The bill S. 37 aims to amend various sections of the South Carolina Code of Laws concerning municipal elections. It introduces a new section, 5-15-45, which establishes expiration dates for the terms of certain municipal officeholders based on when their terms began. Additionally, it amends Section 5-15-50 to specify that municipal general elections must occur only on certain designated dates. Other amendments include requiring municipal election commissions to certify results within three days of an election (Section 5-15-100), allowing candidates declared elected to take office pending contest outcomes (Section 5-15-120), and prioritizing appeals from municipal election commission decisions (Section 5-15-140).

Further changes include updating the transfer of election authority to county election commissions (Section 5-15-145), mandating the State Election Commission to certify certain municipal election outcomes (Section 7-3-25), and requiring continuous reporting of election results without undue delay (Section 7-13-1160). The bill also allows for early voting tabulation data to be integrated into the election management system alongside absentee ballot data (Section 7-15-420). The act will take effect upon the Governor's approval, with specific provisions commencing on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
12/11/2024: 5-15-45, 5-15-50, 5-15-100, 5-15-120, 5-15-130, 5-15-140, 5-15-145, 7-3-25, 7-13-1160, 7-15-420
01/15/2025: 5-15-45, 5-15-50, 5-15-100, 5-15-120, 5-15-130, 5-15-140, 5-15-145, 7-3-25, 7-13-1160, 7-15-420
Latest Version: 5-15-45, 5-15-50, 5-15-100, 5-15-120, 5-15-130, 5-15-140, 5-15-145, 7-3-25, 7-13-1160, 7-15-420