SC House panel advances early voting

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A House panel has advanced a bill allowing true early voting in South Carolina.

The bill approved Thursday would create a seven-day window for people to vote before Election Day, but end the hybrid form of early voting now available for a month.

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Alan Clemmons, who’s long opposed early voting efforts. The Myrtle Beach Republican says the state’s absentee voting option has been twisted to allow early voting anyway.

Currently, people can vote in-person absentee if they pick an excuse for why they can’t vote Election Day, such as being at work or on vacation.

Clemmons says his bill cleans up the system and “turns would-be fibbers into non-fibbers.”

It would eliminate the in-person absentee option while leaving intact voting absentee by mail.