Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

 

Amended

March 26, 2026

 

S. 694

 

Introduced by Senator Young

 

S. Printed 3/26/26--H.

Read the first time March 5, 2026

 

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A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 7-7-40, RELATING TO DESIGNATION OF VOTING PRECINCTS IN AIKEN COUNTY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IF THE BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS DETERMINES THAT A PRECINCT CONTAINS NO SUITABLE LOCATION FOR A POLLING PLACE, THE BOARD, UPON APPROVAL OF A MAJORITY OF THE COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, MAY LOCATE THE POLLING PLACE INSIDE THE COUNTY AND WITHIN FIVE MILES OF THE PRECINCT'S BOUNDARIES.

    Amend Title To Conform

   

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

 

SECTION 1.  Section 7-7-40 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding a subsection to read:

 

    (D) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7-7-920, if the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Aiken County determines that a precinct contains no suitable location for a polling place, the board, upon approval by a majority of the county legislative delegation, may locate the polling place inside the county and within five miles of the precinct's boundaries.

 

SECTION 2.  Section 5-15-60 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 

    Section 5-15-60. Each municipality in this State shall adopt by ordinance one of the following alternative methods of nominating candidates for and determining the results of its nonpartisan elections:

    (1) The nonpartisan plurality method prescribed in § 5-15-61;

    (2) The nonpartisan election and runoff election method prescribed in § 5-15-62;

    (3) The nonpartisan primary election and general election method prescribed in § 5-15-63.  If nonpartisan elections are not provided for, nomination of candidates for municipal offices may be by party primary, party convention or by petition in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, the applicable provisions of the state election laws and the rules of municipal political party organizations not in conflict therewith. Provided, any municipality which elects to hold partisan elections for municipal offices must pay all costs and expenses associated with the conduct of a municipal primary election.

 

SECTION 3.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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