No-excuse early voting grew to become legislation in South Carolina at present on the stroke of a pen by Gov. Henry McMaster.
The new legislation means registered South Carolinians voters can solid ballots in-person two weeks earlier than the June main in county voter registration and election places of work beginning May 31. Voters don’t have to have a professional excuse to vote early, as prior to now.
“In-person absentee voting has now been replaced with a two-week early voting period,,” the S.C. Election Commission introduced at present. “Any voter can visit an early-voting location in their county and vote like they would at their polling place on Election Day.” Registered voters additionally nonetheless have the choice to vote absentee by mail.
Meanwhile Thursday, South Carolina lawmakers rushed to get remaining approval for payments to ship to McMaster that may reform the state’s intercourse offender registry and replace police pressure and pursuit requirements.
The common session ended at 5 p.m. Thursday, which additionally marked the top of Rep. Jay Lucas, R-Darlington, as speaker. Lawmakers will probably be again June 15 to complete work with the state’s $12.6 billion funds, vouchers and different measures nonetheless in House-Senate compromise committees. When they resume session, House members will probably be led by new Speaker Murrell Smith, R-Sumter.
Below is a take a look at what was executed, nonetheless wants work and what wasn’t completed.
Passed this week
Sex offender registry. Lawmakers permitted a invoice that up to date the state’s intercourse offender registry. In June, the state Supreme Court ordered the legislature to vary guidelines of the registry to permit ex-convicts to be eliminated in the event that they aren’t prone to be reoffenders. The overhaul eradicated a requirement to register for all times with out a listening to.
Force requirements. Lawmakers additionally arrange minimal requirements for using pressure and automobile pursuits for the state’s legislation enforcement officers.
Disabled staff. Legislators handed a ban on paying disabled staff lower than minimal wage.
Early voting. Earlier within the week, the Legislature despatched a invoice to the governor to permit for no-excuse early voting, which can begin two weeks earlier than the June 14 main if McMaster indicators the invoice quickly.
- UPDATE: McMaster signed the invoice late Friday to usher in early voting, which is able to begin May 31, in line with the S.C. Election Commission.
Birth management tablets. As the clock wound down Thursday, senators permitted a House-passed measure to permit girls over 18 to get contraception tablets or different hormonal contraceptives from a pharmacist with out a physician’s prescription – a transfer to make it simpler for ladies to thwart undesirable pregnancies.
Still up within the air
State funds. House and Senate conferees are persevering with to hammer out particulars for the state funds. A $12.6 billion Senate model requires a $1 billion tax reduce and $1 billion in rebates. A $14 billion House model cuts revenue taxes, supplies extra street cash and consists of bigger instructor pay hikes. Lawmakers will return June 15 to move the ultimate model.
Vouchers. Other conferees will probably be engaged on whether or not to approve a voucher measure that may let dad and mom of poorer college students use public cash to pay for personal faculty tuition.
Abortion. Lawmakers even have reserved the best to return again in particular session someday this yr if the U.S. Supreme Court modifications the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion choice.
Failed to move
USC board reform. Opponents within the SC. Senate stalled a measure to scale back the variety of trustees on the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees. Supporters of the measure complained that not making modifications would permit for extra mismanagement to happen by the board, which has been underneath the gun lately for numerous choices.
Breaking up DHEC. Lawmakers weren’t in a position to move a proposal to separate the state Department of Health and Environmental Control into separate businesses – primarily one for well being and the opposite for the surroundings.
Hate crimes. South Carolina stays one among two states within the nation with out a hate crimes legislation after lawmakers did not act once more this yr.
Charleston loophole. Lawmakers failed to shut a loophole to maintain some individuals from not getting weapons. The measure has been on the Statehouse agenda for a number of years and since 9 individuals have been massacred at Emanuel AME Church in 2015.
Medical marijuana. While the invoice to approve compassionate use of medical marijuana handed the Senate for the primary time in seven years, it was dominated out of order earlier within the month within the House. It has to begin over in 2023.
A model of this story first appeared in our sister publication, Statehouse Report.