The "Gold Standard Elections Act" is designed to enhance the integrity and security of South Carolina's electoral process through a series of amendments to existing election laws. Key provisions include the requirement for the State Election Commission's executive director to maintain separate lists for active, inactive, and archived voter registrations, as well as the use of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' SAVE services to identify and remove non-U.S. citizens from voter rolls. The bill establishes a ten-year voter registration period, mandates valid identification for voter registration, and requires the use of paper poll books at voting locations. Additionally, it sets population limits for precincts, increases the number of election managers per registered voters, and introduces stricter regulations for absentee voting.

Further, the bill mandates the use of hand-marked paper ballots, public observation of ballot counting, and stringent chain of custody protocols for voting system components. It emphasizes transparency by allowing public access to the ballot counting process and requires counties to post election results before notifying the State Election Commission. The legislation expands absentee voting eligibility, introduces stricter guidelines for requesting absentee ballots, and ensures secure handling of these ballots. It also prohibits electors from voting in federal elections if another state employs internet-connected voting machines or closed-source code, thereby aiming to bolster voter confidence and ensure the integrity of elections in South Carolina.

Statutes affected:
04/03/2025: 7-3-20, 7-5-160, 7-5-200, 7-7-715, 7-13-72, 7-13-700, 7-13-730, 7-13-870, 7-13-880, 7-13-1110, 7-13-1160, 7-15-320, 7-15-330, 7-15-420, 7-19-130, 53-5-10
Latest Version: 7-3-20, 7-5-160, 7-5-200, 7-7-715, 7-13-72, 7-13-700, 7-13-730, 7-13-870, 7-13-880, 7-13-1110, 7-13-1160, 7-15-320, 7-15-330, 7-15-420, 7-19-130, 53-5-10