SECTION 7-13-10. Time of general elections for Federal, State and county officers; conduct of general and special elections.
General elections for Federal, State and county officers in this State shall be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year at such voting places as have been or may be established by law. All general or special elections held pursuant to the Constitution of this State shall be regulated and conducted according to the rules, principles and provisions herein prescribed.
SECTION 7-13-15. Primaries to be conducted by State Election Commission and county election commissions on second Tuesday in June.
(A)(1) This section does not apply to municipal primaries.
(2) This section does not apply to presidential preference primary elections for the Office of President of the United States, which are provided for in Section 7-11-20(B).
(B) Except as provided in subsection (A) or unless otherwise specifically provided for by statute or ordinance, the following primaries must be conducted by the State Election Commission and the county election commissions on the second Tuesday in June of each general election year:
(1) primaries for national offices, excluding the presidential preference primaries for the Office of President of the United States, which are provided for in Section 7-11-20(B); and
(2) primaries for:
(a) state offices;
(b) offices including more than one county;
(c) countywide and less than countywide offices, specifically including, but not limited to, all school boards and school trustees; and
(d) special purpose district offices, which include, but are not limited to, water, sewer, fire, soil conservation, and other similar district offices.
SECTION 7-13-20. Time of general election for certain county officers.
There shall be a general election for county supervisors, county superintendents of education, sheriffs, coroners and clerks of the courts of common pleas held in each county at every alternate general election, reckoning from the year 1960, except in those counties in which the term of office of any such officers may be for a period other than four years. In such cases elections to fill such offices shall be held at the general election next preceding the expiration of any such term of office.
SECTION 7-13-30. Time of election of probate judges.
The probate judge in every county shall be elected at every alternate general election, reckoning from the year 1958.
SECTION 7-13-35. Notice of general, municipal, special, and primary elections.
The authority charged by law with conducting an election must publish two notices of general, municipal, special, and primary elections held in the county in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or municipality, as appropriate. Included in each notice must be a reminder of the last day persons may register to be eligible to vote in the election for which notice is given, notification of the date, time, and location of the hearing on ballots challenged in the election, a list of the precincts involved in the election, the location of the polling places in each of the precincts, and notification that the process of examining the return-addressed envelopes containing absentee ballots may begin at 2:00 p.m. on election day at a place designated in the notice by the authority charged with conducting the election. The first notice must appear not later than sixty days before the election and the second notice must appear not later than two weeks after the first notice.
SECTION 7-13-40. Time of party primary; certification of names; verification of candidates' qualifications; filing fee.
In the event that a party nominates candidates by party primary, a party primary must be held by the party and conducted by the State Election Commission and the respective county election commissions on the second Tuesday in June of each general election year, and a second and third primary each two weeks successively thereafter, if necessary. Written certification of the names of all candidates to be placed on primary ballots must be made by the political party chairman, vice chairman, or secretary to the State Election Commission or the county election commission, whichever is responsible under law for preparing the ballot, not later than twelve o'clock noon on April ninth, or if April ninth falls on a Saturday or Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday. Political parties nominating candidates by party primary must verify the qualifications of those candidates prior to certification to the appropriate election commission of the names of candidates to be placed on primary ballots. The written verification required by this section must contain a statement that each candidate certified meets, or will meet by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, the qualifications for office for which he has filed. Political parties must not accept the filing of any candidate who does not or will not by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, meet the qualifications for the office for which the candidate desires to file, and such candidate's name shall not be placed on a primary ballot. The filing fees for all candidates filing to run in all primaries, except municipal primaries, must be transmitted by the respective political parties to the State Election Commission and placed by the executive director of the commission in a special account designated for use in conducting primary elections and must be used for that purpose. The filing fee for each office is one percent of the total salary for the term of that office or one hundred dollars, whichever amount is greater.
SECTION 7-13-45. Filing as candidate.
In every general election year, the county chairman shall:
(1) designate a specified place other than a private residence where persons may file a statement of intention of candidacy;
(2) designate a specified place other than a private residence where persons may file as candidates;
(3) establish regular hours of not less than four hours a day during the final seventy-two hours of the filing period in which he or some person he designates must be present at the designated place to accept filings;
(4) place an advertisement to appear two weeks before the filing period begins in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least five by seven inches in size that notifies the public of the dates of the filing periods, the offices which may be filed for, the place and street address where filings may be made, and the hours that an authorized person will be present to receive filings.
SECTION 7-13-50. Second and other primaries.
A second primary, when necessary, must be held two weeks after the first and is subject to the rules governing the first primary. At the second primary the two candidates among those who do not withdraw their candidacies and who received more votes in the first primary than any other remaining candidate alone shall run for any one office and if only one candidate remains, he is considered nominated, except that if there are two or more vacancies for any particular office, the number of candidates must be double the number of vacancies to be filled if so many candidates remain. In all second primaries the candidate receiving the largest number of votes cast for a given office must be declared the nominee for the office whether or not he has received a majority of the votes cast for that office, and when there are several candidates for several different offices, then the several candidates receiving the largest number of votes for the several positions are considered as nominated for the offices whether or not they received a majority of the votes cast. Other primaries, if necessary, must be ordered in a similar manner by the county election commission or the State Election Commission, as appropriate.
SECTION 7-13-60. Hours polls open.
The polls must be opened at seven o'clock a.m. and closed at seven o'clock p.m. the day of election and must be held open during these hours without intermission or adjournment.
SECTION 7-13-70. Appointment of county commissioners of election; oath; training and certification.
(A) For the purpose of carrying on general or special elections provided for in Section 7-13-10, the Governor, at least ninety days before the election, must appoint for each county not less than three nor more than five commissioners of election upon the recommendation of the senatorial delegation and at least half of the members of the House of Representatives from the respective counties. The Governor must notify the State Election Commission in writing of the appointments. The State Election Commission must verify that at least one of the appointees represents the largest political party and one represents the second largest political party as determined by the composition of that county's delegation in the General Assembly or the makeup of the General Assembly as a whole if the county's delegation is composed of only one party's members. The commissioners shall continue in office until their successors are appointed and qualified. After their appointment, the commissioners must take and subscribe, before any officer authorized to administer oaths, the following oath of office prescribed by Section 26 of Article III of the Constitution: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am duly qualified, according to the Constitution of this State, to exercise the duties of the office to which I have been appointed, and that I will, to the best of my ability, discharge the duties thereof, and preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of this State and of the United States. So help me God".
(B) The oath must be filed immediately in the office of the clerk of court of common pleas of the county in which the commissioners are appointed, or if there is no clerk of court, in the office of the Secretary of State.
(C)(1) Each commissioner, and each staff person as designated by the commission, must complete, within eighteen months after the commissioner's initial appointment or his reappointment after a break in service, or within eighteen months after a staff person's initial employment or reemployment following a break in service, a training and certification program conducted by the State Election Commission. When a commissioner or staff person has successfully completed the training and certification program, the State Election Commission must issue the commissioner or staff person a certification, whether or not the commissioner or staff person applies for the certification.
(2)(a) The provisions of this section do not exempt any member or staff person from completing the training and certification program required in item (1).
(b) Any member appointed or reappointed after a break in service prior to the effective date of this section or any staff person employed or reemployed after a break in service prior to the effective date of this section must successfully complete a training and certification program by the latter of:
(i) eighteen months after the member's appointment or reappointment after a break in service or the staff person's employment or reemployment after a break in service; or
(ii) ninety days after the effective date of this section.
(c) On and after the effective date of this section, any member appointed or reappointed after a break in service or any staff person employed or reemployed after a break in service must complete the training and certification program required in item (1) within eighteen months after the member's appointment or reappointment after a break in service or staff person's employment or reemployment after a break in service.
(3) If a member does not fulfill the training and certification program as provided in this section, the Governor, upon notification, must remove that member from the board unless the Governor grants the member an extension to complete the training and certification program based upon exceptional circumstances.
(4) Following completion of the training and certification program required in item (1), each commission member, and staff person designated by the commission, must take at least one training course each year.
SECTION 7-13-72. Managers of election.
For the general election held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year, the commissioners of election must appoint three managers of election for each polling place in the county for which they must respectively be appointed for each five hundred electors, or portion of each five hundred electors, registered to vote at the polling place.
For primary elections held on the second Tuesday in June of each general election year, the commissioners of election must appoint three managers of election for each polling place in the county for which they must respectively be appointed for the first five hundred electors registered to vote in each precinct in the county, and may appoint three additional managers for each five hundred electors registered to vote in the precinct above the first five hundred electors, or portion thereof. The commissioners must also appoint from among the managers a clerk for each polling place in the county, and none of the officers may be removed from office except for incompetence or misconduct.
For all other primary, special, or municipal elections, the authority charged by law with conducting the primary, special, or municipal elections must appoint three managers of election for the first five hundred electors registered to vote in each precinct in the county, municipality, or other election district and one additional manager for each five hundred electors registered to vote in the precinct above the first five hundred electors. The authority responsible by law for conducting the election must also appoint from among the managers a clerk for each polling place in a primary, special, or municipal election.
Forty-five days prior to any primary, except municipal primaries, each political party holding a primary may submit to the county election commission a list of prospective managers for each precinct. The county election commission must appoint at least one manager for each precinct from the list of names submitted by each political party holding a primary. However, the county election commission may refuse to appoint any prospective manager for good cause.
No person may be appointed as a manager in a primary, general, or special election who has not completed a training program approved by the State Election Commission concerning his duties and responsibilities as a poll manager and who has not received certification of having completed the training program. The training program and the issuance of certification must be carried out by the county election commission. After their appointment, the managers and clerks must take and subscribe, before any officer authorized to administer oaths, the following oath of office prescribed by Section 26 of Article III of the Constitution: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am duly qualified, according to the Constitution of this State, to exercise the duties of the office to which I have been appointed, and that I will, to the best of my ability, discharge the duties thereof, and preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of this State and of the United States. So help me God".
The oath must be immediately filed in the office of the clerk of court of common pleas of the county in which the managers and clerks are appointed, or if there is no clerk of court, in the office of the Secretary of State. Before opening the polls, the managers of election must take and subscribe the oath provided for in Section 7-13-100. Upon the completion of the canvassing of votes, this oath must be filed with the commissioners of election along with the ballots from that election precinct.
SECTION 7-13-75. Members of local election commissions; political activity prohibited.
No member of a county or municipal election commission, voter registration board, or combined election and voter registration commission may participate in political management or in a political campaign over whose election the member has jurisdiction during the member's term of office. No member may make a contribution to a candidate or knowingly attend a fundraiser held for the benefit of a candidate over whose election the member has jurisdiction. Violation of this section subjects the member to removal by the Governor or appropriate appointive authority.
SECTION 7-13-80. Organization of board of commissioners, managers and clerks; oaths.
The commissioners, managers, and clerks at their first meeting, respectively, must proceed to organize as a board. The county election commission must appoint the chairman of the board of managers. The chairman, in each instance, may administer oaths.
SECTION 7-13-90. Repealed by 1992 Act No. 253, Section 17, eff February 19, 1992.
SECTION 7-13-100. Managers shall take oath before opening polls.
The managers before opening the polls, shall take and sign the following oath: "We do solemnly swear that we will conduct this election according to law and will allow no person to vote who is not entitled by law to vote in this election, and we will not unlawfully assist any voter to prepare his ballot and will not advise any voter as to how he should vote at this election."
SECTION 7-13-110. Poll managers to be residents and registered electors of counties; assistants.
All managers of election for the various polling places in the State must be residents and registered electors of the respective counties in which they are appointed to work or in an adjoining county. Any person at least sixteen years of age who has completed the training required by Section 7-13-72 and who is not otherwise disqualified by law may be appointed as a poll manager's assistant by the appropriate county election commission. Any sixteen- or seventeen-year-old appointed as a poll manager's assistant may not serve as chairman of the managers or clerk in the polling place to which he or she is appointed. Sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds must serve under supervision of the chairman of the managers of the polling place, and their specific duties must be prescribed by the county election commission. One sixteen- or seventeen-year-old assistant poll manager may be appointed for every two regular poll managers appointed to work in any precinct.
SECTION 7-13-120. Candidates and their relatives shall not be managers or clerks.
(1) It shall be unlawful for a candidate or the spouse, parents, children, brothers or sisters of a candidate for public office to work as a manager or clerk of election at a polling place where such candidate's name appears on the ballot.
(2) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.
SECTION 7-13-130. Managers' table; guard rail; general arrangement; preservation of right to vote and secrecy of ballot.
The polling places shall be provided with a table for the managers. The polls shall be provided with a guard rail, so that no one except as herein authorized shall approach nearer than five feet to the booths in which the voters are preparing their ballots. The managers at each voting place shall arrange the table, desk or other place upon which the ballot boxes shall be placed so that there shall be no crowding or confusion immediately around the boxes, and suitable means shall be provided to enable each voter to approach the boxes and deposit his ballot without interference or hindrance. The right to vote of each person so entitled and the secrecy of the ballot shall be preserved at all times.
SECTION 7-13-140. Maintenance of order; police powers of managers.
Managers of election are clothed with such police powers as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this article. The managers shall possess full authority to maintain good order at the polls and to enforce obedience to their lawful commands during an election and during the canvass and counting of the votes. All peace officers shall answer all such calls for help in preserving the peace as may be made by the managers of election.
SECTION 7-13-150. Penalty for failure to assist in maintaining order.
Any person who, when summoned or called upon by peace officers shall fail or refuse to assist him in maintaining the peace and good order at the polls shall be fined in a sum not to exceed one hundred dollars or imprisoned not to exceed thirty days.
SECTION 7-13-160. Peace officers shall enter polling place only on request or to vote.
No sheriff, deputy sheriff, policeman or other officers shall be allowed to come within the polling place except to vote unless summoned into it by a majority of the managers. On failure of any sheriff, deputy sheriff, policeman or other officer to comply with the provisions of the preceding sentence, the managers of election, or one of them, shall make affidavit against such sheriff, deputy sheriff, policeman or other officer for his arrest.
SECTION 7-13-170. Procedure when managers fail to attend, take charge of, or conduct election.
In case all of the managers shall fail to attend at the same time and place appointed for holding such poll or shall refuse or fail to act or in case no manager has been appointed for such poll, it shall be lawful for the voters present at the precinct voting place on that day to appoint from among the qualified voters of such precinct or club the managers to act as managers in the place and stead of the absent managers, and any one of the managers so appointed shall administer the oath to the other managers. But if the duly appointed managers attend in a reasonable time, they shall take charge of and conduct the election.
SECTION 7-13-180. Posting proposed constitutional amendments at polling place.
Whenever an amendment to the Constitution of this State shall be voted upon at any election, the commissioners of election of each county in the State shall have such amendment conspicuously posted at each voting precinct in the county upon the day of the election. Such printed amendments shall be furnished to the commissioners of election by the Secretary of State.
SECTION 7-13-190. Special elections to fill vacancies in office.
(A) Except as otherwise provided in this code as to specific offices, whenever a vacancy occurs in office by reason of death, resignation, or removal and the vacancy in office is one which is filled by a special election to complete the term of office, this section applies.
(B) In partisan elections, whether seeking nomination by political party primary or political party convention, filing by these candidates shall open for the office at twelve o'clock noon on the third Friday after the vacancy occurs for a period to close ten days later at twelve o'clock noon. If seeking nomination by petition, the petitions must be submitted not later than twelve o'clock noon, sixty days prior to the election. Verification of these petitions must be made not later than twelve o'clock noon forty-five days prior to the election. If seeking nomination by political party primary or political party convention, filing with the appropriate official is the same as provided in Section 7-11-15 and if seeking nomination by petition, filing with the appropriate official is the same as provided in Section 7-11-70.
A primary must be held on the eleventh Tuesday after the vacancy occurs. A runoff primary must be held on the thirteenth Tuesday after the vacancy occurs. The special election must be on the eighteenth Tuesday after the vacancy occurs. If the eighteenth Tuesday after the vacancy occurs is no more than sixty days prior to the general election, the special election shall be held on the same day as the general election. If the filing period closes on a state holiday, then filing must be held open through the succeeding weekday. If the date for an election falls on a state holiday, it must be set for the next succeeding Tuesday. For purposes of this section, state holiday does not mean the general election day.
(C) If the office is not one for which there are partisan elections, then the filing must be opened at noon on the third Friday after the vacancy occurs for a period to close ten days later at noon. The filing must be made to the same entity to which the nonpartisan officeholders would normally file for office in a general election year. The election must be set for the thirteenth Tuesday after the vacancy occurs. Both the filing date and the election date are subject to the provisions in subsection (B) of this section regarding holidays.
(D) Provided, however, if a vacancy occurs in more than one office in the same county requiring separate special elections to be held within a period of twenty-eight days under the provisions of this section, the election commission or other authority responsible for the conduct of the elections shall conduct all of the elections on the same date. The special elections must be held on the latest date required for an election during the twenty-eight-day period.
(E)(1) A special election to fill a vacancy in an office is not required to be conducted if fourteen calendar days have elapsed since the filing period for that office has closed and:
(a) only one person has filed for the office; and
(b) no person has filed a declaration to be a write-in candidate with the authority charged by law with conducting the election.
(2) In such an event, the candidate who filed for the office is deemed elected and shall take office on the Monday following certification.
(3) The provisions of this subsection also apply to municipal general elections.
When no person has filed a declaration to be a write-in candidate pursuant to this section, the candidate who filed for the office must be declared the winner by the authority charged by law with conducting the election, and the votes for the election must not be counted or otherwise tabulated. Nothing in this section requires a ballot containing the name of a person who has been declared the winner pursuant to this section to be reprinted to delete the winning candidate's name or candidates' names from the ballot.
ARTICLE 3.
BALLOTS FOR GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS
SECTION 7-13-310. Kinds of general election ballots; different colored paper shall be used.
In the general elections provided for in Section 7-13-10, there shall be four kinds of ballots called, respectively: "Official Ballot for Presidential Elector"; "Official Ballot for State Offices, United States Senator and Members of Congress"; "Official Ballot for State Senator, Member of the House of Representatives, County, Circuit and Other Offices" and "Official Ballot on Constitutional Amendments or other Propositions Submitted." Each such kind of ballot shall be printed upon different colored paper as shall be provided for by the executive director.
SECTION 7-13-320. Ballot standards and specifications.
General election ballots shall conform to the following standards and specifications:
(A) The ballot shall be printed on paper of such thickness that the printing cannot be distinguished from the back and shall be of such size and color as directed by the State Election Commission. If more than one ballot is to be used in any election, each such ballot shall be printed upon different colored paper;
(B) Across the top of the ballot shall be printed "Official Ballot, General Election," beneath which shall be printed the date of the election, the county and the precinct. Above the caption of each ballot shall be one stub, with a perforated line between the stub and the top of the ballot. The stub shall have printed thereon "Official Ballot, General Election" and then shall appear the name of the county, the precinct and the date of the election. On the right side there shall be a blank line under which there shall be "Initials of Issuing Officer." Stubs on ballots for each precinct shall be prenumbered consecutively, beginning with No. 1;
(C) On the ballot for presidential electors there shall be printed, under the titles of the offices, the names of the candidates for President and Vice President of the United States nominated by each political party qualified under the provisions of Section 7-9-10 and those nominated by petition. A separate column shall be assigned to each political party with candidates and to each separate petition slate of candidates on the ballot and each party and each petition candidate's columns shall be separated by distinct black lines. At the head of each column the party or petition name shall be printed in large type and below it a circle, one-half inch in diameter, and below the circle the names of the party's and petition candidates for President and Vice President in that order. On the face of the ballot above the party and petition candidate's column division the following instruction shall be printed in heavy black type:
a. To vote this ballot make a cross (X) mark in the circle below the name of the political party or petition column for whose candidates you wish to vote.
b. A vote for the names of a political party's candidates or petition candidates for President and Vice President is a vote for the electors of that party or petition candidates, the names of whom are on file with the Secretary of State.
On the bottom of the ballot shall be printed an identified facsimile of the signature of the Executive Director of the State Election Commission.
(D) The names of candidates offering for any other office shall be placed in the proper place on the appropriate ballot, stating whether it is a state, congressional, legislative, county or other office.
(E) The names of the several officers to be voted for and the tickets of the parties and petition candidates shall be placed on the ballots in an order as arranged by the State Election Commission as to those ballots for which it is responsible for distribution and by the commissioners of election for the respective counties as to the ballots for which they are responsible for distribution, including those for State Senator and member of the House of Representatives. If the State Senator or member of the House of Representatives or any other officer is to be elected from more than one county, the commissioners of election from the various counties from which they are to be elected shall assure that there shall be uniformity of placement on the ballots of their respective counties and should the commissioners fail to agree within sixty days prior to the general election, and upon receipt of written certification by at least one commissioner, that they have failed to act, the State Election Commission shall determine the order of placing the names on the ballots.
(F) Each county election commission must provide a copy of each ballot style to be used for primary, general, and special elections in the absentee precinct in the county to the Executive Director of the State Election Commission not later than September fifteenth in the case of general elections, and not later than forty days prior to the date of the election in the case of special and primary elections. If the ballot styles are not available by these deadlines, the executive director must determine when absentee ballots for that county will be available. If a determination is made that absentee ballots will not be available in sufficient time to adequately effectuate absentee voting, the executive director is empowered to direct the county board of voter registration to provide the blank ballots provided by Section 7-15-360 until the regular ballots are available. The executive director must also notify the chairman of the county's legislative delegation of his findings and the action taken.
SECTION 7-13-325. Use of candidate's given name, derivative thereof, or nickname on ballot.
The name of a candidate authorized by law to appear on a ballot in a general, special, or primary election in this State for any office may be one of the following or a combination of them:
(1) the candidate's given name;
(2) a derivative of the candidate's given name properly acquired under the common law and used in good faith for honest purposes; or
(3) a nickname which bears no relation to the candidate's given name but which is used in good faith for honest purposes and does not exceed fifteen letters on the ballot.
The derivative name or nickname may not imply professional or social status, an office, or military rank.
A candidate wanting to use a derivative name or a nickname, as permitted by items (2) and (3), respectively, of this section, shall notify the authority responsible by law for conducting the election, in writing, before a deadline for receiving or certifying candidates' names for inclusion on the ballot, the name he wishes to have appear and shall present evidence required by the authority conducting the election that the name indicated is his derivative name or nickname. In deciding whether the name indicated is the candidate's derivative name or nickname, the authority conducting the election shall consider appropriate criteria, including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) whether the name is the designation by which the candidate is usually and commonly known in the community in which he resides or called by other persons;
(b) whether the name is the designation by which the candidate calls himself or which he has adopted;
(c) whether the name is the designation under which the candidate transacts private and official business.
The State Election Commission may promulgate regulations to carry out the provisions of the section, including, but not limited to, forms to be completed by the candidate and the deadline by which a candidate shall indicate the name he wished to have appear on the ballot.
SECTION 7-13-330. Form of ballot; instructions.
The arrangement of general election ballots containing the names of candidates for office must conform as nearly as possible to the following plan, with a column or columns added in case of nomination by petition and a blank column added for write-in votes, and must contain the specified instructions there set forth and no other:
GENERAL ELECTION OFFICIAL BALLOT
No. ______ ____________ COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA
November ___, _____
______________
Initials of Issuing Officer
OFFICIAL BALLOT
GENERAL ELECTION
__________ __________ County, South Carolina
November ___, _____
Precinct __________
INSTRUCTIONS--To vote a straight party ticket, make a cross (X) in the circle (O) under the name of your party. Nothing further need or should be done. To vote a mixed ticket, or in other words for candidates of different parties or petition candidates, omit making a cross (X) mark in the party circle at the top and make a cross (X) in the voting square [ ] opposite the name of each candidate on the ballot for whom you wish to vote. If you wish to vote for a candidate not on any ticket, write or place the name of such candidate on your ticket opposite the name of the office. Before leaving the booth, fold the ballot so that the initials of the manager may be seen on the outside of the ballot.
SECTION 7-13-335. Arrangement of names on certain ballots.
The State Election Commission or the local entity responsible for printing general or special election ballots or the arrangement of a ballot by mechanical or electronic means shall conform these ballots to the requirements of Section 7-13-330. The names of candidates in nonpartisan and at-large, multi-seat races must be listed in alphabetical order.
SECTION 7-13-340. Printing and distribution of ballots.
All ballots cast in general elections for national, State, county, municipal, district and circuit officers in the towns, counties, districts, circuits, cities and other political divisions shall be printed and distributed at public expense. The printing and distribution of all ballots, other than the county, State Senator, member of the House of Representatives, local or circuit ballots herein designated, the ballots for elections in cities and towns and the ballots for election on bonds or other local measures, shall be arranged and handled by the State Election Commission and shall be paid for by the State. The State Election Commission shall have all necessary ballots for elections for presidential electors, State officers, United States Senators and members of Congress printed, and shall deliver such ballots to the various county commissioners of election at least ten days prior to the date of the election and the county commissioners of election shall place such ballots in ballot boxes for distribution to the election managers of the various precincts.
The printing and distribution of ballots in all State Senate, member of the House of Representatives, county, local and circuit elections shall be arranged and handled by the commissioners of election of the several counties and shall be paid for by the respective counties, and the commissioners of election shall place such ballots in ballot boxes for distribution to the election managers of the various precincts. The printing and distribution of ballots in all municipal elections shall be arranged and handled by the municipal authorities conducting such elections and shall be paid for by the municipalities.
The terms "municipal" and "municipalities" as used in this section shall be construed to include school districts, public service districts and like political subdivisions.
SECTION 7-13-350. Certification of candidates; verification of qualifications.
(A) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the nominees in a party primary or party convention held under the provisions of this title by any political party certified by the commission for one or more of the offices, national, state, circuit, multi-county district, countywide, less than countywide, or municipal to be voted on in the general election, held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November, must be placed upon the appropriate ballot for the election as candidates nominated by the party by the authority charged by law with preparing the ballot if the names of the nominees are certified, in writing, by the political party chairman, vice-chairman, or secretary to the authority, for general elections held under Section 7-13-10, not later than twelve o'clock noon on August fifteenth or, if August fifteenth falls on Saturday or Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday; and for a special or municipal general election, by at least twelve o'clock noon on the sixtieth day prior to the date of holding the election, or if the sixtieth day falls on Sunday, by twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday. Political parties nominating candidates by primary or convention must verify the qualifications of those candidates prior to certification to the authority charged by law with preparing the ballot. The written certification required by this section must contain a statement that each candidate certified meets, or will meet by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, the qualifications for the office for which he has filed. Any candidate who does not, or will not by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, meet the qualifications for the office for which he has filed shall not be nominated and certified, and such candidate's name shall not be placed on a general, special, or municipal election ballot.
(B) Candidates for President and Vice President must be certified not later than twelve o'clock noon on September tenth to the State Election Commission, or if September tenth falls on Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday.
SECTION 7-13-351. Nominees by petition.
Any nominee by petition for one or more of the national, state, circuit, multi-county district, countywide, or less than countywide offices, to be voted on in the general election must be placed upon the appropriate ballot by the officer, commissioners, or other authority charged by law with preparing the ballot if the petition is submitted to the officer, commissioner, or other authority, as the case may be, for general elections held under Section 7-13-10, not later than twelve o'clock noon on July fifteenth or, if July fifteenth falls on Saturday or Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday. At the time the petition is submitted, the authority charged with accepting it shall issue a receipt to the person submitting the petition which must reflect the date it was submitted and the total number of signatures contained in the petition. The board of voter registration of each respective county must check the petition at the request of the authority charged with printing the ballot for that office and must certify the results to the authority not later than twelve o'clock noon August fifteenth or, if August fifteenth falls on Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday.
The petition of any candidate in any special election, including municipal special elections, must be submitted to the authority charged with printing the ballot for those offices not later than twelve o'clock noon on the sixtieth day prior to the date of the holding of the election, or if the sixtieth day falls on Sunday, by not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday. At the time a petition is submitted, the authority charged with accepting it must issue a receipt to the person submitting the petition which must reflect the date the petition was submitted and the total number of signatures contained in the petition. The candidate submitting the petition must certify, on a form designed and provided by the State Election Commission, that he meets, or will meet by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, the qualifications for the office sought. The board of voter registration of each respective county must check the petition at the request of the authority charged with printing of the ballots for that office and must certify the results thereof to the authority not later than twelve o'clock noon on the forty-fifth day prior to the date of holding the election, or if the forty-fifth day falls on Sunday, by twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday.
Once submitted for verification, a petition for nomination of a candidate for any office may not be returned to the petitioner, but must be retained by the authority to whom the petition was submitted and must become a part of the records of the election for which the petition was submitted.
In the event of an emergency declared by the Governor and the conditions precipitating the emergency declaration prevent a candidate from filing the nominating petition within the time required by this section, the candidate has an additional five days to submit the nominating petition to the appropriate office.
The authority to whom a petition is submitted must verify that qualifications of each potential petition candidate prior to certification of that candidate to be placed on the ballot. The written certification required by this section must contain a statement that each candidate certified meets, or will meet by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, the qualifications for the office for which the petition is submitted. Any candidate who does not, or will not by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, meet the qualifications for the office sought shall not have his name placed on the ballot.
SECTION 7-13-352. Date by which statement of candidacy must be filed; verification of candidates' qualifications.
Any candidate for a nonpartisan office, multi-county district, countywide, or less than countywide, including municipal offices, to be voted on at the time of the general election, who qualifies by statement of candidacy shall file the statement of candidacy with the authority responsible by law for conducting the election not later than twelve o'clock noon on August fifteenth or, if August fifteenth falls on Saturday or Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday. Each candidate must affirm, in writing, that he meets, or will meet by the time of the election, or as otherwise required by law, the qualifications for the office sought. The authority with whom statements of candidacy are filed must verify that each candidate meets, or will meet by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, the qualifications for the office sought. Any candidate who does not, or will not by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, meet the qualifications for the office sought shall not have his name placed on the ballot.
SECTION 7-13-355. Time for submitting question to election commission for submission as referendum to electors.
No question may be submitted to the qualified electors in a referendum held at the time of a general election unless the question is submitted to the appropriate election commission to be placed on the ballot no later than 12:00 noon on August fifteenth or, if August fifteenth falls on Saturday or Sunday, not later than 12:00 noon on the following business day.
SECTION 7-13-360. Place on ballot for write-in names.
The ballots shall also contain a place for voters to write in the name of any other person for whom they wish to vote except on ballots for the election of the President and Vice President.
SECTION 7-13-370. Death, withdrawal or disqualification of candidate after name printed on ballot.
If any candidate dies, withdraws or otherwise becomes disqualified after his name has been printed on an official election ballot and if any person is nominated, as authorized by law, to fill such vacancy, the name of the candidate so nominated to fill such vacancy need not be printed upon the ballots, but the name of such candidate so nominated shall be certified by the party executive committee making the nomination to the officer, commissioners or other authority charged with the duty of printing such ballots and a vote cast by a voter for the name of the candidate printed on the ballot who has either died, withdrawn or otherwise become disqualified shall be counted as a vote for the candidate subsequently nominated to fill such vacancy whose name is on file with such officer, commissioners, or other authority.
SECTION 7-13-380. Reprinting ballots to delete name of deceased or withdrawn candidate is optional.
After the official ballots have been printed by the proper officer, commissioners, or other authority, the death or withdrawal of a candidate whose name is printed on the official ballot does not require the officer, commissioners, or other authority to reprint the official ballots, but the officer, commissioners, or other authority having jurisdiction over the printing and distribution of the ballots concerned may (1) cause the ballots to be reprinted and be substituted in all respects for the first printed ballots if this substitution is considered feasible and advisable or (2) affix a blank label to cover the name of the deceased or withdrawn candidate on voting systems where possible or appropriate.
SECTION 7-13-390. Limitations on withdrawal of candidacy.
After the proper officer, commissioners or other authority has been notified of the nomination, as hereinbefore specified, of any candidate for office, he shall not withdraw such nomination unless upon the written request of the candidate so nominated made at least thirty days before the day of election.
SECTION 7-13-400. Form of ballot when questions are submitted.
The form of ballot in an election on the issuance of bonds or in which any other question or issue is submitted to a vote of the people shall be a statement of the question or questions and shall thereafter have the following words:
In favor of the question or issue (as the case may be)[ ]
Opposed to the question or issue (as the case may be)[ ]
The voter shall be instructed in substance, if he wishes to vote in favor of the proposition to place a check or cross mark in the square after the words first above written and if he wishes to vote against the proposition to place a check or cross mark in the square after the words second above written.
Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent any party from submitting to party members any question or issue.
SECTION 7-13-410. Ballots where both state-wide and local constitutional amendments are submitted.
Whenever at any general election proposed amendments to the Constitution of both state-wide and local natures are submitted to the qualified electors of the State, the State officer charged with the duty of preparing the ballots shall arrange and classify the proposed amendments on such ballots as follows:
At the top of one ballot shall be printed the words "Statewide Constitutional Amendments." Under this heading there shall be placed the various proposed amendments of a state-wide nature. At the top of a separate ballot shall be printed the words "Local Constitutional Amendments." Under this heading there shall be printed in alphabetical order the names of the various counties of the State affected by any proposed local amendments and under the name of each county the particular amendment affecting such county, or any particular subdivision thereof, or municipality situated therein, but when any proposed amendment relates to two or more counties such proposed amendment shall be listed under a joint heading combined of the names of such counties. The heading shall be printed in larger type than that used in printing the proposed amendment.
Ballots for the state-wide constitutional amendments shall be printed on white paper and ballots for the local constitutional amendments shall be printed on a paper other than white.
SECTION 7-13-420. Oath of printer of ballots and assistants.
The printer with whom the executive director, commissioners of election or other authority, as the case may be, shall contract for the printing of official ballots shall, before the work is commenced, take an oath before the Executive Director of the State Election Commission or the chairman of the commissioners or other authority, as the case may be, who may administer such oath, to the following effect: "I, __________, do solemnly swear that I will print (here insert number) ballots according to the instructions of the __________ of __________; that I will not print or permit to be printed, directly or indirectly, more than the above number; that I will at once destroy all imperfect and perfect impressions other than those required to be delivered to the electoral board; that as soon as said number of ballots is printed I will distribute the type used for such work and that I will not communicate to anyone whomsoever, in any manner whatsoever, the size, style or contents of such ballots."
The above oath shall be reduced to writing and signed by the person taking it and also a similar affidavit shall be required of any employee or other person engaged upon the work or who shall have access to it. Any intentional violation of such oath shall constitute the crime of perjury. Any other violation of the provisions of this section shall be a misdemeanor and punished by a fine of one hundred dollars or imprisonment for thirty days in jail.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to prohibit the executive director, the commissioners or other authority from publishing or otherwise disclosing the contents, style and size of ballots required to be printed by them which they are respectively authorized and empowered to publish or otherwise disclose.
SECTION 7-13-430. Ballots provided where voting machines not used; substitute ballots; penalties for failure to provide; failsafe ballots.
(A) There must be provided for each voting place where voting machines are not used as many ballots as are equal to one hundred ten percent of the registered qualified voters at the voting place. There must be provided for each voting place where voting machines are used a number of ballots not to exceed ten percent of the registered qualified voters at the voting place. The authority responsible for conducting an election must provide to each poll manager the appropriate number of ballots according to the provisions of this section.
(B) When a sufficient number of official ballots are not available for all qualified electors present at the polling place to vote, the managers of election without undue delay shall provide ballots made as nearly as possible in the form of the official ballot to those electors for whom official ballots are unavailable, and for all purposes of the election laws of this State these ballots are the same as official ballots. A manager of election who fails to comply with the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars.
(C) There must be provided for each voting place a number of failsafe ballots, or ballots containing only the races for federal, statewide, countywide, and municipalwide offices, not to exceed five percent of the registered qualified voters at the voting place. The authority responsible for conducting an election must provide to each poll manager the appropriate number of ballots according to the provisions of this section.
SECTION 7-13-440. Voting machine ballots; arrangement of nominations.
In every county, city or town providing voting machines, the commissioners of election shall furnish to the managers of election a sufficient number of ballots printed on clear white paper, of such form and size as will fit the ballot frames of the machines, the arrangement of the names of the candidates on such ballots to be prescribed by the commissioners of election. Party nominations shall be arranged on each voting machine either in columns or horizontal rows, as shall nominations by petition, and the captions of the various ballots on such machines shall be so placed as to indicate to the voter what push knob, key lever or other device is to be used or operated in order to vote for the candidate or candidates of his choice.
SECTION 7-13-450. Use of voting machines shall not prohibit use of separate ballots on certain questions.
The use of voting machines in an election shall not prohibit the use of a separate ballot for constitutional amendments and other public measures.
SECTION 7-13-460. Use of paper ballots.
(A) In special elections to fill vacancies in office, if the use of voting machines is not practicable or cost efficient, the county election officials may use paper ballots in these elections.
(B) If paper ballots are used, the procedure for their use and the counting of these ballots must be in accordance with the provisions of law governing the use of paper ballots, mutatis mutandis.
ARTICLE 5.
BALLOTS FOR PRIMARY ELECTIONS
SECTION 7-13-610. Ballot specifications; separate ballots for each party.
(A) The State Election Commission and the respective county election commissions shall prepare separate ballots for each political party holding a primary. The ballots for each party must contain in print only the names of the candidates who have filed to run in that particular party primary and must have a stub at the top perforated so as to be easily detached. On the stub must be printed "Official state (or county) Ballot, (name of party) Primary", the name of the county and the precinct, and the date of the primary. On the right side there must be a blank line under which must be printed "Initials of Issuing Officer". Stubs on ballots for each precinct must be numbered consecutively, beginning with "No. 1". The ballots must be furnished by the State Election Commission for all except members of the General Assembly, county officers, less than county officers, and circuit solicitors, for which the county election commission shall furnish the ballots. One ballot must contain the names of all persons in alphabetical order running for state and federal offices. The other ballot must contain, in alphabetical order, the names of all persons running for the General Assembly, county offices, less than county officers, and solicitors.
(B) Ballots furnished by the State Election Commission under this section must have marked on them in plain type, both on the stub and on the ballot, the words "Official State Ballot". Ballots furnished by the county election commission under this section must have marked on them in plain type, both on the stub and on the ballot, the words "Official County Ballot".
(C) The ballot must be printed on paper of a thickness so that the printing cannot be distinguished from the back and must be of a size and color as directed by the State Election Commission. If more than one ballot is to be used in a primary, each ballot must be printed on different colored paper. The ballot must contain a voting square opposite the name of each candidate, and the voter shall vote by putting a mark in the voting square opposite the name of the candidate of his choice. The State Election Commission may establish, under Chapter 23 of Title 1, such rules and regulations as are necessary for the proper administration of this section.
SECTION 7-13-611. Arrangement of official county and state primary ballots.
The arrangement of each "Official County Ballot" for each primary, containing the names of candidates for office, must conform as nearly as practicable to the following plan and contain specified instructions and no others:
OFFICIAL COUNTY BALLOT, ____________________ PRIMARY
(NAME OF PARTY)
__________________ COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA
NO: ______ _____________ _____________
Initials of Issuing Officer
__________________________, 19______
(DATE OF ELECTION)
__________________________
(NAME OF PRECINCT)
OFFICIAL COUNTY BALLOT, ____________________ PRIMARY
(NAME OF PARTY)
__________________ COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA
__________________________, 19______
(DATE OF ELECTION)
__________________________
(NAME OF PRECINCT)
INSTRUCTIONS "
Make a cross (X) in the voting square [ ] opposite the name of
each candidate on the ballot for whom you wish to vote.
Before leaving the booth, fold the ballot so that the
initials of the manager may be seen on the outside.
You may vote for three, less than three, but not more than three candidates.
COUNTY COUNCIL THREE SEATS TO FILL
(Example)
[ ] (NAME OF CANDIDATE)
-------------------
[ ] (NAME OF CANDIDATE)
-------------------
[ ] (NAME OF CANDIDATE)
-------------------
[ ] (NAME OF CANDIDATE)
-------------------
[ ] (NAME OF CANDIDATE)
-------------------
[ ] (NAME OF CANDIDATE)
-------------------
Each "Official State Ballot" similarly must conform to the plan set forth in this section.
The State Election Commission is hereby empowered to promulgate such rules and regulations under Chapter 23 of Title 1 as are necessary for the arrangement of the official county ballot.
SECTION 7-13-620. Repealed by 2000 Act No. 392, Section 11, eff August 1, 2000.
ARTICLE 7.
VOTING PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL ELECTIONS
SECTION 7-13-710. Proof of right to vote; signing poll list; comparison of signatures.
When any person presents himself to vote, he shall produce his valid South Carolina driver's license or other form of identification containing a photograph issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, if he is not licensed to drive, or the written notification of
SECTION 7-13-10. Time of general elections for Federal, State and county officers; conduct of general and special elections.
General elections for Federal, State and county officers in this State shall be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year at such voting places as have been or may be established by law. All general or special elections held pursuant to the Constitution of this State shall be regulated and conducted according to the rules, principles and provisions herein prescribed.
SECTION 7-13-15. Primaries to be conducted by State Election Commission and county election commissions on second Tuesday in June.
(A)(1) This section does not apply to municipal primaries.
(2) This section does not apply to presidential preference primary elections for the Office of President of the United States, which are provided for in Section 7-11-20(B).
(B) Except as provided in subsection (A) or unless otherwise specifically provided for by statute or ordinance, the following primaries must be conducted by the State Election Commission and the county election commissions on the second Tuesday in June of each general election year:
(1) primaries for national offices, excluding the presidential preference primaries for the Office of President of the United States, which are provided for in Section 7-11-20(B); and
(2) primaries for:
(a) state offices;
(b) offices including more than one county;
(c) countywide and less than countywide offices, specifically including, but not limited to, all school boards and school trustees; and
(d) special purpose district offices, which include, but are not limited to, water, sewer, fire, soil conservation, and other similar district offices.
SECTION 7-13-20. Time of general election for certain county officers.
There shall be a general election for county supervisors, county superintendents of education, sheriffs, coroners and clerks of the courts of common pleas held in each county at every alternate general election, reckoning from the year 1960, except in those counties in which the term of office of any such officers may be for a period other than four years. In such cases elections to fill such offices shall be held at the general election next preceding the expiration of any such term of office.
SECTION 7-13-30. Time of election of probate judges.
The probate judge in every county shall be elected at every alternate general election, reckoning from the year 1958.
SECTION 7-13-35. Notice of general, municipal, special, and primary elections.
The authority charged by law with conducting an election must publish two notices of general, municipal, special, and primary elections held in the county in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or municipality, as appropriate. Included in each notice must be a reminder of the last day persons may register to be eligible to vote in the election for which notice is given, notification of the date, time, and location of the hearing on ballots challenged in the election, a list of the precincts involved in the election, the location of the polling places in each of the precincts, and notification that the process of examining the return-addressed envelopes containing absentee ballots may begin at 2:00 p.m. on election day at a place designated in the notice by the authority charged with conducting the election. The first notice must appear not later than sixty days before the election and the second notice must appear not later than two weeks after the first notice.
SECTION 7-13-40. Time of party primary; certification of names; verification of candidates' qualifications; filing fee.
In the event that a party nominates candidates by party primary, a party primary must be held by the party and conducted by the State Election Commission and the respective county election commissions on the second Tuesday in June of each general election year, and a second and third primary each two weeks successively thereafter, if necessary. Written certification of the names of all candidates to be placed on primary ballots must be made by the political party chairman, vice chairman, or secretary to the State Election Commission or the county election commission, whichever is responsible under law for preparing the ballot, not later than twelve o'clock noon on April ninth, or if April ninth falls on a Saturday or Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday. Political parties nominating candidates by party primary must verify the qualifications of those candidates prior to certification to the appropriate election commission of the names of candidates to be placed on primary ballots. The written verification required by this section must contain a statement that each candidate certified meets, or will meet by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, the qualifications for office for which he has filed. Political parties must not accept the filing of any candidate who does not or will not by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, meet the qualifications for the office for which the candidate desires to file, and such candidate's name shall not be placed on a primary ballot. The filing fees for all candidates filing to run in all primaries, except municipal primaries, must be transmitted by the respective political parties to the State Election Commission and placed by the executive director of the commission in a special account designated for use in conducting primary elections and must be used for that purpose. The filing fee for each office is one percent of the total salary for the term of that office or one hundred dollars, whichever amount is greater.
SECTION 7-13-45. Filing as candidate.
In every general election year, the county chairman shall:
(1) designate a specified place other than a private residence where persons may file a statement of intention of candidacy;
(2) designate a specified place other than a private residence where persons may file as candidates;
(3) establish regular hours of not less than four hours a day during the final seventy-two hours of the filing period in which he or some person he designates must be present at the designated place to accept filings;
(4) place an advertisement to appear two weeks before the filing period begins in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least five by seven inches in size that notifies the public of the dates of the filing periods, the offices which may be filed for, the place and street address where filings may be made, and the hours that an authorized person will be present to receive filings.
SECTION 7-13-50. Second and other primaries.
A second primary, when necessary, must be held two weeks after the first and is subject to the rules governing the first primary. At the second primary the two candidates among those who do not withdraw their candidacies and who received more votes in the first primary than any other remaining candidate alone shall run for any one office and if only one candidate remains, he is considered nominated, except that if there are two or more vacancies for any particular office, the number of candidates must be double the number of vacancies to be filled if so many candidates remain. In all second primaries the candidate receiving the largest number of votes cast for a given office must be declared the nominee for the office whether or not he has received a majority of the votes cast for that office, and when there are several candidates for several different offices, then the several candidates receiving the largest number of votes for the several positions are considered as nominated for the offices whether or not they received a majority of the votes cast. Other primaries, if necessary, must be ordered in a similar manner by the county election commission or the State Election Commission, as appropriate.
SECTION 7-13-60. Hours polls open.
The polls must be opened at seven o'clock a.m. and closed at seven o'clock p.m. the day of election and must be held open during these hours without intermission or adjournment.
SECTION 7-13-70. Appointment of county commissioners of election; oath; training and certification.
(A) For the purpose of carrying on general or special elections provided for in Section 7-13-10, the Governor, at least ninety days before the election, must appoint for each county not less than three nor more than five commissioners of election upon the recommendation of the senatorial delegation and at least half of the members of the House of Representatives from the respective counties. The Governor must notify the State Election Commission in writing of the appointments. The State Election Commission must verify that at least one of the appointees represents the largest political party and one represents the second largest political party as determined by the composition of that county's delegation in the General Assembly or the makeup of the General Assembly as a whole if the county's delegation is composed of only one party's members. The commissioners shall continue in office until their successors are appointed and qualified. After their appointment, the commissioners must take and subscribe, before any officer authorized to administer oaths, the following oath of office prescribed by Section 26 of Article III of the Constitution: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am duly qualified, according to the Constitution of this State, to exercise the duties of the office to which I have been appointed, and that I will, to the best of my ability, discharge the duties thereof, and preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of this State and of the United States. So help me God".
(B) The oath must be filed immediately in the office of the clerk of court of common pleas of the county in which the commissioners are appointed, or if there is no clerk of court, in the office of the Secretary of State.
(C)(1) Each commissioner, and each staff person as designated by the commission, must complete, within eighteen months after the commissioner's initial appointment or his reappointment after a break in service, or within eighteen months after a staff person's initial employment or reemployment following a break in service, a training and certification program conducted by the State Election Commission. When a commissioner or staff person has successfully completed the training and certification program, the State Election Commission must issue the commissioner or staff person a certification, whether or not the commissioner or staff person applies for the certification.
(2)(a) The provisions of this section do not exempt any member or staff person from completing the training and certification program required in item (1).
(b) Any member appointed or reappointed after a break in service prior to the effective date of this section or any staff person employed or reemployed after a break in service prior to the effective date of this section must successfully complete a training and certification program by the latter of:
(i) eighteen months after the member's appointment or reappointment after a break in service or the staff person's employment or reemployment after a break in service; or
(ii) ninety days after the effective date of this section.
(c) On and after the effective date of this section, any member appointed or reappointed after a break in service or any staff person employed or reemployed after a break in service must complete the training and certification program required in item (1) within eighteen months after the member's appointment or reappointment after a break in service or staff person's employment or reemployment after a break in service.
(3) If a member does not fulfill the training and certification program as provided in this section, the Governor, upon notification, must remove that member from the board unless the Governor grants the member an extension to complete the training and certification program based upon exceptional circumstances.
(4) Following completion of the training and certification program required in item (1), each commission member, and staff person designated by the commission, must take at least one training course each year.
SECTION 7-13-72. Managers of election.
For the general election held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year, the commissioners of election must appoint three managers of election for each polling place in the county for which they must respectively be appointed for each five hundred electors, or portion of each five hundred electors, registered to vote at the polling place.
For primary elections held on the second Tuesday in June of each general election year, the commissioners of election must appoint three managers of election for each polling place in the county for which they must respectively be appointed for the first five hundred electors registered to vote in each precinct in the county, and may appoint three additional managers for each five hundred electors registered to vote in the precinct above the first five hundred electors, or portion thereof. The commissioners must also appoint from among the managers a clerk for each polling place in the county, and none of the officers may be removed from office except for incompetence or misconduct.
For all other primary, special, or municipal elections, the authority charged by law with conducting the primary, special, or municipal elections must appoint three managers of election for the first five hundred electors registered to vote in each precinct in the county, municipality, or other election district and one additional manager for each five hundred electors registered to vote in the precinct above the first five hundred electors. The authority responsible by law for conducting the election must also appoint from among the managers a clerk for each polling place in a primary, special, or municipal election.
Forty-five days prior to any primary, except municipal primaries, each political party holding a primary may submit to the county election commission a list of prospective managers for each precinct. The county election commission must appoint at least one manager for each precinct from the list of names submitted by each political party holding a primary. However, the county election commission may refuse to appoint any prospective manager for good cause.
No person may be appointed as a manager in a primary, general, or special election who has not completed a training program approved by the State Election Commission concerning his duties and responsibilities as a poll manager and who has not received certification of having completed the training program. The training program and the issuance of certification must be carried out by the county election commission. After their appointment, the managers and clerks must take and subscribe, before any officer authorized to administer oaths, the following oath of office prescribed by Section 26 of Article III of the Constitution: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am duly qualified, according to the Constitution of this State, to exercise the duties of the office to which I have been appointed, and that I will, to the best of my ability, discharge the duties thereof, and preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of this State and of the United States. So help me God".
The oath must be immediately filed in the office of the clerk of court of common pleas of the county in which the managers and clerks are appointed, or if there is no clerk of court, in the office of the Secretary of State. Before opening the polls, the managers of election must take and subscribe the oath provided for in Section 7-13-100. Upon the completion of the canvassing of votes, this oath must be filed with the commissioners of election along with the ballots from that election precinct.
SECTION 7-13-75. Members of local election commissions; political activity prohibited.
No member of a county or municipal election commission, voter registration board, or combined election and voter registration commission may participate in political management or in a political campaign over whose election the member has jurisdiction during the member's term of office. No member may make a contribution to a candidate or knowingly attend a fundraiser held for the benefit of a candidate over whose election the member has jurisdiction. Violation of this section subjects the member to removal by the Governor or appropriate appointive authority.
SECTION 7-13-80. Organization of board of commissioners, managers and clerks; oaths.
The commissioners, managers, and clerks at their first meeting, respectively, must proceed to organize as a board. The county election commission must appoint the chairman of the board of managers. The chairman, in each instance, may administer oaths.
SECTION 7-13-90. Repealed by 1992 Act No. 253, Section 17, eff February 19, 1992.
SECTION 7-13-100. Managers shall take oath before opening polls.
The managers before opening the polls, shall take and sign the following oath: "We do solemnly swear that we will conduct this election according to law and will allow no person to vote who is not entitled by law to vote in this election, and we will not unlawfully assist any voter to prepare his ballot and will not advise any voter as to how he should vote at this election."
SECTION 7-13-110. Poll managers to be residents and registered electors of counties; assistants.
All managers of election for the various polling places in the State must be residents and registered electors of the respective counties in which they are appointed to work or in an adjoining county. Any person at least sixteen years of age who has completed the training required by Section 7-13-72 and who is not otherwise disqualified by law may be appointed as a poll manager's assistant by the appropriate county election commission. Any sixteen- or seventeen-year-old appointed as a poll manager's assistant may not serve as chairman of the managers or clerk in the polling place to which he or she is appointed. Sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds must serve under supervision of the chairman of the managers of the polling place, and their specific duties must be prescribed by the county election commission. One sixteen- or seventeen-year-old assistant poll manager may be appointed for every two regular poll managers appointed to work in any precinct.
SECTION 7-13-120. Candidates and their relatives shall not be managers or clerks.
(1) It shall be unlawful for a candidate or the spouse, parents, children, brothers or sisters of a candidate for public office to work as a manager or clerk of election at a polling place where such candidate's name appears on the ballot.
(2) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.
SECTION 7-13-130. Managers' table; guard rail; general arrangement; preservation of right to vote and secrecy of ballot.
The polling places shall be provided with a table for the managers. The polls shall be provided with a guard rail, so that no one except as herein authorized shall approach nearer than five feet to the booths in which the voters are preparing their ballots. The managers at each voting place shall arrange the table, desk or other place upon which the ballot boxes shall be placed so that there shall be no crowding or confusion immediately around the boxes, and suitable means shall be provided to enable each voter to approach the boxes and deposit his ballot without interference or hindrance. The right to vote of each person so entitled and the secrecy of the ballot shall be preserved at all times.
SECTION 7-13-140. Maintenance of order; police powers of managers.
Managers of election are clothed with such police powers as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this article. The managers shall possess full authority to maintain good order at the polls and to enforce obedience to their lawful commands during an election and during the canvass and counting of the votes. All peace officers shall answer all such calls for help in preserving the peace as may be made by the managers of election.
SECTION 7-13-150. Penalty for failure to assist in maintaining order.
Any person who, when summoned or called upon by peace officers shall fail or refuse to assist him in maintaining the peace and good order at the polls shall be fined in a sum not to exceed one hundred dollars or imprisoned not to exceed thirty days.
SECTION 7-13-160. Peace officers shall enter polling place only on request or to vote.
No sheriff, deputy sheriff, policeman or other officers shall be allowed to come within the polling place except to vote unless summoned into it by a majority of the managers. On failure of any sheriff, deputy sheriff, policeman or other officer to comply with the provisions of the preceding sentence, the managers of election, or one of them, shall make affidavit against such sheriff, deputy sheriff, policeman or other officer for his arrest.
SECTION 7-13-170. Procedure when managers fail to attend, take charge of, or conduct election.
In case all of the managers shall fail to attend at the same time and place appointed for holding such poll or shall refuse or fail to act or in case no manager has been appointed for such poll, it shall be lawful for the voters present at the precinct voting place on that day to appoint from among the qualified voters of such precinct or club the managers to act as managers in the place and stead of the absent managers, and any one of the managers so appointed shall administer the oath to the other managers. But if the duly appointed managers attend in a reasonable time, they shall take charge of and conduct the election.
SECTION 7-13-180. Posting proposed constitutional amendments at polling place.
Whenever an amendment to the Constitution of this State shall be voted upon at any election, the commissioners of election of each county in the State shall have such amendment conspicuously posted at each voting precinct in the county upon the day of the election. Such printed amendments shall be furnished to the commissioners of election by the Secretary of State.
SECTION 7-13-190. Special elections to fill vacancies in office.
(A) Except as otherwise provided in this code as to specific offices, whenever a vacancy occurs in office by reason of death, resignation, or removal and the vacancy in office is one which is filled by a special election to complete the term of office, this section applies.
(B) In partisan elections, whether seeking nomination by political party primary or political party convention, filing by these candidates shall open for the office at twelve o'clock noon on the third Friday after the vacancy occurs for a period to close ten days later at twelve o'clock noon. If seeking nomination by petition, the petitions must be submitted not later than twelve o'clock noon, sixty days prior to the election. Verification of these petitions must be made not later than twelve o'clock noon forty-five days prior to the election. If seeking nomination by political party primary or political party convention, filing with the appropriate official is the same as provided in Section 7-11-15 and if seeking nomination by petition, filing with the appropriate official is the same as provided in Section 7-11-70.
A primary must be held on the eleventh Tuesday after the vacancy occurs. A runoff primary must be held on the thirteenth Tuesday after the vacancy occurs. The special election must be on the eighteenth Tuesday after the vacancy occurs. If the eighteenth Tuesday after the vacancy occurs is no more than sixty days prior to the general election, the special election shall be held on the same day as the general election. If the filing period closes on a state holiday, then filing must be held open through the succeeding weekday. If the date for an election falls on a state holiday, it must be set for the next succeeding Tuesday. For purposes of this section, state holiday does not mean the general election day.
(C) If the office is not one for which there are partisan elections, then the filing must be opened at noon on the third Friday after the vacancy occurs for a period to close ten days later at noon. The filing must be made to the same entity to which the nonpartisan officeholders would normally file for office in a general election year. The election must be set for the thirteenth Tuesday after the vacancy occurs. Both the filing date and the election date are subject to the provisions in subsection (B) of this section regarding holidays.
(D) Provided, however, if a vacancy occurs in more than one office in the same county requiring separate special elections to be held within a period of twenty-eight days under the provisions of this section, the election commission or other authority responsible for the conduct of the elections shall conduct all of the elections on the same date. The special elections must be held on the latest date required for an election during the twenty-eight-day period.
(E)(1) A special election to fill a vacancy in an office is not required to be conducted if fourteen calendar days have elapsed since the filing period for that office has closed and:
(a) only one person has filed for the office; and
(b) no person has filed a declaration to be a write-in candidate with the authority charged by law with conducting the election.
(2) In such an event, the candidate who filed for the office is deemed elected and shall take office on the Monday following certification.
(3) The provisions of this subsection also apply to municipal general elections.
When no person has filed a declaration to be a write-in candidate pursuant to this section, the candidate who filed for the office must be declared the winner by the authority charged by law with conducting the election, and the votes for the election must not be counted or otherwise tabulated. Nothing in this section requires a ballot containing the name of a person who has been declared the winner pursuant to this section to be reprinted to delete the winning candidate's name or candidates' names from the ballot.
ARTICLE 3.
BALLOTS FOR GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS
SECTION 7-13-310. Kinds of general election ballots; different colored paper shall be used.
In the general elections provided for in Section 7-13-10, there shall be four kinds of ballots called, respectively: "Official Ballot for Presidential Elector"; "Official Ballot for State Offices, United States Senator and Members of Congress"; "Official Ballot for State Senator, Member of the House of Representatives, County, Circuit and Other Offices" and "Official Ballot on Constitutional Amendments or other Propositions Submitted." Each such kind of ballot shall be printed upon different colored paper as shall be provided for by the executive director.
SECTION 7-13-320. Ballot standards and specifications.
General election ballots shall conform to the following standards and specifications:
(A) The ballot shall be printed on paper of such thickness that the printing cannot be distinguished from the back and shall be of such size and color as directed by the State Election Commission. If more than one ballot is to be used in any election, each such ballot shall be printed upon different colored paper;
(B) Across the top of the ballot shall be printed "Official Ballot, General Election," beneath which shall be printed the date of the election, the county and the precinct. Above the caption of each ballot shall be one stub, with a perforated line between the stub and the top of the ballot. The stub shall have printed thereon "Official Ballot, General Election" and then shall appear the name of the county, the precinct and the date of the election. On the right side there shall be a blank line under which there shall be "Initials of Issuing Officer." Stubs on ballots for each precinct shall be prenumbered consecutively, beginning with No. 1;
(C) On the ballot for presidential electors there shall be printed, under the titles of the offices, the names of the candidates for President and Vice President of the United States nominated by each political party qualified under the provisions of Section 7-9-10 and those nominated by petition. A separate column shall be assigned to each political party with candidates and to each separate petition slate of candidates on the ballot and each party and each petition candidate's columns shall be separated by distinct black lines. At the head of each column the party or petition name shall be printed in large type and below it a circle, one-half inch in diameter, and below the circle the names of the party's and petition candidates for President and Vice President in that order. On the face of the ballot above the party and petition candidate's column division the following instruction shall be printed in heavy black type:
a. To vote this ballot make a cross (X) mark in the circle below the name of the political party or petition column for whose candidates you wish to vote.
b. A vote for the names of a political party's candidates or petition candidates for President and Vice President is a vote for the electors of that party or petition candidates, the names of whom are on file with the Secretary of State.
On the bottom of the ballot shall be printed an identified facsimile of the signature of the Executive Director of the State Election Commission.
(D) The names of candidates offering for any other office shall be placed in the proper place on the appropriate ballot, stating whether it is a state, congressional, legislative, county or other office.
(E) The names of the several officers to be voted for and the tickets of the parties and petition candidates shall be placed on the ballots in an order as arranged by the State Election Commission as to those ballots for which it is responsible for distribution and by the commissioners of election for the respective counties as to the ballots for which they are responsible for distribution, including those for State Senator and member of the House of Representatives. If the State Senator or member of the House of Representatives or any other officer is to be elected from more than one county, the commissioners of election from the various counties from which they are to be elected shall assure that there shall be uniformity of placement on the ballots of their respective counties and should the commissioners fail to agree within sixty days prior to the general election, and upon receipt of written certification by at least one commissioner, that they have failed to act, the State Election Commission shall determine the order of placing the names on the ballots.
(F) Each county election commission must provide a copy of each ballot style to be used for primary, general, and special elections in the absentee precinct in the county to the Executive Director of the State Election Commission not later than September fifteenth in the case of general elections, and not later than forty days prior to the date of the election in the case of special and primary elections. If the ballot styles are not available by these deadlines, the executive director must determine when absentee ballots for that county will be available. If a determination is made that absentee ballots will not be available in sufficient time to adequately effectuate absentee voting, the executive director is empowered to direct the county board of voter registration to provide the blank ballots provided by Section 7-15-360 until the regular ballots are available. The executive director must also notify the chairman of the county's legislative delegation of his findings and the action taken.
SECTION 7-13-325. Use of candidate's given name, derivative thereof, or nickname on ballot.
The name of a candidate authorized by law to appear on a ballot in a general, special, or primary election in this State for any office may be one of the following or a combination of them:
(1) the candidate's given name;
(2) a derivative of the candidate's given name properly acquired under the common law and used in good faith for honest purposes; or
(3) a nickname which bears no relation to the candidate's given name but which is used in good faith for honest purposes and does not exceed fifteen letters on the ballot.
The derivative name or nickname may not imply professional or social status, an office, or military rank.
A candidate wanting to use a derivative name or a nickname, as permitted by items (2) and (3), respectively, of this section, shall notify the authority responsible by law for conducting the election, in writing, before a deadline for receiving or certifying candidates' names for inclusion on the ballot, the name he wishes to have appear and shall present evidence required by the authority conducting the election that the name indicated is his derivative name or nickname. In deciding whether the name indicated is the candidate's derivative name or nickname, the authority conducting the election shall consider appropriate criteria, including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) whether the name is the designation by which the candidate is usually and commonly known in the community in which he resides or called by other persons;
(b) whether the name is the designation by which the candidate calls himself or which he has adopted;
(c) whether the name is the designation under which the candidate transacts private and official business.
The State Election Commission may promulgate regulations to carry out the provisions of the section, including, but not limited to, forms to be completed by the candidate and the deadline by which a candidate shall indicate the name he wished to have appear on the ballot.
SECTION 7-13-330. Form of ballot; instructions.
The arrangement of general election ballots containing the names of candidates for office must conform as nearly as possible to the following plan, with a column or columns added in case of nomination by petition and a blank column added for write-in votes, and must contain the specified instructions there set forth and no other:
GENERAL ELECTION OFFICIAL BALLOT
No. ______ ____________ COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA
November ___, _____
______________
Initials of Issuing Officer
OFFICIAL BALLOT
GENERAL ELECTION
__________ __________ County, South Carolina
November ___, _____
Precinct __________
INSTRUCTIONS--To vote a straight party ticket, make a cross (X) in the circle (O) under the name of your party. Nothing further need or should be done. To vote a mixed ticket, or in other words for candidates of different parties or petition candidates, omit making a cross (X) mark in the party circle at the top and make a cross (X) in the voting square [ ] opposite the name of each candidate on the ballot for whom you wish to vote. If you wish to vote for a candidate not on any ticket, write or place the name of such candidate on your ticket opposite the name of the office. Before leaving the booth, fold the ballot so that the initials of the manager may be seen on the outside of the ballot.
SECTION 7-13-335. Arrangement of names on certain ballots.
The State Election Commission or the local entity responsible for printing general or special election ballots or the arrangement of a ballot by mechanical or electronic means shall conform these ballots to the requirements of Section 7-13-330. The names of candidates in nonpartisan and at-large, multi-seat races must be listed in alphabetical order.
SECTION 7-13-340. Printing and distribution of ballots.
All ballots cast in general elections for national, State, county, municipal, district and circuit officers in the towns, counties, districts, circuits, cities and other political divisions shall be printed and distributed at public expense. The printing and distribution of all ballots, other than the county, State Senator, member of the House of Representatives, local or circuit ballots herein designated, the ballots for elections in cities and towns and the ballots for election on bonds or other local measures, shall be arranged and handled by the State Election Commission and shall be paid for by the State. The State Election Commission shall have all necessary ballots for elections for presidential electors, State officers, United States Senators and members of Congress printed, and shall deliver such ballots to the various county commissioners of election at least ten days prior to the date of the election and the county commissioners of election shall place such ballots in ballot boxes for distribution to the election managers of the various precincts.
The printing and distribution of ballots in all State Senate, member of the House of Representatives, county, local and circuit elections shall be arranged and handled by the commissioners of election of the several counties and shall be paid for by the respective counties, and the commissioners of election shall place such ballots in ballot boxes for distribution to the election managers of the various precincts. The printing and distribution of ballots in all municipal elections shall be arranged and handled by the municipal authorities conducting such elections and shall be paid for by the municipalities.
The terms "municipal" and "municipalities" as used in this section shall be construed to include school districts, public service districts and like political subdivisions.
SECTION 7-13-350. Certification of candidates; verification of qualifications.
(A) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the nominees in a party primary or party convention held under the provisions of this title by any political party certified by the commission for one or more of the offices, national, state, circuit, multi-county district, countywide, less than countywide, or municipal to be voted on in the general election, held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November, must be placed upon the appropriate ballot for the election as candidates nominated by the party by the authority charged by law with preparing the ballot if the names of the nominees are certified, in writing, by the political party chairman, vice-chairman, or secretary to the authority, for general elections held under Section 7-13-10, not later than twelve o'clock noon on August fifteenth or, if August fifteenth falls on Saturday or Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday; and for a special or municipal general election, by at least twelve o'clock noon on the sixtieth day prior to the date of holding the election, or if the sixtieth day falls on Sunday, by twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday. Political parties nominating candidates by primary or convention must verify the qualifications of those candidates prior to certification to the authority charged by law with preparing the ballot. The written certification required by this section must contain a statement that each candidate certified meets, or will meet by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, the qualifications for the office for which he has filed. Any candidate who does not, or will not by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, meet the qualifications for the office for which he has filed shall not be nominated and certified, and such candidate's name shall not be placed on a general, special, or municipal election ballot.
(B) Candidates for President and Vice President must be certified not later than twelve o'clock noon on September tenth to the State Election Commission, or if September tenth falls on Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday.
SECTION 7-13-351. Nominees by petition.
Any nominee by petition for one or more of the national, state, circuit, multi-county district, countywide, or less than countywide offices, to be voted on in the general election must be placed upon the appropriate ballot by the officer, commissioners, or other authority charged by law with preparing the ballot if the petition is submitted to the officer, commissioner, or other authority, as the case may be, for general elections held under Section 7-13-10, not later than twelve o'clock noon on July fifteenth or, if July fifteenth falls on Saturday or Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday. At the time the petition is submitted, the authority charged with accepting it shall issue a receipt to the person submitting the petition which must reflect the date it was submitted and the total number of signatures contained in the petition. The board of voter registration of each respective county must check the petition at the request of the authority charged with printing the ballot for that office and must certify the results to the authority not later than twelve o'clock noon August fifteenth or, if August fifteenth falls on Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday.
The petition of any candidate in any special election, including municipal special elections, must be submitted to the authority charged with printing the ballot for those offices not later than twelve o'clock noon on the sixtieth day prior to the date of the holding of the election, or if the sixtieth day falls on Sunday, by not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday. At the time a petition is submitted, the authority charged with accepting it must issue a receipt to the person submitting the petition which must reflect the date the petition was submitted and the total number of signatures contained in the petition. The candidate submitting the petition must certify, on a form designed and provided by the State Election Commission, that he meets, or will meet by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, the qualifications for the office sought. The board of voter registration of each respective county must check the petition at the request of the authority charged with printing of the ballots for that office and must certify the results thereof to the authority not later than twelve o'clock noon on the forty-fifth day prior to the date of holding the election, or if the forty-fifth day falls on Sunday, by twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday.
Once submitted for verification, a petition for nomination of a candidate for any office may not be returned to the petitioner, but must be retained by the authority to whom the petition was submitted and must become a part of the records of the election for which the petition was submitted.
In the event of an emergency declared by the Governor and the conditions precipitating the emergency declaration prevent a candidate from filing the nominating petition within the time required by this section, the candidate has an additional five days to submit the nominating petition to the appropriate office.
The authority to whom a petition is submitted must verify that qualifications of each potential petition candidate prior to certification of that candidate to be placed on the ballot. The written certification required by this section must contain a statement that each candidate certified meets, or will meet by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, the qualifications for the office for which the petition is submitted. Any candidate who does not, or will not by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, meet the qualifications for the office sought shall not have his name placed on the ballot.
SECTION 7-13-352. Date by which statement of candidacy must be filed; verification of candidates' qualifications.
Any candidate for a nonpartisan office, multi-county district, countywide, or less than countywide, including municipal offices, to be voted on at the time of the general election, who qualifies by statement of candidacy shall file the statement of candidacy with the authority responsible by law for conducting the election not later than twelve o'clock noon on August fifteenth or, if August fifteenth falls on Saturday or Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday. Each candidate must affirm, in writing, that he meets, or will meet by the time of the election, or as otherwise required by law, the qualifications for the office sought. The authority with whom statements of candidacy are filed must verify that each candidate meets, or will meet by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, the qualifications for the office sought. Any candidate who does not, or will not by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, meet the qualifications for the office sought shall not have his name placed on the ballot.
SECTION 7-13-355. Time for submitting question to election commission for submission as referendum to electors.
No question may be submitted to the qualified electors in a referendum held at the time of a general election unless the question is submitted to the appropriate election commission to be placed on the ballot no later than 12:00 noon on August fifteenth or, if August fifteenth falls on Saturday or Sunday, not later than 12:00 noon on the following business day.
SECTION 7-13-360. Place on ballot for write-in names.
The ballots shall also contain a place for voters to write in the name of any other person for whom they wish to vote except on ballots for the election of the President and Vice President.
SECTION 7-13-370. Death, withdrawal or disqualification of candidate after name printed on ballot.
If any candidate dies, withdraws or otherwise becomes disqualified after his name has been printed on an official election ballot and if any person is nominated, as authorized by law, to fill such vacancy, the name of the candidate so nominated to fill such vacancy need not be printed upon the ballots, but the name of such candidate so nominated shall be certified by the party executive committee making the nomination to the officer, commissioners or other authority charged with the duty of printing such ballots and a vote cast by a voter for the name of the candidate printed on the ballot who has either died, withdrawn or otherwise become disqualified shall be counted as a vote for the candidate subsequently nominated to fill such vacancy whose name is on file with such officer, commissioners, or other authority.
SECTION 7-13-380. Reprinting ballots to delete name of deceased or withdrawn candidate is optional.
After the official ballots have been printed by the proper officer, commissioners, or other authority, the death or withdrawal of a candidate whose name is printed on the official ballot does not require the officer, commissioners, or other authority to reprint the official ballots, but the officer, commissioners, or other authority having jurisdiction over the printing and distribution of the ballots concerned may (1) cause the ballots to be reprinted and be substituted in all respects for the first printed ballots if this substitution is considered feasible and advisable or (2) affix a blank label to cover the name of the deceased or withdrawn candidate on voting systems where possible or appropriate.
SECTION 7-13-390. Limitations on withdrawal of candidacy.
After the proper officer, commissioners or other authority has been notified of the nomination, as hereinbefore specified, of any candidate for office, he shall not withdraw such nomination unless upon the written request of the candidate so nominated made at least thirty days before the day of election.
SECTION 7-13-400. Form of ballot when questions are submitted.
The form of ballot in an election on the issuance of bonds or in which any other question or issue is submitted to a vote of the people shall be a statement of the question or questions and shall thereafter have the following words:
In favor of the question or issue (as the case may be)[ ]
Opposed to the question or issue (as the case may be)[ ]
The voter shall be instructed in substance, if he wishes to vote in favor of the proposition to place a check or cross mark in the square after the words first above written and if he wishes to vote against the proposition to place a check or cross mark in the square after the words second above written.
Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent any party from submitting to party members any question or issue.
SECTION 7-13-410. Ballots where both state-wide and local constitutional amendments are submitted.
Whenever at any general election proposed amendments to the Constitution of both state-wide and local natures are submitted to the qualified electors of the State, the State officer charged with the duty of preparing the ballots shall arrange and classify the proposed amendments on such ballots as follows:
At the top of one ballot shall be printed the words "Statewide Constitutional Amendments." Under this heading there shall be placed the various proposed amendments of a state-wide nature. At the top of a separate ballot shall be printed the words "Local Constitutional Amendments." Under this heading there shall be printed in alphabetical order the names of the various counties of the State affected by any proposed local amendments and under the name of each county the particular amendment affecting such county, or any particular subdivision thereof, or municipality situated therein, but when any proposed amendment relates to two or more counties such proposed amendment shall be listed under a joint heading combined of the names of such counties. The heading shall be printed in larger type than that used in printing the proposed amendment.
Ballots for the state-wide constitutional amendments shall be printed on white paper and ballots for the local constitutional amendments shall be printed on a paper other than white.
SECTION 7-13-420. Oath of printer of ballots and assistants.
The printer with whom the executive director, commissioners of election or other authority, as the case may be, shall contract for the printing of official ballots shall, before the work is commenced, take an oath before the Executive Director of the State Election Commission or the chairman of the commissioners or other authority, as the case may be, who may administer such oath, to the following effect: "I, __________, do solemnly swear that I will print (here insert number) ballots according to the instructions of the __________ of __________; that I will not print or permit to be printed, directly or indirectly, more than the above number; that I will at once destroy all imperfect and perfect impressions other than those required to be delivered to the electoral board; that as soon as said number of ballots is printed I will distribute the type used for such work and that I will not communicate to anyone whomsoever, in any manner whatsoever, the size, style or contents of such ballots."
The above oath shall be reduced to writing and signed by the person taking it and also a similar affidavit shall be required of any employee or other person engaged upon the work or who shall have access to it. Any intentional violation of such oath shall constitute the crime of perjury. Any other violation of the provisions of this section shall be a misdemeanor and punished by a fine of one hundred dollars or imprisonment for thirty days in jail.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to prohibit the executive director, the commissioners or other authority from publishing or otherwise disclosing the contents, style and size of ballots required to be printed by them which they are respectively authorized and empowered to publish or otherwise disclose.
SECTION 7-13-430. Ballots provided where voting machines not used; substitute ballots; penalties for failure to provide; failsafe ballots.
(A) There must be provided for each voting place where voting machines are not used as many ballots as are equal to one hundred ten percent of the registered qualified voters at the voting place. There must be provided for each voting place where voting machines are used a number of ballots not to exceed ten percent of the registered qualified voters at the voting place. The authority responsible for conducting an election must provide to each poll manager the appropriate number of ballots according to the provisions of this section.
(B) When a sufficient number of official ballots are not available for all qualified electors present at the polling place to vote, the managers of election without undue delay shall provide ballots made as nearly as possible in the form of the official ballot to those electors for whom official ballots are unavailable, and for all purposes of the election laws of this State these ballots are the same as official ballots. A manager of election who fails to comply with the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars.
(C) There must be provided for each voting place a number of failsafe ballots, or ballots containing only the races for federal, statewide, countywide, and municipalwide offices, not to exceed five percent of the registered qualified voters at the voting place. The authority responsible for conducting an election must provide to each poll manager the appropriate number of ballots according to the provisions of this section.
SECTION 7-13-440. Voting machine ballots; arrangement of nominations.
In every county, city or town providing voting machines, the commissioners of election shall furnish to the managers of election a sufficient number of ballots printed on clear white paper, of such form and size as will fit the ballot frames of the machines, the arrangement of the names of the candidates on such ballots to be prescribed by the commissioners of election. Party nominations shall be arranged on each voting machine either in columns or horizontal rows, as shall nominations by petition, and the captions of the various ballots on such machines shall be so placed as to indicate to the voter what push knob, key lever or other device is to be used or operated in order to vote for the candidate or candidates of his choice.
SECTION 7-13-450. Use of voting machines shall not prohibit use of separate ballots on certain questions.
The use of voting machines in an election shall not prohibit the use of a separate ballot for constitutional amendments and other public measures.
SECTION 7-13-460. Use of paper ballots.
(A) In special elections to fill vacancies in office, if the use of voting machines is not practicable or cost efficient, the county election officials may use paper ballots in these elections.
(B) If paper ballots are used, the procedure for their use and the counting of these ballots must be in accordance with the provisions of law governing the use of paper ballots, mutatis mutandis.
ARTICLE 5.
BALLOTS FOR PRIMARY ELECTIONS
SECTION 7-13-610. Ballot specifications; separate ballots for each party.
(A) The State Election Commission and the respective county election commissions shall prepare separate ballots for each political party holding a primary. The ballots for each party must contain in print only the names of the candidates who have filed to run in that particular party primary and must have a stub at the top perforated so as to be easily detached. On the stub must be printed "Official state (or county) Ballot, (name of party) Primary", the name of the county and the precinct, and the date of the primary. On the right side there must be a blank line under which must be printed "Initials of Issuing Officer". Stubs on ballots for each precinct must be numbered consecutively, beginning with "No. 1". The ballots must be furnished by the State Election Commission for all except members of the General Assembly, county officers, less than county officers, and circuit solicitors, for which the county election commission shall furnish the ballots. One ballot must contain the names of all persons in alphabetical order running for state and federal offices. The other ballot must contain, in alphabetical order, the names of all persons running for the General Assembly, county offices, less than county officers, and solicitors.
(B) Ballots furnished by the State Election Commission under this section must have marked on them in plain type, both on the stub and on the ballot, the words "Official State Ballot". Ballots furnished by the county election commission under this section must have marked on them in plain type, both on the stub and on the ballot, the words "Official County Ballot".
(C) The ballot must be printed on paper of a thickness so that the printing cannot be distinguished from the back and must be of a size and color as directed by the State Election Commission. If more than one ballot is to be used in a primary, each ballot must be printed on different colored paper. The ballot must contain a voting square opposite the name of each candidate, and the voter shall vote by putting a mark in the voting square opposite the name of the candidate of his choice. The State Election Commission may establish, under Chapter 23 of Title 1, such rules and regulations as are necessary for the proper administration of this section.
SECTION 7-13-611. Arrangement of official county and state primary ballots.
The arrangement of each "Official County Ballot" for each primary, containing the names of candidates for office, must conform as nearly as practicable to the following plan and contain specified instructions and no others:
OFFICIAL COUNTY BALLOT, ____________________ PRIMARY
(NAME OF PARTY)
__________________ COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA
NO: ______ _____________ _____________
Initials of Issuing Officer
__________________________, 19______
(DATE OF ELECTION)
__________________________
(NAME OF PRECINCT)
OFFICIAL COUNTY BALLOT, ____________________ PRIMARY
(NAME OF PARTY)
__________________ COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA
__________________________, 19______
(DATE OF ELECTION)
__________________________
(NAME OF PRECINCT)
INSTRUCTIONS "
Make a cross (X) in the voting square [ ] opposite the name of
each candidate on the ballot for whom you wish to vote.
Before leaving the booth, fold the ballot so that the
initials of the manager may be seen on the outside.
You may vote for three, less than three, but not more than three candidates.
COUNTY COUNCIL THREE SEATS TO FILL
(Example)
[ ] (NAME OF CANDIDATE)
-------------------
[ ] (NAME OF CANDIDATE)
-------------------
[ ] (NAME OF CANDIDATE)
-------------------
[ ] (NAME OF CANDIDATE)
-------------------
[ ] (NAME OF CANDIDATE)
-------------------
[ ] (NAME OF CANDIDATE)
-------------------
Each "Official State Ballot" similarly must conform to the plan set forth in this section.
The State Election Commission is hereby empowered to promulgate such rules and regulations under Chapter 23 of Title 1 as are necessary for the arrangement of the official county ballot.
SECTION 7-13-620. Repealed by 2000 Act No. 392, Section 11, eff August 1, 2000.
ARTICLE 7.
VOTING PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL ELECTIONS
SECTION 7-13-710. Proof of right to vote; signing poll list; comparison of signatures.
When any person presents himself to vote, he shall produce his valid South Carolina driver's license or other form of identification containing a photograph issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, if he is not licensed to drive, or the written notification of
SECTION 7-13-10. Time of general elections for Federal, State and county officers; conduct of general and special elections.
General elections for Federal, State and county officers in this State shall be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year at such voting places as have been or may be established by law. All general or special elections held pursuant to the Constitution of this State shall be regulated and conducted according to the rules, principles and provisions herein prescribed.
SECTION 7-13-15. Primaries to be conducted by State Election Commission and county election commissions on second Tuesday in June.
(A)(1) This section does not apply to municipal primaries.
(2) This section does not apply to presidential preference primary elections for the Office of President of the United States, which are provided for in Section 7-11-20(B).
(B) Except as provided in subsection (A) or unless otherwise specifically provided for by statute or ordinance, the following primaries must be conducted by the State Election Commission and the county election commissions on the second Tuesday in June of each general election year:
(1) primaries for national offices, excluding the presidential preference primaries for the Office of President of the United States, which are provided for in Section 7-11-20(B); and
(2) primaries for:
(a) state offices;
(b) offices including more than one county;
(c) countywide and less than countywide offices, specifically including, but not limited to, all school boards and school trustees; and
(d) special purpose district offices, which include, but are not limited to, water, sewer, fire, soil conservation, and other similar district offices.
SECTION 7-13-20. Time of general election for certain county officers.
There shall be a general election for county supervisors, county superintendents of education, sheriffs, coroners and clerks of the courts of common pleas held in each county at every alternate general election, reckoning from the year 1960, except in those counties in which the term of office of any such officers may be for a period other than four years. In such cases elections to fill such offices shall be held at the general election next preceding the expiration of any such term of office.
SECTION 7-13-30. Time of election of probate judges.
The probate judge in every county shall be elected at every alternate general election, reckoning from the year 1958.
SECTION 7-13-35. Notice of general, municipal, special, and primary elections.
The authority charged by law with conducting an election must publish two notices of general, municipal, special, and primary elections held in the county in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or municipality, as appropriate. Included in each notice must be a reminder of the last day persons may register to be eligible to vote in the election for which notice is given, notification of the date, time, and location of the hearing on ballots challenged in the election, a list of the precincts involved in the election, the location of the polling places in each of the precincts, and notification that the process of examining the return-addressed envelopes containing absentee ballots may begin at 2:00 p.m. on election day at a place designated in the notice by the authority charged with conducting the election. The first notice must appear not later than sixty days before the election and the second notice must appear not later than two weeks after the first notice.
SECTION 7-13-40. Time of party primary; certification of names; verification of candidates' qualifications; filing fee.
In the event that a party nominates candidates by party primary, a party primary must be held by the party and conducted by the State Election Commission and the respective county election commissions on the second Tuesday in June of each general election year, and a second and third primary each two weeks successively thereafter, if necessary. Written certification of the names of all candidates to be placed on primary ballots must be made by the political party chairman, vice chairman, or secretary to the State Election Commission or the county election commission, whichever is responsible under law for preparing the ballot, not later than twelve o'clock noon on April ninth, or if April ninth falls on a Saturday or Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday. Political parties nominating candidates by party primary must verify the qualifications of those candidates prior to certification to the appropriate election commission of the names of candidates to be placed on primary ballots. The written verification required by this section must contain a statement that each candidate certified meets, or will meet by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, the qualifications for office for which he has filed. Political parties must not accept the filing of any candidate who does not or will not by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, meet the qualifications for the office for which the candidate desires to file, and such candidate's name shall not be placed on a primary ballot. The filing fees for all candidates filing to run in all primaries, except municipal primaries, must be transmitted by the respective political parties to the State Election Commission and placed by the executive director of the commission in a special account designated for use in conducting primary elections and must be used for that purpose. The filing fee for each office is one percent of the total salary for the term of that office or one hundred dollars, whichever amount is greater.
SECTION 7-13-45. Filing as candidate.
In every general election year, the county chairman shall:
(1) designate a specified place other than a private residence where persons may file a statement of intention of candidacy;
(2) designate a specified place other than a private residence where persons may file as candidates;
(3) establish regular hours of not less than four hours a day during the final seventy-two hours of the filing period in which he or some person he designates must be present at the designated place to accept filings;
(4) place an advertisement to appear two weeks before the filing period begins in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least five by seven inches in size that notifies the public of the dates of the filing periods, the offices which may be filed for, the place and street address where filings may be made, and the hours that an authorized person will be present to receive filings.
SECTION 7-13-50. Second and other primaries.
A second primary, when necessary, must be held two weeks after the first and is subject to the rules governing the first primary. At the second primary the two candidates among those who do not withdraw their candidacies and who received more votes in the first primary than any other remaining candidate alone shall run for any one office and if only one candidate remains, he is considered nominated, except that if there are two or more vacancies for any particular office, the number of candidates must be double the number of vacancies to be filled if so many candidates remain. In all second primaries the candidate receiving the largest number of votes cast for a given office must be declared the nominee for the office whether or not he has received a majority of the votes cast for that office, and when there are several candidates for several different offices, then the several candidates receiving the largest number of votes for the several positions are considered as nominated for the offices whether or not they received a majority of the votes cast. Other primaries, if necessary, must be ordered in a similar manner by the county election commission or the State Election Commission, as appropriate.
SECTION 7-13-60. Hours polls open.
The polls must be opened at seven o'clock a.m. and closed at seven o'clock p.m. the day of election and must be held open during these hours without intermission or adjournment.
SECTION 7-13-70. Appointment of county commissioners of election; oath; training and certification.
(A) For the purpose of carrying on general or special elections provided for in Section 7-13-10, the Governor, at least ninety days before the election, must appoint for each county not less than three nor more than five commissioners of election upon the recommendation of the senatorial delegation and at least half of the members of the House of Representatives from the respective counties. The Governor must notify the State Election Commission in writing of the appointments. The State Election Commission must verify that at least one of the appointees represents the largest political party and one represents the second largest political party as determined by the composition of that county's delegation in the General Assembly or the makeup of the General Assembly as a whole if the county's delegation is composed of only one party's members. The commissioners shall continue in office until their successors are appointed and qualified. After their appointment, the commissioners must take and subscribe, before any officer authorized to administer oaths, the following oath of office prescribed by Section 26 of Article III of the Constitution: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am duly qualified, according to the Constitution of this State, to exercise the duties of the office to which I have been appointed, and that I will, to the best of my ability, discharge the duties thereof, and preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of this State and of the United States. So help me God".
(B) The oath must be filed immediately in the office of the clerk of court of common pleas of the county in which the commissioners are appointed, or if there is no clerk of court, in the office of the Secretary of State.
(C)(1) Each commissioner, and each staff person as designated by the commission, must complete, within eighteen months after the commissioner's initial appointment or his reappointment after a break in service, or within eighteen months after a staff person's initial employment or reemployment following a break in service, a training and certification program conducted by the State Election Commission. When a commissioner or staff person has successfully completed the training and certification program, the State Election Commission must issue the commissioner or staff person a certification, whether or not the commissioner or staff person applies for the certification.
(2)(a) The provisions of this section do not exempt any member or staff person from completing the training and certification program required in item (1).
(b) Any member appointed or reappointed after a break in service prior to the effective date of this section or any staff person employed or reemployed after a break in service prior to the effective date of this section must successfully complete a training and certification program by the latter of:
(i) eighteen months after the member's appointment or reappointment after a break in service or the staff person's employment or reemployment after a break in service; or
(ii) ninety days after the effective date of this section.
(c) On and after the effective date of this section, any member appointed or reappointed after a break in service or any staff person employed or reemployed after a break in service must complete the training and certification program required in item (1) within eighteen months after the member's appointment or reappointment after a break in service or staff person's employment or reemployment after a break in service.
(3) If a member does not fulfill the training and certification program as provided in this section, the Governor, upon notification, must remove that member from the board unless the Governor grants the member an extension to complete the training and certification program based upon exceptional circumstances.
(4) Following completion of the training and certification program required in item (1), each commission member, and staff person designated by the commission, must take at least one training course each year.
SECTION 7-13-72. Managers of election.
For the general election held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year, the commissioners of election must appoint three managers of election for each polling place in the county for which they must respectively be appointed for each five hundred electors, or portion of each five hundred electors, registered to vote at the polling place.
For primary elections held on the second Tuesday in June of each general election year, the commissioners of election must appoint three managers of election for each polling place in the county for which they must respectively be appointed for the first five hundred electors registered to vote in each precinct in the county, and may appoint three additional managers for each five hundred electors registered to vote in the precinct above the first five hundred electors, or portion thereof. The commissioners must also appoint from among the managers a clerk for each polling place in the county, and none of the officers may be removed from office except for incompetence or misconduct.
For all other primary, special, or municipal elections, the authority charged by law with conducting the primary, special, or municipal elections must appoint three managers of election for the first five hundred electors registered to vote in each precinct in the county, municipality, or other election district and one additional manager for each five hundred electors registered to vote in the precinct above the first five hundred electors. The authority responsible by law for conducting the election must also appoint from among the managers a clerk for each polling place in a primary, special, or municipal election.
Forty-five days prior to any primary, except municipal primaries, each political party holding a primary may submit to the county election commission a list of prospective managers for each precinct. The county election commission must appoint at least one manager for each precinct from the list of names submitted by each political party holding a primary. However, the county election commission may refuse to appoint any prospective manager for good cause.
No person may be appointed as a manager in a primary, general, or special election who has not completed a training program approved by the State Election Commission concerning his duties and responsibilities as a poll manager and who has not received certification of having completed the training program. The training program and the issuance of certification must be carried out by the county election commission. After their appointment, the managers and clerks must take and subscribe, before any officer authorized to administer oaths, the following oath of office prescribed by Section 26 of Article III of the Constitution: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am duly qualified, according to the Constitution of this State, to exercise the duties of the office to which I have been appointed, and that I will, to the best of my ability, discharge the duties thereof, and preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of this State and of the United States. So help me God".
The oath must be immediately filed in the office of the clerk of court of common pleas of the county in which the managers and clerks are appointed, or if there is no clerk of court, in the office of the Secretary of State. Before opening the polls, the managers of election must take and subscribe the oath provided for in Section 7-13-100. Upon the completion of the canvassing of votes, this oath must be filed with the commissioners of election along with the ballots from that election precinct.
SECTION 7-13-75. Members of local election commissions; political activity prohibited.
No member of a county or municipal election commission, voter registration board, or combined election and voter registration commission may participate in political management or in a political campaign over whose election the member has jurisdiction during the member's term of office. No member may make a contribution to a candidate or knowingly attend a fundraiser held for the benefit of a candidate over whose election the member has jurisdiction. Violation of this section subjects the member to removal by the Governor or appropriate appointive authority.
SECTION 7-13-80. Organization of board of commissioners, managers and clerks; oaths.
The commissioners, managers, and clerks at their first meeting, respectively, must proceed to organize as a board. The county election commission must appoint the chairman of the board of managers. The chairman, in each instance, may administer oaths.
SECTION 7-13-90. Repealed by 1992 Act No. 253, Section 17, eff February 19, 1992.
SECTION 7-13-100. Managers shall take oath before opening polls.
The managers before opening the polls, shall take and sign the following oath: "We do solemnly swear that we will conduct this election according to law and will allow no person to vote who is not entitled by law to vote in this election, and we will not unlawfully assist any voter to prepare his ballot and will not advise any voter as to how he should vote at this election."
SECTION 7-13-110. Poll managers to be residents and registered electors of counties; assistants.
All managers of election for the various polling places in the State must be residents and registered electors of the respective counties in which they are appointed to work or in an adjoining county. Any person at least sixteen years of age who has completed the training required by Section 7-13-72 and who is not otherwise disqualified by law may be appointed as a poll manager's assistant by the appropriate county election commission. Any sixteen- or seventeen-year-old appointed as a poll manager's assistant may not serve as chairman of the managers or clerk in the polling place to which he or she is appointed. Sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds must serve under supervision of the chairman of the managers of the polling place, and their specific duties must be prescribed by the county election commission. One sixteen- or seventeen-year-old assistant poll manager may be appointed for every two regular poll managers appointed to work in any precinct.
SECTION 7-13-120. Candidates and their relatives shall not be managers or clerks.
(1) It shall be unlawful for a candidate or the spouse, parents, children, brothers or sisters of a candidate for public office to work as a manager or clerk of election at a polling place where such candidate's name appears on the ballot.
(2) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.
SECTION 7-13-130. Managers' table; guard rail; general arrangement; preservation of right to vote and secrecy of ballot.
The polling places shall be provided with a table for the managers. The polls shall be provided with a guard rail, so that no one except as herein authorized shall approach nearer than five feet to the booths in which the voters are preparing their ballots. The managers at each voting place shall arrange the table, desk or other place upon which the ballot boxes shall be placed so that there shall be no crowding or confusion immediately around the boxes, and suitable means shall be provided to enable each voter to approach the boxes and deposit his ballot without interference or hindrance. The right to vote of each person so entitled and the secrecy of the ballot shall be preserved at all times.
SECTION 7-13-140. Maintenance of order; police powers of managers.
Managers of election are clothed with such police powers as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this article. The managers shall possess full authority to maintain good order at the polls and to enforce obedience to their lawful commands during an election and during the canvass and counting of the votes. All peace officers shall answer all such calls for help in preserving the peace as may be made by the managers of election.
SECTION 7-13-150. Penalty for failure to assist in maintaining order.
Any person who, when summoned or called upon by peace officers shall fail or refuse to assist him in maintaining the peace and good order at the polls shall be fined in a sum not to exceed one hundred dollars or imprisoned not to exceed thirty days.
SECTION 7-13-160. Peace officers shall enter polling place only on request or to vote.
No sheriff, deputy sheriff, policeman or other officers shall be allowed to come within the polling place except to vote unless summoned into it by a majority of the managers. On failure of any sheriff, deputy sheriff, policeman or other officer to comply with the provisions of the preceding sentence, the managers of election, or one of them, shall make affidavit against such sheriff, deputy sheriff, policeman or other officer for his arrest.
SECTION 7-13-170. Procedure when managers fail to attend, take charge of, or conduct election.
In case all of the managers shall fail to attend at the same time and place appointed for holding such poll or shall refuse or fail to act or in case no manager has been appointed for such poll, it shall be lawful for the voters present at the precinct voting place on that day to appoint from among the qualified voters of such precinct or club the managers to act as managers in the place and stead of the absent managers, and any one of the managers so appointed shall administer the oath to the other managers. But if the duly appointed managers attend in a reasonable time, they shall take charge of and conduct the election.
SECTION 7-13-180. Posting proposed constitutional amendments at polling place.
Whenever an amendment to the Constitution of this State shall be voted upon at any election, the commissioners of election of each county in the State shall have such amendment conspicuously posted at each voting precinct in the county upon the day of the election. Such printed amendments shall be furnished to the commissioners of election by the Secretary of State.
SECTION 7-13-190. Special elections to fill vacancies in office.
(A) Except as otherwise provided in this code as to specific offices, whenever a vacancy occurs in office by reason of death, resignation, or removal and the vacancy in office is one which is filled by a special election to complete the term of office, this section applies.
(B) In partisan elections, whether seeking nomination by political party primary or political party convention, filing by these candidates shall open for the office at twelve o'clock noon on the third Friday after the vacancy occurs for a period to close ten days later at twelve o'clock noon. If seeking nomination by petition, the petitions must be submitted not later than twelve o'clock noon, sixty days prior to the election. Verification of these petitions must be made not later than twelve o'clock noon forty-five days prior to the election. If seeking nomination by political party primary or political party convention, filing with the appropriate official is the same as provided in Section 7-11-15 and if seeking nomination by petition, filing with the appropriate official is the same as provided in Section 7-11-70.
A primary must be held on the eleventh Tuesday after the vacancy occurs. A runoff primary must be held on the thirteenth Tuesday after the vacancy occurs. The special election must be on the eighteenth Tuesday after the vacancy occurs. If the eighteenth Tuesday after the vacancy occurs is no more than sixty days prior to the general election, the special election shall be held on the same day as the general election. If the filing period closes on a state holiday, then filing must be held open through the succeeding weekday. If the date for an election falls on a state holiday, it must be set for the next succeeding Tuesday. For purposes of this section, state holiday does not mean the general election day.
(C) If the office is not one for which there are partisan elections, then the filing must be opened at noon on the third Friday after the vacancy occurs for a period to close ten days later at noon. The filing must be made to the same entity to which the nonpartisan officeholders would normally file for office in a general election year. The election must be set for the thirteenth Tuesday after the vacancy occurs. Both the filing date and the election date are subject to the provisions in subsection (B) of this section regarding holidays.
(D) Provided, however, if a vacancy occurs in more than one office in the same county requiring separate special elections to be held within a period of twenty-eight days under the provisions of this section, the election commission or other authority responsible for the conduct of the elections shall conduct all of the elections on the same date. The special elections must be held on the latest date required for an election during the twenty-eight-day period.
(E)(1) A special election to fill a vacancy in an office is not required to be conducted if fourteen calendar days have elapsed since the filing period for that office has closed and:
(a) only one person has filed for the office; and
(b) no person has filed a declaration to be a write-in candidate with the authority charged by law with conducting the election.
(2) In such an event, the candidate who filed for the office is deemed elected and shall take office on the Monday following certification.
(3) The provisions of this subsection also apply to municipal general elections.
When no person has filed a declaration to be a write-in candidate pursuant to this section, the candidate who filed for the office must be declared the winner by the authority charged by law with conducting the election, and the votes for the election must not be counted or otherwise tabulated. Nothing in this section requires a ballot containing the name of a person who has been declared the winner pursuant to this section to be reprinted to delete the winning candidate's name or candidates' names from the ballot.
ARTICLE 3.
BALLOTS FOR GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS
SECTION 7-13-310. Kinds of general election ballots; different colored paper shall be used.
In the general elections provided for in Section 7-13-10, there shall be four kinds of ballots called, respectively: "Official Ballot for Presidential Elector"; "Official Ballot for State Offices, United States Senator and Members of Congress"; "Official Ballot for State Senator, Member of the House of Representatives, County, Circuit and Other Offices" and "Official Ballot on Constitutional Amendments or other Propositions Submitted." Each such kind of ballot shall be printed upon different colored paper as shall be provided for by the executive director.
SECTION 7-13-320. Ballot standards and specifications.
General election ballots shall conform to the following standards and specifications:
(A) The ballot shall be printed on paper of such thickness that the printing cannot be distinguished from the back and shall be of such size and color as directed by the State Election Commission. If more than one ballot is to be used in any election, each such ballot shall be printed upon different colored paper;
(B) Across the top of the ballot shall be printed "Official Ballot, General Election," beneath which shall be printed the date of the election, the county and the precinct. Above the caption of each ballot shall be one stub, with a perforated line between the stub and the top of the ballot. The stub shall have printed thereon "Official Ballot, General Election" and then shall appear the name of the county, the precinct and the date of the election. On the right side there shall be a blank line under which there shall be "Initials of Issuing Officer." Stubs on ballots for each precinct shall be prenumbered consecutively, beginning with No. 1;
(C) On the ballot for presidential electors there shall be printed, under the titles of the offices, the names of the candidates for President and Vice President of the United States nominated by each political party qualified under the provisions of Section 7-9-10 and those nominated by petition. A separate column shall be assigned to each political party with candidates and to each separate petition slate of candidates on the ballot and each party and each petition candidate's columns shall be separated by distinct black lines. At the head of each column the party or petition name shall be printed in large type and below it a circle, one-half inch in diameter, and below the circle the names of the party's and petition candidates for President and Vice President in that order. On the face of the ballot above the party and petition candidate's column division the following instruction shall be printed in heavy black type:
a. To vote this ballot make a cross (X) mark in the circle below the name of the political party or petition column for whose candidates you wish to vote.
b. A vote for the names of a political party's candidates or petition candidates for President and Vice President is a vote for the electors of that party or petition candidates, the names of whom are on file with the Secretary of State.
On the bottom of the ballot shall be printed an identified facsimile of the signature of the Executive Director of the State Election Commission.
(D) The names of candidates offering for any other office shall be placed in the proper place on the appropriate ballot, stating whether it is a state, congressional, legislative, county or other office.
(E) The names of the several officers to be voted for and the tickets of the parties and petition candidates shall be placed on the ballots in an order as arranged by the State Election Commission as to those ballots for which it is responsible for distribution and by the commissioners of election for the respective counties as to the ballots for which they are responsible for distribution, including those for State Senator and member of the House of Representatives. If the State Senator or member of the House of Representatives or any other officer is to be elected from more than one county, the commissioners of election from the various counties from which they are to be elected shall assure that there shall be uniformity of placement on the ballots of their respective counties and should the commissioners fail to agree within sixty days prior to the general election, and upon receipt of written certification by at least one commissioner, that they have failed to act, the State Election Commission shall determine the order of placing the names on the ballots.
(F) Each county election commission must provide a copy of each ballot style to be used for primary, general, and special elections in the absentee precinct in the county to the Executive Director of the State Election Commission not later than September fifteenth in the case of general elections, and not later than forty days prior to the date of the election in the case of special and primary elections. If the ballot styles are not available by these deadlines, the executive director must determine when absentee ballots for that county will be available. If a determination is made that absentee ballots will not be available in sufficient time to adequately effectuate absentee voting, the executive director is empowered to direct the county board of voter registration to provide the blank ballots provided by Section 7-15-360 until the regular ballots are available. The executive director must also notify the chairman of the county's legislative delegation of his findings and the action taken.
SECTION 7-13-325. Use of candidate's given name, derivative thereof, or nickname on ballot.
The name of a candidate authorized by law to appear on a ballot in a general, special, or primary election in this State for any office may be one of the following or a combination of them:
(1) the candidate's given name;
(2) a derivative of the candidate's given name properly acquired under the common law and used in good faith for honest purposes; or
(3) a nickname which bears no relation to the candidate's given name but which is used in good faith for honest purposes and does not exceed fifteen letters on the ballot.
The derivative name or nickname may not imply professional or social status, an office, or military rank.
A candidate wanting to use a derivative name or a nickname, as permitted by items (2) and (3), respectively, of this section, shall notify the authority responsible by law for conducting the election, in writing, before a deadline for receiving or certifying candidates' names for inclusion on the ballot, the name he wishes to have appear and shall present evidence required by the authority conducting the election that the name indicated is his derivative name or nickname. In deciding whether the name indicated is the candidate's derivative name or nickname, the authority conducting the election shall consider appropriate criteria, including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) whether the name is the designation by which the candidate is usually and commonly known in the community in which he resides or called by other persons;
(b) whether the name is the designation by which the candidate calls himself or which he has adopted;
(c) whether the name is the designation under which the candidate transacts private and official business.
The State Election Commission may promulgate regulations to carry out the provisions of the section, including, but not limited to, forms to be completed by the candidate and the deadline by which a candidate shall indicate the name he wished to have appear on the ballot.
SECTION 7-13-330. Form of ballot; instructions.
The arrangement of general election ballots containing the names of candidates for office must conform as nearly as possible to the following plan, with a column or columns added in case of nomination by petition and a blank column added for write-in votes, and must contain the specified instructions there set forth and no other:
GENERAL ELECTION OFFICIAL BALLOT
No. ______ ____________ COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA
November ___, _____
______________
Initials of Issuing Officer
OFFICIAL BALLOT
GENERAL ELECTION
__________ __________ County, South Carolina
November ___, _____
Precinct __________
INSTRUCTIONS--To vote a straight party ticket, make a cross (X) in the circle (O) under the name of your party. Nothing further need or should be done. To vote a mixed ticket, or in other words for candidates of different parties or petition candidates, omit making a cross (X) mark in the party circle at the top and make a cross (X) in the voting square [ ] opposite the name of each candidate on the ballot for whom you wish to vote. If you wish to vote for a candidate not on any ticket, write or place the name of such candidate on your ticket opposite the name of the office. Before leaving the booth, fold the ballot so that the initials of the manager may be seen on the outside of the ballot.
SECTION 7-13-335. Arrangement of names on certain ballots.
The State Election Commission or the local entity responsible for printing general or special election ballots or the arrangement of a ballot by mechanical or electronic means shall conform these ballots to the requirements of Section 7-13-330. The names of candidates in nonpartisan and at-large, multi-seat races must be listed in alphabetical order.
SECTION 7-13-340. Printing and distribution of ballots.
All ballots cast in general elections for national, State, county, municipal, district and circuit officers in the towns, counties, districts, circuits, cities and other political divisions shall be printed and distributed at public expense. The printing and distribution of all ballots, other than the county, State Senator, member of the House of Representatives, local or circuit ballots herein designated, the ballots for elections in cities and towns and the ballots for election on bonds or other local measures, shall be arranged and handled by the State Election Commission and shall be paid for by the State. The State Election Commission shall have all necessary ballots for elections for presidential electors, State officers, United States Senators and members of Congress printed, and shall deliver such ballots to the various county commissioners of election at least ten days prior to the date of the election and the county commissioners of election shall place such ballots in ballot boxes for distribution to the election managers of the various precincts.
The printing and distribution of ballots in all State Senate, member of the House of Representatives, county, local and circuit elections shall be arranged and handled by the commissioners of election of the several counties and shall be paid for by the respective counties, and the commissioners of election shall place such ballots in ballot boxes for distribution to the election managers of the various precincts. The printing and distribution of ballots in all municipal elections shall be arranged and handled by the municipal authorities conducting such elections and shall be paid for by the municipalities.
The terms "municipal" and "municipalities" as used in this section shall be construed to include school districts, public service districts and like political subdivisions.
SECTION 7-13-350. Certification of candidates; verification of qualifications.
(A) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the nominees in a party primary or party convention held under the provisions of this title by any political party certified by the commission for one or more of the offices, national, state, circuit, multi-county district, countywide, less than countywide, or municipal to be voted on in the general election, held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November, must be placed upon the appropriate ballot for the election as candidates nominated by the party by the authority charged by law with preparing the ballot if the names of the nominees are certified, in writing, by the political party chairman, vice-chairman, or secretary to the authority, for general elections held under Section 7-13-10, not later than twelve o'clock noon on August fifteenth or, if August fifteenth falls on Saturday or Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday; and for a special or municipal general election, by at least twelve o'clock noon on the sixtieth day prior to the date of holding the election, or if the sixtieth day falls on Sunday, by twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday. Political parties nominating candidates by primary or convention must verify the qualifications of those candidates prior to certification to the authority charged by law with preparing the ballot. The written certification required by this section must contain a statement that each candidate certified meets, or will meet by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, the qualifications for the office for which he has filed. Any candidate who does not, or will not by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, meet the qualifications for the office for which he has filed shall not be nominated and certified, and such candidate's name shall not be placed on a general, special, or municipal election ballot.
(B) Candidates for President and Vice President must be certified not later than twelve o'clock noon on September tenth to the State Election Commission, or if September tenth falls on Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday.
SECTION 7-13-351. Nominees by petition.
Any nominee by petition for one or more of the national, state, circuit, multi-county district, countywide, or less than countywide offices, to be voted on in the general election must be placed upon the appropriate ballot by the officer, commissioners, or other authority charged by law with preparing the ballot if the petition is submitted to the officer, commissioner, or other authority, as the case may be, for general elections held under Section 7-13-10, not later than twelve o'clock noon on July fifteenth or, if July fifteenth falls on Saturday or Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday. At the time the petition is submitted, the authority charged with accepting it shall issue a receipt to the person submitting the petition which must reflect the date it was submitted and the total number of signatures contained in the petition. The board of voter registration of each respective county must check the petition at the request of the authority charged with printing the ballot for that office and must certify the results to the authority not later than twelve o'clock noon August fifteenth or, if August fifteenth falls on Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday.
The petition of any candidate in any special election, including municipal special elections, must be submitted to the authority charged with printing the ballot for those offices not later than twelve o'clock noon on the sixtieth day prior to the date of the holding of the election, or if the sixtieth day falls on Sunday, by not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday. At the time a petition is submitted, the authority charged with accepting it must issue a receipt to the person submitting the petition which must reflect the date the petition was submitted and the total number of signatures contained in the petition. The candidate submitting the petition must certify, on a form designed and provided by the State Election Commission, that he meets, or will meet by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, the qualifications for the office sought. The board of voter registration of each respective county must check the petition at the request of the authority charged with printing of the ballots for that office and must certify the results thereof to the authority not later than twelve o'clock noon on the forty-fifth day prior to the date of holding the election, or if the forty-fifth day falls on Sunday, by twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday.
Once submitted for verification, a petition for nomination of a candidate for any office may not be returned to the petitioner, but must be retained by the authority to whom the petition was submitted and must become a part of the records of the election for which the petition was submitted.
In the event of an emergency declared by the Governor and the conditions precipitating the emergency declaration prevent a candidate from filing the nominating petition within the time required by this section, the candidate has an additional five days to submit the nominating petition to the appropriate office.
The authority to whom a petition is submitted must verify that qualifications of each potential petition candidate prior to certification of that candidate to be placed on the ballot. The written certification required by this section must contain a statement that each candidate certified meets, or will meet by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, the qualifications for the office for which the petition is submitted. Any candidate who does not, or will not by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, meet the qualifications for the office sought shall not have his name placed on the ballot.
SECTION 7-13-352. Date by which statement of candidacy must be filed; verification of candidates' qualifications.
Any candidate for a nonpartisan office, multi-county district, countywide, or less than countywide, including municipal offices, to be voted on at the time of the general election, who qualifies by statement of candidacy shall file the statement of candidacy with the authority responsible by law for conducting the election not later than twelve o'clock noon on August fifteenth or, if August fifteenth falls on Saturday or Sunday, not later than twelve o'clock noon on the following Monday. Each candidate must affirm, in writing, that he meets, or will meet by the time of the election, or as otherwise required by law, the qualifications for the office sought. The authority with whom statements of candidacy are filed must verify that each candidate meets, or will meet by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, the qualifications for the office sought. Any candidate who does not, or will not by the time of the general election, or as otherwise required by law, meet the qualifications for the office sought shall not have his name placed on the ballot.
SECTION 7-13-355. Time for submitting question to election commission for submission as referendum to electors.
No question may be submitted to the qualified electors in a referendum held at the time of a general election unless the question is submitted to the appropriate election commission to be placed on the ballot no later than 12:00 noon on August fifteenth or, if August fifteenth falls on Saturday or Sunday, not later than 12:00 noon on the following business day.
SECTION 7-13-360. Place on ballot for write-in names.
The ballots shall also contain a place for voters to write in the name of any other person for whom they wish to vote except on ballots for the election of the President and Vice President.
SECTION 7-13-370. Death, withdrawal or disqualification of candidate after name printed on ballot.
If any candidate dies, withdraws or otherwise becomes disqualified after his name has been printed on an official election ballot and if any person is nominated, as authorized by law, to fill such vacancy, the name of the candidate so nominated to fill such vacancy need not be printed upon the ballots, but the name of such candidate so nominated shall be certified by the party executive committee making the nomination to the officer, commissioners or other authority charged with the duty of printing such ballots and a vote cast by a voter for the name of the candidate printed on the ballot who has either died, withdrawn or otherwise become disqualified shall be counted as a vote for the candidate subsequently nominated to fill such vacancy whose name is on file with such officer, commissioners, or other authority.
SECTION 7-13-380. Reprinting ballots to delete name of deceased or withdrawn candidate is optional.
After the official ballots have been printed by the proper officer, commissioners, or other authority, the death or withdrawal of a candidate whose name is printed on the official ballot does not require the officer, commissioners, or other authority to reprint the official ballots, but the officer, commissioners, or other authority having jurisdiction over the printing and distribution of the ballots concerned may (1) cause the ballots to be reprinted and be substituted in all respects for the first printed ballots if this substitution is considered feasible and advisable or (2) affix a blank label to cover the name of the deceased or withdrawn candidate on voting systems where possible or appropriate.
SECTION 7-13-390. Limitations on withdrawal of candidacy.
After the proper officer, commissioners or other authority has been notified of the nomination, as hereinbefore specified, of any candidate for office, he shall not withdraw such nomination unless upon the written request of the candidate so nominated made at least thirty days before the day of election.
SECTION 7-13-400. Form of ballot when questions are submitted.
The form of ballot in an election on the issuance of bonds or in which any other question or issue is submitted to a vote of the people shall be a statement of the question or questions and shall thereafter have the following words:
In favor of the question or issue (as the case may be)[ ]
Opposed to the question or issue (as the case may be)[ ]
The voter shall be instructed in substance, if he wishes to vote in favor of the proposition to place a check or cross mark in the square after the words first above written and if he wishes to vote against the proposition to place a check or cross mark in the square after the words second above written.
Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent any party from submitting to party members any question or issue.
SECTION 7-13-410. Ballots where both state-wide and local constitutional amendments are submitted.
Whenever at any general election proposed amendments to the Constitution of both state-wide and local natures are submitted to the qualified electors of the State, the State officer charged with the duty of preparing the ballots shall arrange and classify the proposed amendments on such ballots as follows:
At the top of one ballot shall be printed the words "Statewide Constitutional Amendments." Under this heading there shall be placed the various proposed amendments of a state-wide nature. At the top of a separate ballot shall be printed the words "Local Constitutional Amendments." Under this heading there shall be printed in alphabetical order the names of the various counties of the State affected by any proposed local amendments and under the name of each county the particular amendment affecting such county, or any particular subdivision thereof, or municipality situated therein, but when any proposed amendment relates to two or more counties such proposed amendment shall be listed under a joint heading combined of the names of such counties. The heading shall be printed in larger type than that used in printing the proposed amendment.
Ballots for the state-wide constitutional amendments shall be printed on white paper and ballots for the local constitutional amendments shall be printed on a paper other than white.
SECTION 7-13-420. Oath of printer of ballots and assistants.
The printer with whom the executive director, commissioners of election or other authority, as the case may be, shall contract for the printing of official ballots shall, before the work is commenced, take an oath before the Executive Director of the State Election Commission or the chairman of the commissioners or other authority, as the case may be, who may administer such oath, to the following effect: "I, __________, do solemnly swear that I will print (here insert number) ballots according to the instructions of the __________ of __________; that I will not print or permit to be printed, directly or indirectly, more than the above number; that I will at once destroy all imperfect and perfect impressions other than those required to be delivered to the electoral board; that as soon as said number of ballots is printed I will distribute the type used for such work and that I will not communicate to anyone whomsoever, in any manner whatsoever, the size, style or contents of such ballots."
The above oath shall be reduced to writing and signed by the person taking it and also a similar affidavit shall be required of any employee or other person engaged upon the work or who shall have access to it. Any intentional violation of such oath shall constitute the crime of perjury. Any other violation of the provisions of this section shall be a misdemeanor and punished by a fine of one hundred dollars or imprisonment for thirty days in jail.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to prohibit the executive director, the commissioners or other authority from publishing or otherwise disclosing the contents, style and size of ballots required to be printed by them which they are respectively authorized and empowered to publish or otherwise disclose.
SECTION 7-13-430. Ballots provided where voting machines not used; substitute ballots; penalties for failure to provide; failsafe ballots.
(A) There must be provided for each voting place where voting machines are not used as many ballots as are equal to one hundred ten percent of the registered qualified voters at the voting place. There must be provided for each voting place where voting machines are used a number of ballots not to exceed ten percent of the registered qualified voters at the voting place. The authority responsible for conducting an election must provide to each poll manager the appropriate number of ballots according to the provisions of this section.
(B) When a sufficient number of official ballots are not available for all qualified electors present at the polling place to vote, the managers of election without undue delay shall provide ballots made as nearly as possible in the form of the official ballot to those electors for whom official ballots are unavailable, and for all purposes of the election laws of this State these ballots are the same as official ballots. A manager of election who fails to comply with the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars.
(C) There must be provided for each voting place a number of failsafe ballots, or ballots containing only the races for federal, statewide, countywide, and municipalwide offices, not to exceed five percent of the registered qualified voters at the voting place. The authority responsible for conducting an election must provide to each poll manager the appropriate number of ballots according to the provisions of this section.
SECTION 7-13-440. Voting machine ballots; arrangement of nominations.
In every county, city or town providing voting machines, the commissioners of election shall furnish to the managers of election a sufficient number of ballots printed on clear white paper, of such form and size as will fit the ballot frames of the machines, the arrangement of the names of the candidates on such ballots to be prescribed by the commissioners of election. Party nominations shall be arranged on each voting machine either in columns or horizontal rows, as shall nominations by petition, and the captions of the various ballots on such machines shall be so placed as to indicate to the voter what push knob, key lever or other device is to be used or operated in order to vote for the candidate or candidates of his choice.
SECTION 7-13-450. Use of voting machines shall not prohibit use of separate ballots on certain questions.
The use of voting machines in an election shall not prohibit the use of a separate ballot for constitutional amendments and other public measures.
SECTION 7-13-460. Use of paper ballots.
(A) In special elections to fill vacancies in office, if the use of voting machines is not practicable or cost efficient, the county election officials may use paper ballots in these elections.
(B) If paper ballots are used, the procedure for their use and the counting of these ballots must be in accordance with the provisions of law governing the use of paper ballots, mutatis mutandis.
ARTICLE 5.
BALLOTS FOR PRIMARY ELECTIONS
SECTION 7-13-610. Ballot specifications; separate ballots for each party.
(A) The State Election Commission and the respective county election commissions shall prepare separate ballots for each political party holding a primary. The ballots for each party must contain in print only the names of the candidates who have filed to run in that particular party primary and must have a stub at the top perforated so as to be easily detached. On the stub must be printed "Official state (or county) Ballot, (name of party) Primary", the name of the county and the precinct, and the date of the primary. On the right side there must be a blank line under which must be printed "Initials of Issuing Officer". Stubs on ballots for each precinct must be numbered consecutively, beginning with "No. 1". The ballots must be furnished by the State Election Commission for all except members of the General Assembly, county officers, less than county officers, and circuit solicitors, for which the county election commission shall furnish the ballots. One ballot must contain the names of all persons in alphabetical order running for state and federal offices. The other ballot must contain, in alphabetical order, the names of all persons running for the General Assembly, county offices, less than county officers, and solicitors.
(B) Ballots furnished by the State Election Commission under this section must have marked on them in plain type, both on the stub and on the ballot, the words "Official State Ballot". Ballots furnished by the county election commission under this section must have marked on them in plain type, both on the stub and on the ballot, the words "Official County Ballot".
(C) The ballot must be printed on paper of a thickness so that the printing cannot be distinguished from the back and must be of a size and color as directed by the State Election Commission. If more than one ballot is to be used in a primary, each ballot must be printed on different colored paper. The ballot must contain a voting square opposite the name of each candidate, and the voter shall vote by putting a mark in the voting square opposite the name of the candidate of his choice. The State Election Commission may establish, under Chapter 23 of Title 1, such rules and regulations as are necessary for the proper administration of this section.
SECTION 7-13-611. Arrangement of official county and state primary ballots.
The arrangement of each "Official County Ballot" for each primary, containing the names of candidates for office, must conform as nearly as practicable to the following plan and contain specified instructions and no others:
OFFICIAL COUNTY BALLOT, ____________________ PRIMARY
(NAME OF PARTY)
__________________ COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA
NO: ______ _____________ _____________
Initials of Issuing Officer
__________________________, 19______
(DATE OF ELECTION)
__________________________
(NAME OF PRECINCT)
OFFICIAL COUNTY BALLOT, ____________________ PRIMARY
(NAME OF PARTY)
__________________ COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA
__________________________, 19______
(DATE OF ELECTION)
__________________________
(NAME OF PRECINCT)
INSTRUCTIONS "
Make a cross (X) in the voting square [ ] opposite the name of
each candidate on the ballot for whom you wish to vote.
Before leaving the booth, fold the ballot so that the
initials of the manager may be seen on the outside.
You may vote for three, less than three, but not more than three candidates.
COUNTY COUNCIL THREE SEATS TO FILL
(Example)
[ ] (NAME OF CANDIDATE)
-------------------
[ ] (NAME OF CANDIDATE)
-------------------
[ ] (NAME OF CANDIDATE)
-------------------
[ ] (NAME OF CANDIDATE)
-------------------
[ ] (NAME OF CANDIDATE)
-------------------
[ ] (NAME OF CANDIDATE)
-------------------
Each "Official State Ballot" similarly must conform to the plan set forth in this section.
The State Election Commission is hereby empowered to promulgate such rules and regulations under Chapter 23 of Title 1 as are necessary for the arrangement of the official county ballot.
SECTION 7-13-620. Repealed by 2000 Act No. 392, Section 11, eff August 1, 2000.
ARTICLE 7.
VOTING PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL ELECTIONS
SECTION 7-13-710. Proof of right to vote; signing poll list; comparison of signatures.
When any person presents himself to vote, he shall produce his valid South Carolina driver's license or other form of identification containing a photograph issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, if he is not licensed to drive, or the written notification of
