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

Furthermore, the bill 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 ensure that voter registration applications include political party affiliation. It specifies that voters must register at least thirty days before a primary election and outlines the process for changing party affiliation. Notably, the bill allows for a transitional period where voters can participate in primaries without having signed the new affidavit until May 31, 2026, after which the new regulations will take effect.

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