South Carolina H 4543: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO SALUTE ANN S. TAYLOR, MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF HEATH SPRINGS, AS SHE STEPS DOWN FROM THE OFFICE SHE HAS FILLED WITH SUCH DISTINCTION, TO EXTEND DEEP APPRECIATION FOR HER MANY YEARS OF COMMITTED SERVICE, AND TO OFFER BEST WISHES FOR A SATISFYING AND REWARDING RETIREMENT.

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4543 Text of Previous Version (May. 08, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4543

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH 
CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 7-13-65 SO AS TO ALLOW THE STATE 
ELECTION COMMISSION OR COUNTY BOARDS OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS, AS 
APPROPRIATE, TO EXTEND VOTING HOURS AT POLLING LOCATIONS THAT EXPERIENCE DELAYS 
IN OPENING OR INTERRUPTIONS IN VOTING.

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 13, Title 7 of the S.C. Code is 
amended by adding:

 Section 
7-13-65. (A) For any statewide 
primary, general election, or special election, if any polling place is delayed 
in opening for fifteen minutes or more after the times set forth in Sections 
7-13-25 or 7-13-60, or if voting is otherwise interrupted for fifteen minutes 
or more after opening, the State Election Commission may extend the closing 
time by an equal number of minutes not to exceed one hundred twenty minutes. 
The commission shall be available either in person or by teleconference on each 
day of early voting and election day to approve such an extension. The 
respective county boards of voter registration and elections must submit 
reports of any delays or interruptions to the commission for consideration.

 (B) Each 
report of a delay or interruption must include, without limitation, an 
affidavit executed by the director of the county board or his designee 
attesting to the duration of the delay or interruption, the underlying causes 
of the delay or interruption, and the approximate number of voters impacted by 
the delay or interruption. The affidavit does not require the inclusion of any 
personal identifying information other than the name and title of the affiant.

 (C) Any 
decisions made by the commission on whether to extend voting hours at any 
polling location, as well as the basis for the decision and underlying cause of 
the reported delay or interruption in voting, must be published on its website. 
Records related to decisions made under this section must be maintained for not 
less than eight years following the election.

 (D) 
Each county board of voter registration and elections must make reasonable 
attempts to notify electors of a decision by the commission to extend voting 
hours at a polling location through the media, notices posted at the polling 
location, and any website or webpage managed by, or on behalf of, the board.

 (E) For 
any primary, general election, or special election that is not a statewide election, 
the respective county board of voter registration and elections, under the 
supervision of the commission, may determine whether to extend the hours of a 
polling place in accordance with the provisions of this section. A request for 
an extension and the accompanying affidavit may be submitted to the county 
board by the director of the county board or his designee.

 (F) Any 
voter who votes after the closing times set forth in Sections 7-13-25 or 
7-13-60 by virtue of an order of the commission or of a county board issued 
pursuant to this section shall only be permitted to vote using a provisional 
ballot. Any provisional ballots cast under this section must be separated, 
counted, and held apart from other provisional ballots cast by voters not under 
the effect of the order extending the closing time of the polling place. If the 
order has not been reversed or stayed by the time of the county canvass, the 
total for that category of provisional ballots must be added to the official 
canvas.

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval 
by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on May 08, 2025 at 11:14 AM