League keeps striving to Make Democracy Work

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League

Our friend Lynn Teague included me on the email when she sent out this League of Women Voters newsletter, and I thought I’d share it with y’all, since this stuff is much in the news.

As Lynn explained…

This MDW Update is one in a series from the League of Women Voters of South Carolina on legislation within the core area of League interest — “Making Democracy Work” through accountable and transparent government. It was posted following announcement of a Senate subcommittee meeting that will address eight bills related to elections and voting.

Two bills are mentioned in this update without explanation because they were covered in an earlier post. They are discussed at https://my.lwv.org/sites/default/files/mdw_update_6.pdf

Here ya go:

Making Democracy Work in SC: Election Bills Scheduled for March 16 in Senate, Adding New Bills to Mix

Things are moving fast. The Senate has scheduled a subcommittee meeting on a group of election-related bills for Tuesday, March 16, following Senate adjournment. Subcommittee members are senators Campsen (chair), Hutto, Young, McLeod, Garrett.

The bills are as follows:

  1. 113 (Absentee Ballots)
    S. 174 (Independent Expenditure Committee)
    S. 187 (Interest on Campaign Account)
    S. 236 (Municipal Precinct Pooling from 500 to 3000 Voters)
    S. 499 (S.C. Election Commission Restructuring Act)
    H. 3262 (3rdParty Candidates Filing Fee; Certification Fee
    H. 3263 (Candidate Primary Protests to State Executive Committee)
  2. 3264 (Newspaper Ad Requirement for County Conventions)

Note that H.3444 is not listed for consideration. That is excellent news. The last three bills that are listed are basically partisan housekeeping. The League is not addressing those. All of the bills originating in the Senate are of interest.

S.499 (https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php)

We discussed this bill earlier today in the previous update. The League supports it as a reasonable measure to broaden input into appointment of the SEC Director through Senate advice and consent.

S.113 (https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=113)

South Carolina’s procedures to vote absentee by mail are more convoluted than necessary to maintain election security. They even seem to have confused the General Assembly, as the SEC found when trying to interpret special provisions for 2020 elections during the pandemic. This bill perpetuates existing problems and adds a few new ones. It should be possible to file a request for an application to vote absentee by mail (not the actual ballot) on-line. Instead, one can fill out the form on-line, but must then print the form out and deliver it in person or by mail. This confuses voters and is at best an additional impediment for the many voters who can access the online webpages but do not own printers to produce a hard copy to mail or deliver in person. Also, S. 113 would amend §7-15-385(B)(3) to provide that the only legal methods of returning ballots are by mail or by personal delivery, either by the voter or by a member of the applicant’s immediate family. The bill therefore eliminates the return of ballots by authorized persons who are not family members. This will be an obstacle for homebound persons who rely on unrelated caretakers, either in their homes or in group residencies. Finally, in stating that only the specified means of ballot return are permitted, S. 113 would prevent the use of ballot boxes in secure locations for return of ballots, which have been used successfully in South Carolina’s counties.

  1. 174 (https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php)

This bill is an attempt to address the longstanding deficiencies regarding dark money disclosures in South Carolina, in this case for groups not organized for the primary purpose of influencing elections. The League supports addressing this serious problem. We note that federal court decisions have clarified this to some extent in recent years and has established that it is not a restriction on free speech to require basic disclosures. However, this bill will face strong opposition.

  1. 187 (https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess124_2021-2022/bills/187.htm)
  2. 187 would greatly assist in the transparency of campaign bank accounts and at the same time help to fund more consistent oversight of campaign filings.

236 (https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php)

For purposes of municipal elections only, this bill would increase the number of voters that must have their own voting place from 500 to 3000. It also would increase the permissible distance of voters from a pooled municipal polling place from three to five miles. This could present significant obstacles for voters without easy access to transportation. Turnout is usually low in local government elections, but there remains an increased potential for long lines and delays, which can make voting difficult or impossible for those with work and family obligations.

Lynn Shuler Teague
VP for Issues and Action, LWVSC

One thought on “League keeps striving to Make Democracy Work”

  1. Brad Warthen Post author

    Y’all here’s an update Lynn sent out later in the day:

    MARCH 17, 2021 (AFTERNOON EDITION)
    MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK IN SC: CRIPPLING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IN CONSTITUTIONAL LAWS SUBCOMMITTEE TOMORROW

    The title sounds like an overstatement, but it isn’t. H. 3205, a resolution calling for an Article V Convention to amend the federal Constitution, is designed to realize the dream of wealthy extremists – shrinking government until it can be drowned in the bathtub. It is on the agenda for a meeting of the Constitutional Laws Subcommittee of House Judiciary tomorrow, Thursday March 18, at 9:00 AM in Blatt 516.

    You are encouraged to read a detailed discussion of H. 3205, with links to supporting documents. https://my.lwv.org/sites/default/files/constitutional_convention_resolutions.pdf.

    The resolution, co-sponsored by a very long list of representatives including House leadership, would add South Carolina to the list of states calling for a convention as authorized by Article V of the United States Constitution. Alleging that it establishes the ground rules under which the convention would operate, it demands:
    • imposing “fiscal restraints” on the federal government,
    • limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and
    • enacting term limits for members of Congress

    The resolution cannot do what it claims to do, restricting the conditions under which the convention would be held. Constitutional law experts agree that the Convention itself would set its rules, without reference to state attempts to restrict it. Everything in our Constitution would be at risk.

    Who wants this bill? Very wealthy special interests are behind the push for an Article V Convention. They want a federal government that can’t stand in the way of their own power to do as they please. They have “grassroots” allies who fail to understand that this wouldn’t just stop the federal government from doing the things they don’t like. It would stop the federal government from doing many of the things essential to holding a 21st nation together and allowing it to function in the modern world.

    What is at risk? Our entire federal Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, is at risk. Supporters claim this risk is exaggerated because amendments must be sent back to the states for approval. They count on using their vast financial resources to build public support to push such amendments through, focusing on superficially attractive slogans (“Rein in the federal government!” and “Balance the budget!”). State legislators would be under immense pressure to pass the amendments, often from people who do not understand that their own way of life is at risk.

    Please oppose H. 3205. Testify against it, write to your legislators. This is not a harmless gesture of support for small government, it is a real and potentially catastrophic danger to our nation and our state. Supporters are much too close to the number of states they need to make this happen.

    Lynn

    Lynn Shuler Teague
    VP for Issues and Action, LWVSC
    [email protected]
    803 556-9802

    You have received this email because you have not opted out of LWVSC network emails. If you wish to be removed, just email Lynn Teague and you will be removed from the list immediately.rs

    In the email in which she sent me the Word file, Lynn said:

    This one is a nightmare bill, most of the House Rs have signed on. Kicking the can down the road, thinking someone else will keep it from destroying the country and they can just take credit for trying to “rein in the feds.”

    Reply ↓

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