The bill S. 109 aims to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws to establish stricter requirements for voting in partisan primary elections and partisan advisory referendums. It introduces a new section, 7-5-115, which stipulates that only individuals registered as members of a certified political party may vote in that party's primary elections, unless the party has opted to allow independent voters to participate. Additionally, the bill amends existing sections to require voters to declare their political party affiliation when registering and to provide a procedure for changing party affiliation. The State Election Commission is tasked with maintaining a list of voters by party affiliation and assisting local boards in capturing this data.

Furthermore, the bill outlines the process for voter registration, including the requirement for a written application that includes political party affiliation. It specifies that if a voter does not select a party, they will be registered as an independent voter. The bill also allows for expedited registration at partisan primary elections before January 1, 2026, and includes provisions for informing voters about the new procedures. Notably, the bill allows voters to participate in primaries conducted before June 2026 without having signed the required affidavit, but mandates compliance with the new rules thereafter.

Statutes affected:
12/11/2024: 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