrow by the manufacturer, at the manufacturer's expense, with the approved software ITA. These source codes must be available to the State Election Commission Division of Elections in the event that the company goes out of business, pursuant to court order, or in the event that the State Election Commission Division of Elections determines that an examination of these source codes is necessary. It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to place all updates of these source codes in escrow and to notify the State Election Commission Division of Elections that this requirement has been met.

(I)    After a vote recorder or optical scan voting system is approved, an improvement or change in the system must be submitted to the State Election Commission Division of Elections for approval pursuant to this section; however, this requirement does not apply to the technical capability of a general purpose computer or reader to electronically count and record votes or to a printer to accurately reproduce vote totals.

(J)    If the State Election Commission Division of Elections determines that a vote recorder or optical scan voting system that was approved no longer meets the requirements set forth in subsections (A) and (C) or Section 7-13-1340, the commission division may decertify that system. A decertified system shall not be used in elections unless the system is reapproved by the commission division under subsections (A) and (C).

(K)    Neither a member of the State Election Commission Division of Elections, any county election commission or custodian, nor a member of a county governing body shall have any pecuniary interest in any vote recorder, or in the manufacture or sale of the vote recorder."

SECTION    53.    Item (k) of Section 7-13-1340 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 103 of 1999, is amended to read:

"(k)    If approved after July 1, 1999, or if an upgrade in software, hardware, or firmware is submitted for approval as required by Section 7-13-1330(C), the voting system must be able to electronically transmit vote totals for all elections to the State Election Commission Division of Elections in a format and time frame specified by the commission division."

SECTION    54.    Section 7-13-1360(c) of the 1976 Code is amended read:

"(c)    The form and arrangement of ballot labels shall be prescribed and prepared by the State Election Commission Division of Elections."

SECTION    55.    Section 7-13-1370 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-13-1370.    Ballot cards shall be of suitable design, size and stock, as prescribed by the State Election Commission Division of Elections, to permit processing by a tabulating machine. A serially-numbered stub and strip shall be attached to each ballot card in a manner and form similar to that prescribed by law for paper ballots."

SECTION    56.    Section 7-13-1371(B) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 418 of 1992, is further amended to read:

"(B)    The State Election Commission Division of Elections must establish the form of a sign to be displayed in any polling place utilizing an optical scanning device. This sign must notify voters to vote both sides of the ballot card and must be displayed in three conspicuous places in the polling place."

SECTION    57.    Section 7-13-1380 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-13-1380.    Electors shall be permitted to cast write-in votes. The design of the ballot card shall permit the managers in counting the write-in votes to determine readily whether an elector has cast any write-in vote not authorized by law. The State Election Commission Division of Elections in specifying the form of the ballot shall provide for ballot secrecy in connection with write-in votes."

SECTION    58.    Section 7-13-1390(c) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(c)    On or before the third day preceding an election, the county election officials shall have the tabulating machines tested to ascertain that they will correctly count the votes cast for all offices and on all questions. Public notice of the time and place of the test shall be made at least five days prior thereto. Representatives of political parties and bodies, candidates, news media and the public shall be permitted to observe such tests. The test shall be conducted by processing a preaudited group of ballot cards clearly marked for such purpose, not to exceed fifty for each candidate or question, so punched or marked as to record a predetermined number of valid votes for each candidate and on each question, and shall include for each office one or more ballot cards which have votes in excess of or less than the number allowed by law in order to test the ability of the tabulating machine to reject such votes. The tabulating machine shall not be approved unless it produces an errorless counting. If any error is detected, the cause therefor shall be ascertained and corrected, and an errorless count shall be made before the machine is approved. The same test shall be repeated immediately before the start of the official count of the ballot cards and at the conclusion of such count. The county election officials or custodian shall also prepare the vote recorders for voting at the various polling places to be used in the election. In preparing the vote recorders, they shall arrange the recorders and the ballot labels so that they meet all requirements of voting and counting at such primary or election, thoroughly inspect and test the vote recorders, and file a certificate, as prescribed by the State Election Commission Division of Elections, in the office of the county election officials that the recorders are in proper order with correct ballot labels."

SECTION    59.    Section 7-13-1400(b)(3) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(3) A seal for sealing the vote recorder after the polls are closed and such other materials and supplies as may be necessary or as may be required by law or by rules and regulations of the State Election Commission Division of Elections."

SECTION    60.    Section 7-13-1490 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-13-1490.    The State Election Commission Division of Elections shall adopt and promulgate such regulations and instructions and design such forms as it may deem necessary to carry out the purposes of this article. A sufficient number of such regulations, instructions and forms shall be distributed to each county election commission using the voting and counting equipment authorized by the provisions of this article."

SECTION    61.    Section 7-13-1620 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 103 of 1999, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-13-1620.    (A)    Before any kind of voting machine, including an electronic voting machine, is used at any election, it must be approved by the State Election Commission Division of Elections which shall examine the voting machine and make and file in the commission's division's office a report, attested to by the signature of the commission's executive division's director, stating whether, in the commission's division's opinion, the kind of voting machine so examined can be accurately and efficiently used by electors at elections, as provided by law. No voting machine may be approved for use in the State unless certified by an Independent Testing Authority (ITA) accredited by the National Association of State Election Directors and the State Election Commission Division of Elections as meeting or exceeding the minimum requirements of the Federal Election Commission's national voting system standards.

(B)    When a voting machine has been approved for use before July 1, 1999, it may be used in elections. However, if the system's software or firmware is improved or changed, the system must comply with the requirements of subsection (A).

(C)    Any person or company who requests an examination of any type of voting machine must pay a nonrefundable examination fee of one thousand dollars for a new voting system. A nonrefundable examination fee of five hundred dollars must be paid for an upgrade to any existing system. The State Election Commission Division of Elections may reexamine any voting machine when evidence is presented to the commission division that the accuracy or the ability of the machine to be used satisfactorily in the conduct of elections is in question.

(D)    Any person or company who seeks approval for any type of voting machine in this State must file with the State Election Commission Division of Elections a list of all states or jurisdictions in which that voting machine has been approved for use. This list must state how long the machine has been used in the state; contain the name, address, and telephone number of that state or jurisdiction's chief election official; and disclose any reports compiled by state or local government concerning the performance of the machine. The vendor is responsible for filing this information on an ongoing basis.

(E)    Any person or individual who seeks approval for any type of voting machine must file with the State Election Commission Division of Elections copies of all contracts and maintenance agreements used in connection with the sale of the voting machine. All changes to standard contracts and maintenance agreements must be filed with the State Election Commission Division of Elections.

(F)    Any person or company who seeks approval for any voting machine must conduct, under the supervision of the State Election Commission Division of Elections and any county election commission, a field test for any new voting machine, as part of the certification process. The field test shall involve South Carolina voters and election officials and must be conducted as part of a scheduled primary, general, or special election. This test must be held in two or more precincts, and all costs relating to the use of the voting machine must be borne by the vendor. The test must be designed to gauge voter reaction to the machine, problems that voters have with the machine, and the number of units required for the efficient operation of an election. The test must also demonstrate the accuracy of votes reported on the machine.

(G)    Before any voting machine, approved after July 1, 1999, may be used in elections in the State, all source codes for the system must be placed in escrow by the manufacturer at the manufacturer's expense with the approved software ITA. These source codes must be available to the State Election Commission Division of Elections in the event that the company goes out of business, pursuant to court order, or in the event that the State Election Commission Division of Elections determines that an examination of these source codes is necessary. It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to place all updates of these source codes in escrow and to notify the State Election Commission Division of Elections that this requirement had been met.

(H)    After a voting machine is approved, an improvement or change in the machine must be submitted to the State Election Commission Division of Elections for approval pursuant to this section; however, this requirement does not apply to the technical capability of a general purpose computer, reader, or printer.

(I)    If the State Election Commission Division of Elections determines that a voting machine that was approved no longer meets the requirements of subsections (A) and (B) or Section 7-13-1640, the commission division may decertify that machine. A decertified machine shall not be used in an election unless it is reapproved by the commission division under subsections (A) and (B).

(J)    No employee or member of the State Election Commission Division of Elections, county election commission, custodian, or member of a county governing body may have any pecuniary interest in any voting machine or in the manufacture or sale of any voting machine."

SECTION    62    Section 7-13-1640(C) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 103 of 1999, is further amended to read:

"(C)    If approved after July 1, 1999, or if an upgrade in software, hardware, or firmware is submitted for approval as required by Section 7-13-1620(B), the voting system must be able to electronically transmit vote totals for all elections to the State Election Commission Division of Elections in a format and time frame specified by the commission division."

SECTION    63.    Section 7-13-2120 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-13-2120.    To establish an agency to determine whether or not a proposed constitutional amendment requires a simplified or more detailed explanation as provided for in Section 7-13-2110, there is hereby created the Constitutional Ballot Commission composed of the Attorney General, the Director of the State Election Commission Division of Elections and the Director of the Legislative Council. Prior to the printing of ballots in each general election year in which proposed constitutional amendments are voted upon, the Commission shall meet at the call of the Attorney General and:

(1)    Consider each proposed amendment and make a determination as to whether or not a simplified or more detailed explanation is necessary or appropriate; and

(2)    In those cases where it is determined that an explanation is deemed necessary or appropriate, phrase such explanation and submit it to the State Election Commission Division of Elections under the signatures of at least a majority of the ballot commissioners. The Election Commission division shall arrange for the placement of amendment explanations on ballots and make them available to the news media, upon request, at least ten days prior to the general election."

SECTION    64.    Section 7-15-10 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 434 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-15-10.    The State Election Commission Division of Elections is responsible for carrying out the provisions of Article 3 and Article 5 of this chapter. The commission division may promulgate regulations, and must have drafted, printed, and distributed all forms that are required to make it possible for persons listed in Section 7-15-320 to vote by absentee ballot in primary, general, and special elections. Regulations promulgated pursuant to this section must be promulgated in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act."

SECTION    65.    The first paragraph of Section 7-15-340 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 434 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"The application required in Section 7-15-330 to be submitted to these election officials must be in a form prescribed and distributed by the State Election Commission Division of Elections; except that persons listed in Section 7-15-320(2), (3), (6), and (10) may use Standard Form 76, or any subsequent form replacing it, provided by the federal government as a simultaneous request for registration and an absentee ballot or a request for an absentee ballot if already registered."

SECTION    66.    Section 7-15-385 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 416 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-15-385.    Upon receipt of the ballot or ballots, the absentee ballot applicant must mark each ballot on which he wishes to vote and place each ballot in the single envelope marked 'Ballot Herein' which in turn must be placed in the return-addressed envelope. The applicant must then return the return-addressed envelope to the board of registration by mail, by personal delivery, or by authorizing another person to return the envelope for him. The authorization must be given in writing on a form prescribed by the State Election Commission Division of Elections and must be turned in to the board of registration at the time the envelope is returned. The voter must sign the form, or in the event the voter cannot write because of a physical handicap or illiteracy, the voter must make his mark and have the mark witnessed by someone designated by the voter. The authorization must be preserved as part of the record of the election, and the board of registration must note the authorization and the name of the authorized returnee in the record book required by Section 7-15-330. A candidate or a member of a candidate's paid campaign staff including volunteers reimbursed for time expended on campaign activity is not permitted to serve as an authorized returnee for any person unless the person is a member of the voter's immediate family as defined in Section 7-15-310. The oath set forth in Section 7-15-380 must be signed and witnessed on each returned envelope. The board of registration must record in the record book required by Section 7-15-330 the date the return-addressed envelope with witnessed oath and enclosed ballot or ballots is received by the board. The board must securely store the envelopes in a locked box within the office of the registration board."

SECTION    67.    Section 7-15-400 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-15-400.    (A)    A qualified absentee elector as provided in subsection (C) of this section may apply not earlier than ninety days before an election for a special write-in absentee ballot. This ballot must be used for each general and special election and primaries for federal offices, statewide offices, and members of the General Assembly.

(B)    The application for a special write-in absentee ballot may be made on the federal postcard application form or on a form prescribed by the State Election Commission Division of Elections.

(C)    In order to qualify for a special write-in absentee ballot, the voter must state that he is unable to vote by regular absentee ballot or in person due to requirements of military service or due to living in isolated areas or extremely remote areas of the world. This statement may be made on the federal postcard application or on a form prepared by the State Election Commission Division of Elections and supplied and returned with the special write-in absentee ballot.

(D)    Upon receipt of this application, the County Board of Registration shall issue the special write-in absentee ballot which must be prescribed and provided by the State Election Commission Division of Elections. The ballot shall list the offices for election in the general election. It may list the candidates for office if known at the time of election. This ballot shall permit the elector to vote by writing in a party preference for each office, the names of specific candidates for each office, or the name of the person whom the voter prefers for each office."

SECTION    68.    Section 7-15-460 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 275 of 1992, is amended to read:

"Section 7-15-460.    In the event of an emergency, as defined in this section, the State Election Commission Division of Elections must, in cooperation with United States government agencies, take all steps and action as may be necessary, including, but not limited to, electronic transmissions of Standard Form 76 issued by the federal government as an application for voter registration and an application for absentee ballots and electronic transmissions of absentee ballots to or from any elector in the United States armed services, to ensure that all South Carolina residents located in the immediate area of the emergency, who are serving on active duty in the armed services of the United States, in the Reserve or Guard components of the United States armed services having been called to active military duty, or as civilian personnel with the armed forces of the United States, have the opportunity to receive and cast any ballot they would have been eligible to cast if they resided in and had remained in South Carolina.

'Emergency' means any war, conflict, military action, or military mobilization outside the continental United States in which United States forces are involved which would make it impractical for South Carolina citizens serving in the United States armed services to register to vote or vote in person in the normal manner.

The State Election Commission Division of Elections shall promulgate regulations necessary for the implementation of this section."

SECTION    69.    Section 7-15-470 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 83 of 2001, is amended to read:

"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 Division of Elections 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 Division of Elections must develop standards and guidelines for these purposes."

SECTION    70.    Section 7-17-90 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-17-90.    Except in the case of the election for electors for President and Vice-President, duplicate statements shall be made and filed in the office of the clerk of the county or, if there be no such clerk duly qualified according to law, in the office of the State Election Commission Division of Elections."

SECTION    71.    Section 7-17-210 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-17-210.    The State Election Commission Division of Elections shall, ex officio, constitute the Board of State Canvassers."

SECTION    72.    Section 7-17-220 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 276 of 1992, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-17-220.    Unless otherwise provided in Section 7-3-10(c), the Board of State Canvassers shall meet at the office of the Election Commission Division of Elections within ten days after any general election for the purpose of canvassing the vote for all officers voted for at such election, including the vote for the electors for President and Vice-President, and for the purpose of canvassing the vote on all Constitutional Amendments and questions and other issues."

SECTION    73.    Section 7-17-330 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-17-330.    The Secretary of State shall prepare a general certificate, under the seal of the State and attested by him as Secretary thereof, addressed to the House of Representatives of the United States in that Congress for which any person shall have been chosen, of the due election of such person as Representative of this State in Congress and shall transmit the same to such House of Representatives at their first meeting."

SECTION    74.    Section 7-17-510 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 253 of 1992, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-17-510.    The commissioners of election for the counties shall meet in a convenient place in the county seat on the Thursday next following the primary, before one o'clock p.m. of that day and shall organize as the county board of canvassers for primaries. They may appoint a competent person as secretary. The chairman shall administer the constitutional oath to each member of the board and to the secretary. The secretary shall administer to the chairman the same oath. Each county board of canvassers for primaries shall canvass the votes of the county and declare the results. The county board of canvassers for primaries shall make statements of the votes of the precincts of its county as the nature of the primary requires not later than twelve o'clock noon on the Saturday next following the primary and at that time transmit and certify to the Board of State Canvassers the results of its findings. This procedure must be repeated following every primary runoff. The Board of State Canvassers shall meet at the office of the State Election Commission Division of Elections and shall canvass the vote and declare the results of the primaries and the runoffs no later than twelve o' clock noon on the Saturday next following the primary in the State for state offices, federal offices, and offices involving more than one county."

SECTION    75.    The third paragraph of Section 7-17-530 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 63 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"The chairman of the committee must conduct the hearing as nearly as possible in accordance with the procedures and rules of evidence observed by the circuit courts of this State. The chairman has authority to administer oaths and subpoena witnesses. Upon the conclusion of the hearing on the protests, the committee shall determine all issues by majority vote and forthwith certify the results of the election. The State Election Commission Division of Elections shall pay for the costs of the court reporter and the transcript of the hearing. This transcript must be filed with the appropriate state executive committee no later than 10:00 a.m. Saturday next following the decision of the county executive committee."

SECTION    76.    Section 7-17-550 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 63 of 1997, is further amended to read:

"Section 7-17-550.    The state executive committee must meet in Columbia not later than twelve noon on Saturday next following the filing of any notice perfected under Section 7-17-540 for the purpose of hearing appeals. The appellant and each other candidate in the protested race have the right to be present at the hearing, to be represented by counsel, and to be heard on the merits of the appeal. The state committee is bound by the facts as determined by the county committee. However, if in the opinion of at least eighteen members of the state committee the facts should be reviewed, then a hearing de novo must be held by the state committee. In the event of a review of the facts, the state committee may receive any new evidence or exhibits as it in its discretion considers necessary to determine the appeal. The state committee must remain in session until all appeals have been disposed of. The State Election Commission Division of Elections shall pay for the costs of the court reporter and the transcript of the hearing."

SECTION    77.    The second paragraph of Section 7-17-570 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 253 of 1992, is further amended to read:

"The protestant and each other candidate in the protested race shall have the right to be present at the hearing, to be represented by counsel, to examine and cross-examine witnesses and to produce evidence relevant to the grounds of the protest. The chairman of the committee shall provide for and conduct the hearing as nearly as possible in accordance with the procedures and rules of evidence observed by the circuit courts of this State. The chairman shall have authority to administer oaths and subpoena witnesses. Upon the conclusion of the hearing of the protest the committee shall determine all issues by majority vote and forthwith certify the results of the election. The State Election Commission Division of Elections shall pay for the costs of the court reporter and the transcript of the hearing."

SECTION    78.    Section 14-7-130 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 257 of 2000, is further amended to read:

"Section 14-7-130.    In September of each year, the Department of Public Safety shall furnish the State Election Commission Division of Elections a computer tape of the name, address, date of birth, social security number, sex, and race of persons who are over the age of eighteen years and citizens of the United States residing in each county who hold a valid South Carolina driver's license or an identification card issued pursuant to Section 57-3-910. The computer tape also must include persons who have obtained a valid South Carolina driver's license or identification card during the previous year, and exclude persons whose driver's license or identification card has not been renewed or has been invalidated by judicial or administrative action. In October of each year, the State Election Commission Division of Elections shall furnish a jury list to county jury commissioners consisting of a tape or list derived by merging the list of registered voters in the county with county residents appearing on the tape furnished by the department, but only those licensed drivers and identification cardholders who are eligible to register to vote may be included in the list. Before furnishing the list, the commission must make every effort to eliminate duplicate names and names of persons disqualified from registering to vote or voting pursuant to the laws and Constitution of this State. As furnished to the jury commissioners by the State Election Commission Division of Elections, the list or tape constitutes the roll of eligible jurors in the county. Expenses of the Department of Public Safety and State Election Commission Division of Elections in implementing this section must be borne by these agencies."

SECTION    79.    Section 14-7-150 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 14-7-150.    The jury box of a county shall contain the same number of capsules or containers as there are names on the jury list prepared by the jury commissioners from the latest official list furnished to the county by the State Election Commission Division of Elections each year and provided to the clerk of court of each county not later than December first of the calendar year. The capsules or containers must be small, opaque, and as similar in size, shape, and color as possible at the time of original purchase or the repurchase of additional capsules. By a slip of paper placed therein, each capsule or container must be numbered, beginning with number 'one' and continuing consecutively through the number of qualified electors on the jury list prepared by the jury commissioners as hereinbefore provided. All these papers must be of similar kind, color, and weight so as to resemble each other as much as possible without distinguishing marks. The capsules or containers so prepared must be placed in the jury box constructed as required by law."

SECTION    80.    Section 14-7-390 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 14-7-390.    The clerk of court of a county may serve a summons for jury duty by first class mail. In the alternative, the clerk of court of any county may contract with the State Election Commission Division of Elections to serve a summons for jury duty by first class mail. Should the clerk of court of any county not choose to use either of the procedures for summoning jurors provided by this section, the clerk may summon jurors as provided by Section 14-7-410 or the sheriff shall serve jurors as provided by Section 14-7-400."

SECTION    81.    Section 14-25-155 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 14-25-155.    The jury list of the municipality shall be composed of all names on the official list of qualified electors of the municipality furnished to the municipality by the State Election Commission Division of Elections each year, or copied from the official voter registration list of the municipality.

Compartment 'A' of the jury box shall contain a separate ballot or number for each name on the jury list."

SECTION    82.    Section 22-2-30 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 22-2-30.    In establishing the jury areas, the chief magistrate for administration of the county may call upon the service of the Research and Statistical Services Division of the State Budget and Control Board and the Senate Research staff for demographic information and the State Election Commission Division of Elections for precinct and voter registration information. Upon establishment of the jury areas in a county, but no later than January 1, 1980, the chief magistrates for administration of the counties shall submit to the Legislative Council the boundaries of the jury areas. The Legislative Council shall prepare the necessary legislation to establish the jury areas for introduction in the General Assembly by the respective Judiciary Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives. All acts adopting jury areas shall be printed in the Code of Laws of South Carolina."

SECTION    83.    Section 22-2-50 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 304 of 2004, is further amended to read:

"Section 22-2-50.    In October of each year, the State Election Commission Division of Elections must provide to the chief magistrate for administration of each county, at no cost, a jury list compiled in accordance with the provisions of Section 14-7-130. The chief magistrate for administration of the county must use these lists in preparing, for each jury area, a list of the qualified electors in these jury areas, and must forward these lists to the respective magistrates.

"

SECTION    84.    Section 33-56-20(1)(b)(ii) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 336 of 2000, is further amended to read:

"(ii)    a candidate for national, state, or local office or a political party or other group required to file information with the Federal Election Commission or State Election Commission."

SECTION    85.    Section 48-11-100(B) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 340 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"(B)    The first directors of the watershed conservation district after the district has been created must be elected in a nonpartisan election conducted by the county election commission when county officers are elected in the general election. To be placed on the ballot each candidate shall submit to the county election commission a declaration of candidacy not later than noon, September 1, or if this date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday, not later than noon the following Monday. If a watershed district lies in more than one county the required declaration of candidacy must be filed with the State Election Commission Division of Elections. This election must be conducted pursuant to Title 7, mutatis mutandis, except as otherwise provided in this section. The five elected directors, under the general supervision of the board of commissioners of the soil and water conservation district, are the governing body of the watershed conservation district."

SECTION    86.    The first paragraph of Section 56-1-90 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 459 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"The department may require every applicant to submit for identification purposes proof of name, Social Security number, and date and place of birth when applying for a driver's license. An applicant for a driver's license, driver's permit, or special identification card or a renewal thereof may sufficiently prove the existence and validity of his Social Security number, for purposes of Section 14-7-130, by any reasonably reliable document containing the Social Security number. Such a document includes, but is not limited to, an official Social Security card, Social Security check, Social Security form SSA-1099, letter from the Social Security Administration, voter registration card, payroll stub, Federal W-2 form, or U.S. military identification card. The numbers may also be obtained from the Department of Revenue pursuant to Section 12-54-240(B)(7) which permits the Department of Revenue to submit taxpayer Social Security numbers to the department and to the State Election Commission Division of Elections."

SECTION    87.    Section 61-6-2010(C)(1) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 70 of 2003, is further amended to read:

"(1)    Permits authorized by this section may be issued only in those counties or municipalities where a majority of the qualified electors voting in a referendum vote in favor of the issuance of the permits. The county or municipal election commission, as the case may be, shall conduct a referendum upon petition of at least ten percent but not more than seven thousand five hundred qualified electors of the county or municipality, as the case may be. The petition form must be submitted to the election commission not less than one hundred twenty days before the date of the referendum. The names on the petition must be on the petition form provided to county election officials by the State Election Commission Division of Elections. The names on the petition must be certified by the election commission within sixty days after receiving the petition form. The referendum must be conducted at the next general election. The election commission shall cause a notice to be published in a newspaper circulated in the county or municipality, as the case may be, at least seven days before the referendum. The state election laws shall apply to the referendum, mutatis mutandis. The election commission shall publish the results of the referendum and certify them to the South Carolina Department of Revenue. The question on the ballot shall be one of the following:

'Shall the South Carolina Department of Revenue be authorized to issue temporary permits in this (county) (municipality) for a period not to exceed twenty-four hours to allow the possession, sale, and consumption of alcoholic liquors in sealed containers of two ounces or less to bona fide nonprofit organizations and business establishments otherwise authorized to be licensed for consumption-on-premises sales?' or

'Shall the South Carolina Department of Revenue be authorized to issue temporary permits in this (county) (municipality) for a period not to exceed twenty-four hours to allow the possession, sale, and consumption of alcoholic liquors in sealed containers of two ounces or less to bona fide nonprofit organizations and business establishments authorized to be licensed for consumption-on-premises sales and to allow the sale of beer and wine at permitted off-premises locations without regard to the days or hours of sales?'"

SECTION    88.    This act takes effect January 1, 2006.

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