S.C. Code Ann. § 7-5-35 – Combined election and registration commission; applicability of provisions for inclusion of majority and minority party representatives; training and certification requirements

(A) If a county operates its elections through a combined election and registration commission, the structure and composition are not affected or changed by the provisions of this section. However, the provisions for inclusion of majority and minority party representatives upon the combined commission and upon the expanded commission as constituted for primary elections and protests must be applied to the combined commission, mutatis mutandis.
(B)
1. (1) Each commissioner, and each staff person designated by the commission, must complete, within eighteen months after a commissioner's initial appointment or his reappointment after a break in service, or within eighteen months after a staff person's initial employment or reemployment following a break in service, a training and certification program conducted by the State Election Commission. When a commissioner or staff person has successfully completed the training and certification program, the State Election Commission must issue the commissioner or staff person a certification, whether or not the commissioner or staff person applies for the certification.
2. (2)
  1. (a) The provisions of this section do not exempt any member or staff person from completing the training and certification program required in item (1).
  2. (b) Any member appointed or reappointed after a break in service prior to the effective date of this section or any staff person employed or reemployed after a break in service prior to the effective date of this section must successfully complete a training and certification program by the latter of:
    1. (i) eighteen months after the member's appointment or reappointment after a break in service or the staff person's employment or reemployment after a break in service; or
    2. (ii) ninety days after the effective date of this section.
  3. (c) On and after the effective date of this section, any member appointed or reappointed after a break in service or any staff person employed or reemployed after a break in service must complete the training and certification program required in item (1) within eighteen months after the member's appointment or reappointment after a break in service or staff person's employment or reemployment after a break in service.
3. (3) If a member does not fulfill the training and certification program as provided in this section, the Governor, upon notification, must remove that member from the board unless the Governor grants the member an extension to complete the training and certification program based upon exceptional circumstances.
4. (4) Following completion of the training and certification program required in item (1), each commission member, and staff person designated by the commission, must take at least one training course each year.