Bill 745

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               745
Ratification Number:       571
Act Number                 507
Introducing Body:          Senate
Subject:                   Written notification of
                           registration

(A507, R571, S745)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 7-5-125 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR WRITTEN NOTIFICATION OF REGISTRATION TO VOTE; AND TO AMEND SECTION 7-13-710, RELATING TO PROOF OF THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND THE POLL LIST, SO AS TO REVISE THE VOTER IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS BY PROVIDING FOR PROOF BY WRITTEN REGISTRATION NOTIFICATION.

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

Written notification of registration

SECTION 1. Article 3 of Chapter 5 of Title 7 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"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."

Voter identification

SECTION 2. Section 7-13-710 of the 1976 Code is 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 South Carolina Department of Highways and Public Transportation (SCDHPT), 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. 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."

Time effective

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