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TO AMEND SECTION 7-13-710 OF THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, SO AS TO REQUIRE A PERSON WHO PRESENTS HIMSELF TO VOTE TO PRODUCE A VALID SOUTH CAROLINA DRIVER'S LICENSE OR OTHER IDENTIFICATION WITH A PHOTOGRAPH ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES; TO AMEND SECTION 7-5-120, SO AS TO DISQUALIFY A PERSON FROM BEING REGISTERED OR VOTING IF HE HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF VOTING MORE THAN ONCE IN AN ELECTION; AND TO AMEND SECTION 7-25-110, SO AS TO INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO VOTES FOR THE SAME OFFICE IN THE SAME ELECTION MORE THAN ONCE.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 7-13-710 of the 1976 Code of Laws is amended to read:
"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 Motor Vehicles, if he is not licensed to drive, or and 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. 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 2. Section 7-5-120(B) of the 1976 Code of Laws is amended to read:
"(1) is mentally incompetent as adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction; or
(2) is serving a term of imprisonment resulting from a conviction of a crime; or
(3) is convicted of a felony or offenses against the election laws, unless the disqualification has been removed by service of the sentence, including probation and parole time unless sooner pardoned, except as otherwise mandated in Section 7-25-110."
SECTION 3. Section 7-25-110 of the 1976 Code of Laws is amended to read:
"It is unlawful for a person qualified to vote at any general, special, or primary election for an office whether local, state, or federal to vote more than once at such election, for the same office. A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor felony and, upon conviction, must be fined in the discretion of the court or and imprisoned not more than three years less than five years nor more than ten years. In addition, anyone convicted of violating this section will not be permitted to vote in any election for fifteen years following the conviction."
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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