The bill H. 3396 aims to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws regarding voting in partisan primary elections and advisory referendums. It establishes that only individuals registered as members of a certified political party or as independents may vote in these elections. Specifically, it introduces a new section, 7-5-115, which stipulates that independent voters who participate in a partisan primary will automatically become registered members of that party for two years, during which they cannot change their party affiliation or revert to independent status. Additionally, the bill mandates that voters must declare their political party affiliation on their registration forms and requires the State Election Commission to assist in maintaining a list of registered voters by party affiliation.

The bill also amends existing sections of the law, including 7-5-110, 7-5-170, and 7-9-20, to reinforce the requirement of party registration for voting in primaries and to outline the procedures for changing party affiliation. Notably, it includes provisions for informing voters about these changes and allows for a transition period until May 31, 2026, during which voters may still participate in primaries without having signed the new affidavit. After this date, all primaries must adhere to the new regulations established by the bill.

Statutes affected:
12/05/2024: 7-5-115, 7-5-110, 7-5-170, 7-9-20
Latest Version: 7-5-115, 7-5-110, 7-5-170, 7-9-20
12/06/2024: 7-5-115, 7-5-110, 7-5-170, 7-9-20