The bill H. 4543 aims to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Section 7-13-65, which allows the State Election Commission or county boards of voter registration and elections to extend voting hours at polling locations that experience delays in opening or interruptions in voting. Specifically, if a polling place is delayed for fifteen minutes or more after the scheduled opening time or if voting is interrupted for the same duration, the commission may extend the closing time by an equal number of minutes, not exceeding 120 minutes. The commission must be available to approve such extensions and requires reports from county boards detailing the delays or interruptions.

Additionally, the bill mandates that each report must include an affidavit from the county board director attesting to the delay's duration, causes, and the number of voters affected, without personal identifying information. Decisions made by the commission regarding extensions must be published on its website, and records must be maintained for at least eight years. The county boards are also required to notify voters of any extended hours through various media. Furthermore, voters who cast their ballots after the original closing time due to an extension will only be allowed to vote using provisional ballots, which must be counted separately unless the order is reversed before the county canvass.

Statutes affected:
05/08/2025: 7-13-65
Latest Version: 7-13-65