(WPDE) — On Election Day, South Carolina voters will see a question on the ballot that could amend the state constitution regarding voter qualifications. The proposed amendment seeks to specify that “only” U.S. citizens who are properly registered and aged 18 or older are entitled to vote. “I want voters to know, I want viewers to know, that is current state law,” said Isaac Cramer, President of the South Carolina Association of Registration and Election Officials (SCARE). Must Section 4, Article II of the Constitution of this State, relating to voter qualifications, be amended so as to provide that only a citizen of the United States and of this State of the age of eighteen and upwards who is properly registered is entitled to vote as provided by law? Cramer noted that lawmakers did not consult SCARE when drafting the bill to include the question on the ballot. It passed in May after seeing unanimous support in the State House and near unanimous support in the Senate.     “I think a lot of the concerns were what was going on in some other jurisdictions across the country from our understanding. From speaking to legislators and hearing what they had to say, it’s more of a preventative for the future,” Cramer said. But here is what is currently said in Section 4, Article II of the State Constitution: Every citizen of the United States and of this State of the age of eighteen and upwards who is properly registered is entitled to vote as provided by law. “The current constitution states, ‘every citizen’ and this would make it ‘only’ a citizen,” Cramer said. Cramer emphasized that the amendment would not affect registered voters. Temporary residents, such as college students, can still vote in South Carolina if they claim their address as a domicile. Cramer said that is laid out in the State Code of Laws under Section 7-1-25. “Even if you are a college student or someone who is here for whatever reasons, as long as you attest to your voting address being your domicile that is your voting district. That is where you intend to return and that is where you’ll vote,” he said. “State law already gives us the protocols in place for domicile which is for voting purposes and that will guide the way.” Voter registration forms also ask if a potential voter is a U.S. citizen. Cramer said a ‘Yes’ on that form is also still vetted by state election officials who request documentation that proves the voter is domiciled in SC. That means they list an address which is their fixed home where he/she has an intention of returning when they are absent. The ballot question could be seen as a continuation of national party politics leaking into SC laws and elections. Across eight states, GOP-led legislatures have approved a similar ballot question to amend their state constitutions. North Carolina will have the same question on its ballot.   Categories: Local News, News, Politics, State Tags: SC Votes, South Carolina