Bill > H3396

This bill amends South Carolina's election laws to establish a new system for partisan primary elections that requires voters to explicitly declare their party affiliation or independent status before participating. Under the new rules, voters can only vote in a partisan primary or advisory referendum if they have registered as a member of that specific political party or are registered as an independent. When an independent voter participates in a primary, they automatically become a registered member of that party for two years and cannot change their party affiliation during that time. The bill mandates that voter registration forms include a section where voters must choose to either affiliate with a specific political party or remain independent, with a default to independent status if no selection is made. The State Election Commission will be responsible for helping county registration entities maintain accurate party affiliation records. There is a transitional period until June 2026, during which voters can still vote without signing the required affidavit, but after May 31, 2026, all primary elections must strictly follow these new party affiliation rules. The bill aims to create a more structured and transparent primary election process by ensuring voters have a clear and deliberate party association when participating in primary elections.

Justice

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=3396&session=126&summary=B