TO REQUIRE THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE ELECTION COMMISSION TO SUBMIT A PLAN AND PROCESS FOR THE PURCHASE OF NEW VOTING MACHINES BY DECEMBER 31, 2019, TO PROHIBIT THE PURCHASE OF NEW VOTING MACHINES UNTIL THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY REVIEWS AND APPROVES THE PLAN, AND TO PROHIBIT THE PURCHASE OF NEW VOTING MACHINES UNLESS THE SYSTEM PROVIDES A PAPER RECORD OF EACH VOTE CAST, PRODUCED AT THE TIME THE VOTE IS CAST AND IS ABLE TO BE TESTED BOTH BEFORE AN ELECTION AND PRIOR TO THE DATE OF CANVASS, WHICH TEST SHALL INCLUDE THE ABILITY TO MATCH THE PAPER RECORD OF THE MACHINE TO THE VOTE TOTAL CONTAINED IN THE MACHINE.

Whereas, the General Assembly is acutely aware that the South Carolina State Election Commission last purchased new voting machines in 2004, approximately fifteen years ago; and

Whereas, many studies have raised concerns over the security of voting machines and the ability of an attacker to hack into these machines and alter or delete votes. The use of a voter verified paper audit trail would provide an additional layer of accountability and allow for the verification of the electronic results; and

Whereas, the unacceptably long lines in recent elections clearly illustrated that South Carolina is in dire need of new machines and it would be irresponsible to allow the purchase of new machines that do not provide a voter verified paper audit trail that would allow for greater transparency and more accurate results in an election. Now, therefore,

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

SECTION    1.    The South Carolina State Election Commission shall submit a plan and process for the purchase of new voting machines to the General Assembly by December 31, 2019.

SECTION    2.    The South Carolina State Election Commission may not purchase new voting machines before the submitted plan has been reviewed and approved by the General Assembly. Moreover, the State Election Commission may not purchase new voting machines unless the system provides a paper record of each vote cast, produced at the time the vote is cast and is able to be tested both before an election and prior to the date of canvass. This testing function, at a minimum, shall include the ability to match the paper record of the machine to the vote total contained in the machine.

SECTION    3.    This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor and will expire when the General Assembly receives the report.