Voters to decide if gov, lt gov run on same ticket

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Story Created: Oct 6, 2012 at 1:15 PM EDT

Story Updated: Oct 9, 2012 at 4:15 AM EDT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Voters will decide next month whether South Carolina will continue to elect its governors and lieutenant governors separately, or whether gubernatorial nominees will pick their running mates starting in 2018.

The constitutional amendment question on Nov. 6 ballots will also determine who presides over the Senate and how a vacant lieutenant governor's seat would be filled.

Voters who choose "yes" are saying they want the state's CEO and lieutenant governor to run on the same ticket.

The proposal was advocated by Gov. Nikki Haley and former Gov. Mark Sanford. But it took the guilty plea and resignation of former Lt. Gov. Ken Ard for legislators to put the question on the ballot.

If the proposed changes had been in place, Sen. Glenn McConnell would not have taken over as lieutenant governor and would still be the state's most powerful lawmaker.