2019 South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 7 - Elections
Chapter 5 - Qualifications And Registration Of Electors
Section 7-5-320. Application for motor vehicle driver's license and voter registration.

(A)(1) Each state motor vehicle driver's license application, including a renewal application, submitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles serves as an application for voter registration unless the applicant fails to sign the voter registration application. Failure to sign the voter registration portion of the driver's license application serves as a declination to register.

(2) An application for voter registration submitted under item (1) is considered to update any previous voter registration by the applicant.

(B) No information relating to the failure of an applicant for a state motor vehicle driver's license to sign a voter registration application may be used for any purpose other than voter registration.

(C)(1) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall include a voter registration form as part of an application for a state motor vehicle driver's license.

(2) The voter registration application portion of an application for a state motor vehicle driver's license:

(a) may not require any information that duplicates information required in the driver's license portion of the form, other than a second signature or other information necessary under subitem (c);

(b) may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to:

(i) prevent duplicate voter registrations; and

(ii) enable a county board of voter registration and elections to assess the eligibility of the applicant and to administer voter registration and other parts of the election process;

(c) includes a statement that:

(i) states each eligibility requirement, including citizenship;

(ii) contains an attestation that the applicant meets each requirement; and

(iii) requires the signature of the applicant under penalty of perjury;

(d) includes in print identical to that used in the attestation portion of the application:

(i) the information required in Section 7-5-320(C)(2)(c);

(ii) a statement that, if an applicant declines to register to vote, the fact that the applicant has declined to register will remain confidential and will be used only for voter registration purposes; and

(iii) a statement that, if an applicant does register to vote, the office at which the applicant submits a voter registration application will remain confidential and will be used only for voter registration purposes; and

(e) must be made available, as submitted by the applicant, to the county board of voter registration and elections in which the application is made.

(D) A change of address form submitted in accordance with state law for purposes of a state motor vehicle driver's license serves as notification of change of address for voter registration unless the qualified elector states on the form that the change of address is not for voter registration purposes.

(E)(1) A completed voter registration portion of an application for a state motor vehicle driver's license accepted at a state motor vehicle authority must be transmitted to the county board of voter registration and elections no later than ten days after the date of acceptance.

(2) If a registration application is accepted within five days before the last day for registration to vote in an election, the application must be transmitted to the county board of voter registration and elections not later than five days after the date of acceptance.

HISTORY: 1996 Act No. 466, Section 1, eff August 21, 1996.