Elections: Mail-In Absentee Ballots

A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 7-15-210, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE SPECIFICATIONS OF THE ABSENTEE BALLOT RETURN-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE RETURN-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE TO BE MARKED "RETURN TO SENDER" IN THE EVENT THE ENVELOPE IS UNDELIVERABLE; TO AMEND SECTION 7-15-220, RELATING TO SIGNING AND WITNESSING THE ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICANT'S OATH, SO AS TO DEFINE "PROOF OF IDENTITY", TO REQUIRE ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICANTS TO INCLUDE PROOF OF IDENTITY TOGETHER WITH THEIR SIGNED OATHS, TO PROHIBIT A PERSON FROM SERVING AS A WITNESS FOR MORE THAN FIVE ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICANTS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT IF AN ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICANT FAILS TO INCLUDE THE REQUIRED PROOF OF IDENTITY, THEN HIS BALLOT MUST BE TREATED AS A PROVISIONAL BALLOT; TO AMEND SECTION 7-15-330, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS, SO AS TO REVISE THE APPLICABLE PROCEDURES; TO AMEND SECTION 7-15-340, RELATING TO THE FORM OF AN ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION, SO AS TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, SPECIFY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT MUST BE INCLUDED ON THE ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION; TO AMEND SECTION 7-15-370, RELATING TO THE FURNISHING OF BALLOTS AND ENVELOPES AND THE DUTIES OF THE COUNTY REGISTRATION BOARD, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE COUNTY BOARDS OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS TO FURNISH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, PRINTED INSTRUCTIONS RELATING TO ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICANTS PROVIDING PROOF OF IDENTITY TOGETHER WITH THEIR SIGNED OATHS, AND RETURN-ADDRESSED ENVELOPES MARKED "RETURN TO SENDER" IN THE EVENT THE ENVELOPE IS UNDELIVERABLE; TO AMEND SECTION 7-15-380, RELATING TO THE ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICANT'S OATH, SO AS TO REQUIRE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICANTS TO INCLUDE PROOF OF IDENTITY TOGETHER WITH THEIR SIGNED OATHS, TO PROHIBIT A PERSON FROM SERVING AS A WITNESS FOR MORE THAN FIVE ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICANTS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT IF AN ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICANT FAILS TO INCLUDE THE REQUIRED PROOF OF IDENTITY, THEN HIS BALLOT MUST BE TREATED AS A PROVISIONAL BALLOT; AND TO AMEND SECTION 7-15-385, RELATING TO THE MARKING AND RETURN OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A CANDIDATE OR A MEMBER OF A CANDIDATE'S PAID CAMPAIGN STAFF INCLUDING CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEERS IS NOT PERMITTED TO SERVE AS AN AUTHORIZED RETURNEE FOR ANY PERSON UNLESS THE PERSON IS A MEMBER OF THE VOTER'S IMMEDIATE FAMILY, TO PROVIDE THAT THE OATH SET FORTH IN SECTION 7-15-380 MUST BE SIGNED, INCLUDE PROOF OF IDENTITY, AND WITNESSED ON EACH RETURNED ENVELOPE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT IF AN ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICANT FAILS TO INCLUDE THE REQUIRED PROOF OF IDENTITY, THEN HIS BALLOT MUST BE TREATED AS A PROVISIONAL BALLOT.