The Constitutional Laws Subcommittee has scheduled several election bills for tomorrow morning.

Closed Primaries

I will begin with the worst of them, which would effectively disenfranchise a very high percentage of South Carolina’s voters. Yes, closed primaries are back.

H.3695 would require registration by party and prohibit voting in any primary other than that of the affiliated party. It has been filed with 49 sponsors, from one party. Winthrop University pollster Scott Huffmon has described the state as a “60/40” [60% R/40% D] state. This bill would prevent that 40% from having any voice in statewide elections. Furthermore, the extreme gerrymandering of the House of Representatives (about 10 of 124 seats are competitive within a 10% margin in the 2024 map represented by Act 226) means that half or more of our state’s voters would be disenfranchised in House elections. (There are districts that are gerrymandered for Democratic incumbents so that Republican voters are shut out in those districts.)

It is unlikely that this bill can be stopped in subcommittee, given the strong partisan support. It is an uphill battle to stop it in the House at all. However, please act as soon as possible to advocate against this bill and, if you represent an organization, to engage your members against this bill. 

Election Procedures

H.3823 limits to 5 the numbers of absentee ballots a witness can sign. It is an unnecessary restriction that serves no useful purpose and would only increase the burdens associated with absentee voting.

H. 3734 would further standardize municipal elections. In contrast to the preceding bills, it serves a useful purpose.

Please do whatever you can to stop H. 3695. It solves no real problem and disenfranchises voters in a state where voters are already heavily handicapped in attempting to make their voices heard.