WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

H 3639

Hand count audits

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Thomas Beach

Gives the county chair of a certified party power to expand a post-election hand count audit by up to three additional precinct races; board must grant the request at meeting.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 3639

Summary — H 3639: “Hand count audits”

Note on document content
- The bill packet provided contains two distinct texts merged together: (1) language from a Massachusetts bill titled “An Act promoting safety in the use of off‑highway vehicles,” and (2) text amending the South Carolina Code to add a new Section 7‑13‑1180 regarding hand count audits. The title you supplied (“Hand count audits”) corresponds to the South Carolina provision. This summary focuses on the hand‑count audit provision (Section 7‑13‑1180) and notes the procedural information included in the submission.

Main purpose

To give a county chairperson of a certified political party the authority, when attending a hand count audit after a party primary or statewide election, to request (and require the county election board to grant) an expansion of the hand count audit to include up to three additional precinct races.

Key provisions

  • Adds Section 7‑13‑1180 to Article 11, Chapter 13, Title 7 of the South Carolina Code.
  • Grants the county chairperson of a certified political party, who is attending a hand count audit conducted following a party primary or statewide election (as provided in Section 7‑3‑20(D)(19)), the discretionary power to instruct the county board of voter registration and elections to expand the scope of that hand count audit.
  • Expansion may include up to three additional precinct races (precincts, offices, or both).
  • The county board of voter registration and elections must grant the hand count audit request at the meeting where the request is made.
  • Effective date: the act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Who is affected

  • County chairpersons of certified political parties — gain discretionary authority to expand hand count audits.
  • County boards of voter registration and elections — required to comply with such expansion requests at the audit meeting.
  • Precincts and voters whose races may be added to audits — may have additional ballots hand‑counted.
  • Election administrators — may face operational implications (staffing, time, resources) when audits are expanded.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Increases party influence over the scope of post‑election hand counts by giving county party chairs a mandatory avenue to expand audits.
  • Could increase transparency and oversight in targeted precincts, but may also enable partisan selection of additional audit targets.
  • Administrative burden: expanding hand counts to additional precincts/offices may require more time, personnel, and logistical resources for county election offices.
  • Legal/administrative questions: scope and limits of “up to three additional precinct races,” procedures for selecting which races/precincts, and whether any follow‑up requirements or documentation are prescribed (not specified in the text).
  • Implementation hinges on Governor approval.

Procedural / timeline notes (from provided record)

  • Prefiled 12/12/2024; introduced/read first time 01/14/2025; referred to Committee on Judiciary (01/14/2025 and 12/12/2024 entries).
  • Referred to Transportation (02/27/2025) and other committee actions in the record appear to relate to the Massachusetts off‑highway vehicle language.
  • Hearings were scheduled/rescheduled in June 2025; committee reported favorably 09/08/2025 and bill was referred to House Steering, Policy and Scheduling; subsequently placed in Orders of the Day for second reading 10/14/2025.
  • Because the submission mixes materials from two jurisdictions (Massachusetts and South Carolina), readers should confirm the intended jurisdiction and final bill text before relying on the record for enactment status.

If you want, I can produce a clean redlined version of just the South Carolina amendment, or a comparison showing how this would change current audit procedures under Section 7‑3‑20.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.