H 3734 South Carolina House · 2023-2024 Regular Session

Municipal elections

Summary
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 5-15-10, RELATING TO THE CONDUCT OF MUNICIPAL PRIMARY, GENERAL, AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS, SO AS TO REQUIRE THAT ALL SUCH MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS BE CONDUCTED USING THE VOTING SYSTEM APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION; BY AMENDING SECTION 5-15-40, RELATING TO TERMS OF OFFICE OF MAYOR AND COUNCILMEN, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE TERMS OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEN COMMENCE THE MONDAY FOLLOWING CERTIFICATION OF THE ELECTION RESULTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 5-15-50, RELATING TO ESTABLISHMENT OF MUNICIPAL WARD LINES AND TIME FOR MUNICIPAL GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS, SO AS TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, REQUIRE THAT MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTIONS BE HELD ON ONE OF CERTAIN ENUMERATED DATES, PROHIBIT THE TERMS OF INCUMBENT COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM BEING EXTENDED WHEN A NEW TIME FOR MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTIONS IS ESTABLISHED, AND REQUIRE MUNICIPAL SPECIAL ELECTIONS SCHEDULED TO OCCUR WITHIN CERTAIN TIME FRAMES OF THE MUNICIPALITY'S GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD AT THE SAME TIME AS THE GENERAL ELECTION; BY AMENDING SECTION 5-15-100, RELATING TO FUNCTIONS, POWERS, AND DUTIES OF MUNICIPAL ELECTION COMMISSIONS, SO AS TO EXTEND THE TIME FRAME BY WHICH A MUNICIPAL ELECTION COMMISSION MUST MEET AND DECLARE THE RESULTS FOLLOWING AN ELECTION; BY AMENDING SECTION 5-15-120, RELATING TO VOTE COUNTING IN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, SO AS TO CHANGE THE TIME WHEN NEWLY ELECTED OFFICERS MAY BE QUALIFIED AND THEIR TERMS COMMENCE TO THE MONDAY AFTER CERTIFICATION OF THE ELECTION RESULTS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 5-15-145, RELATING TO TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS TO COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSIONS, SO AS TO REQUIRE COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSIONS TO CONDUCT MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS FOR MUNICIPALITIES THAT ELECT TO TRANSFER AUTHORITY.
Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2023
Committee Review
May 2024
House Passage
Apr 2023
Senate Passage
May 2024
Governor
Introduced Jan 18, 2023 Last action Jun 10, 2024
Floor votes · Senate May 9, 2024 · House Apr 26, 2023

How they voted

384
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 45
May 9, 2024
D Democratic15
14 Yea 1
93% Yea
I Independent1
1 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican29
23 Yea 4 Nay 2
79% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
7
Committee
5
Amendments
2
May 9, 2024
Upper · Passed
Read third time and returned to House with amendments
upper
May 9, 2024
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
May 1, 2024
Upper · Passed
Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary
upper
Oct 12, 2023
Committee
Referred to Subcommittee: Campsen (ch), Hutto, Malloy, Garrett, Kimbrell
upper
Apr 27, 2023
Committee
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
upper
Apr 27, 2023
Introduced
Introduced and read first time
upper
Apr 27, 2023
Lower · Passed
Read third time and sent to Senate
lower
Apr 26, 2023
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
Apr 26, 2023
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (109-0-13)
house
Apr 19, 2023
Lower · Passed
Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary
lower
Jan 18, 2023
Committee
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
lower
Jan 18, 2023
Introduced
Introduced and read first time
lower
3 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors