Absentee ballot provisions for June 2020 primary

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 7-13-35, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE NOTICE OF GENERAL, MUNICIPAL, SPECIAL, AND PRIMARY ELECTIONS, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE NOTICE TO STATE THAT THE PROCESS OF EXAMINING THE RETURN-ADDRESSED ENVELOPES CONTAINING THE ABSENTEE BALLOTS MAY BEGIN AT 9:00 A.M. ON THE CALENDAR DAY IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING ELECTION DAY; TO AMEND SECTION 7-15-420, RELATING TO THE RECEIPT, TABULATION, AND REPORTING OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROCESS OF EXAMINING THE RETURN-ADDRESSED ENVELOPES THAT HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS MAY BEGIN AT 9:00 A.M. ON THE CALENDAR DAY IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING ELECTION DAY; TO AMEND SECTION 7-15-470, RELATING TO ABSENTEE BALLOTS OTHER THAN PAPER BALLOTS, SO AS TO MODIFY THE REQUIREMENTS NEEDED TO OBTAIN THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION CERTIFICATION BEFORE USING A NONPAPER-BASED VOTING MACHINE OR VOTING SYSTEM FOR IN-PERSON ABSENTEE VOTING; TO REQUIRE THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION TO IMPLEMENT A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO ITS ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES TO ALLOW FOR CHALLENGES TO ABSENTEE VOTES CAST USING THE MACHINES IN AN EQUIVALENT MANNER TO CHALLENGES TO ABSENTEE VOTES CAST ON ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES IN THE 2018 GENERAL ELECTION; TO AMEND SECTION 7-15-330, RELATING TO THE TIME OF APPLICATION FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND APPLICATIONS IN PERSON, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS TO KEEP A RECORD OF THE DATE AND METHOD UPON WHICH THE ABSENTEE BALLOT IS RETURNED; TO AMEND SECTION 7-15-440, RELATING TO THE LIST OF PERSONS ISSUED AND WHO MAY CAST ABSENTEE BALLOTS, SO AS TO CLARIFY THAT THE LIST IS IN ADDITION TO THE INFORMATION PROVIDED PURSUANT TO SECTION 7-15-330; BY ADDING SECTION 7-13-825 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION AND EACH COUNTY BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS MUST POST THE REQUIREMENTS TO CHALLENGE A BALLOT IN A CONSPICUOUS LOCATION IN THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICES AND WEBSITES; TO REPEAL CERTAIN SUBSECTIONS OF SECTION 1 OF THE ACT ON DECEMBER 31, 2021; AND TO PROVIDE THAT A QUALIFIED ELECTOR MUST BE PERMITTED TO VOTE BY ABSENTEE BALLOT IN AN ELECTION IF THE QUALIFIED ELECTOR'S PLACE OF RESIDENCE OR POLLING PLACE IS LOCATED IN AN AREA SUBJECT TO A STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE GOVERNOR AND THERE ARE FEWER THAN FORTY-SIX DAYS REMAINING UNTIL THE DATE OF THE ELECTION AND PROVIDE THAT THIS PROVISION EXPIRES ON JULY 1, 2020. - ratified title