Senate Amendment 15A to H 4919
Session 124 (2021-2022)

Senator DAVIS proposed the following amendment (4919R016.SP.TD):

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by adding an appropriately numbered new SECTION to read:

/ SECTION__. Section 7-15-230 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-15-230. Upon receipt of the ballot or ballots the absentee ballot applicant shall mark each ballot on which he wishes to vote, fold it so that its contents cannot be distinguished without unfolding it and mail it in compliance with the instructions received by him with the ballot. Enclosed with the ballot or ballots shall be the oath and proof of identity set forth in Section 7-15-220. No ballot shall be counted unless the oath is properly signed and enclosed therewith, including proof of identity, nor shall any ballot be counted which is received by the board of voter registration and elections or other officials charged with the conduct of the election after time for closing of the polls, and the printed instructions required by item (3) of Section 7-15-200 to be sent each absentee ballot applicant shall notify him that his vote will not be counted in either of these events."

Amend the bill further, as and if amended, by striking SECTION 3 and inserting:

/ SECTION 3. Section 7-15-220(A) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 7-15-220(A) (1).For purposes of this Chapter, 'proof of identity' means an absentee ballot, applicable South Carolina voter registration number, driver's license number, state-issued identification number, or the last four digits of the social security number.

(2) The oath, a copy of which is required by Section 7-15-200(2) to be sent each absentee ballot applicant and which is required by Section 7-15-230 to be returned with the absentee ballot applicant's ballot, shall be signed by the absentee ballot applicant and witnessed. The oath shall be in the following form:

'I hereby swear (or affirm) that I am duly qualified to vote at this election according to the Constitution of the State of South Carolina, that I have not voted during this election, that the ballot or ballots with which this oath is enclosed is my ballot and that I have received no assistance in voting my ballot that I would not have been entitled to receive had I voted in person at my voting precinct.'

____________________________________

Signature of Voter

Dated on this ______ day of ____________ 20 ___

____________________

Signature of Witness

____________________

Address of Witness

(3) If an absentee ballot fails to include the proof of identity required pursuant to subsection (A)(1), then the ballot must be treated as a provisional ballot. The county election office must notify the voter of the provisional status." /