A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 7-13-870 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING OR INSTANT RUNOFF BALLOTS IN THE CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS IN THIS STATE.

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

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

    Section 7-13-870.  (A) As used in this section, "instant runoff voting" and "ranked choice voting" mean a method of casting and tabulating votes in which:

           (a) voters rank candidates in order of preference;

           (b) tabulation proceeds in rounds such that in each round either a candidate or candidates are elected or the last-place candidate is defeated;

           (c) votes are transferred from elected or defeated candidates to the voters' next-ranked candidate or candidates in order of preference; and

           (d) tabulation ends when a candidate receives the majority of votes cast or the number of candidates elected equals the number of offices to be filled, as applicable.

    (B) A county election board of voter registration and elections or a municipal election commission shall not utilize instant runoff voting or ranked choice voting to conduct a general, special, or primary election for any federal, state, or local office.

    (C) Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit the conduct of at-large or multimember district elections in municipal and other local elections as otherwise permitted by law.

    (D) Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit a covered voter under the provisions of the South Carolina Uniform Military and Overseas Voter Act from casting an absentee instant runoff ballot as provided in Section 7-15-650.

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

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