SC House panel considers bill to establish early voting

By Michelle Liu

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)– Lawmakers in South Carolina are considering a bill to establish no-excuse early voting across the state. A House panel heard testimony Wednesday on the Republican-crafted measure that would also require people voting by mail to supply a government-issued identification number with their ballot application. South Carolinians cast absentee ballots in record numbers during the 2020 general election after a temporary change in voting rules because of the coronavirus pandemic. The new proposal would make early in-person voting permanent for two weeks before an election. Speakers on Wednesday said they approved but want some changes to a formula calculating how many early voting locations each county gets.