Current Status Bill Number:189 Ratification Number:239 Act Number:242 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:Senate Introduced Date:19950110 Primary Sponsor:Rose All Sponsors:Rose Drafted Document Number:PT\1488DW.95 Date Bill Passed both Bodies:19960206 Date of Last Amendment:19960130 Governor's Action:S Date of Governor's Action:19960304 Subject:Candidates, alphabetical order
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________
------ 19960318 Act No. A242
------ 19960304 Signed by Governor
------ 19960227 Ratified R239
Senate 19960206 Concurred in House amendment,
enrolled for ratification
House 19960131 Read third time, returned to Senate
with amendment
House 19960130 Amended, read second time
House 19960124 Committee report: Favorable with 25 HJ
amendment
House 19950426 Introduced, read first time, 25 HJ
referred to Committee
Senate 19950425 Read third time, sent to House
Senate 19950419 Read second time, notice of
general amendments
Senate 19950418 Committee report: Favorable 11 SJ
Senate 19950110 Introduced, read first time, 11 SJ
referred to Committee
Senate 19941017 Prefiled, referred to Committee 11 SJ
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
(A242, R239, S189)
AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 7-13-335 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CANDIDATES' NAMES IN NONPARTISAN ELECTIONS BE ARRANGED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER; AND TO AMEND SECTION 7-13-610, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO BALLOT SPECIFICATIONS IN PARTY PRIMARIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE BALLOT MUST CONTAIN THE NAMES OF PERSONS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Arrangement of names on certain ballots
SECTION 1. Article 7, Chapter 13, Title 7 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 7-13-335. The State Election Commission 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."
Ballots, order of candidates
SECTION 2. Section 7-13-610 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 253 of 1992, is further amended to read:
"Section 7-13-610. (A) The State Election Commission 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 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 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. 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 may establish, under Chapter 23 of Title 1, such rules and regulations as are necessary for the proper administration of this section."
Time effective
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Approved the 4th day of March, 1996.