Bill > H5327

This bill, titled "Closed primaries," aims to change how partisan primary elections and advisory referendums are conducted in South Carolina by requiring voters to be registered members of a specific political party to participate in that party's primary, with exceptions for parties that choose to open their primaries to unaffiliated voters. Starting January 1, 2027, individuals will only be allowed to vote in a partisan primary or advisory referendum if they are registered as a member of that particular certified political party, unless that party formally notifies the State Election Commission that it will allow unaffiliated electors to vote. The bill also mandates that voter registration forms and oaths will now require individuals to state their political party affiliation, if any, and the State Election Commission will be responsible for capturing and maintaining this data, with county election boards assisting in this process and informing voters about these new procedures. Furthermore, the bill outlines a process for changing political party affiliation or declaring nonaffiliation, and it includes a provision that if a voter fails to select a party affiliation during registration, they will automatically be considered an independent voter. Importantly, the bill specifies a transition period, allowing primaries conducted before January 1, 2027, to still permit voting if the voter signs an affidavit affirming their party membership at the time of voting, before the new requirements fully take effect.

Justice

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=5327&session=126&summary=B