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Web posted Sunday, October
24, 2004
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Voter
Guide Part 2
Carolina Morning News
SOUTH
CAROLINA CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT QUESTIONS
NOVEMBER 2, 2004 GENERAL
ELECTION
Amendment Number One: Must Section
1, Article VIII-A of the Constitution of this
State, relating to the powers of the General
Assembly pertaining to alcoholic liquors and
beverages, be amended so as to authorize the
General Assembly to determine the size of
containers in which alcoholic liquors or beverages
are sold and to delete the provision requiring the
sale of alcoholic liquors for consumption on the
premises only in sealed containers of two ounces
or less?
Explanation: A 'YES' vote would
allow the General Assembly to establish the size
of containers in which alcoholic liquors and
beverages are sold in this State and deletes the
requirement that alcoholic liquors and beverages
sold by licensed establishments for on-premises
consumption be in sealed containers of two ounces
or less (minibottles). A 'NO' vote will NOT delete
the mandating of minibottles from the
Constitution.
Under this proposal the
General Assembly may provide by law to allow an
establishment to use any size bottle they deem
best for their business. The minibottle mandate in
the Constitution was passed more than 25 years ago
as a way of ensuring uniformity in mixed drinks
and to make sure drinks were well-taxed. Some
people believed minibottles would encourage less
alcohol consumption.
Pros - Supporters say
the current 1.75 ozs in a mandated minibottle
contributes to the high number of South
Carolinians killed in alcohol related deaths.
Supporters say that by not requiring minibottles
an establishment may choose the size bottle they
deem best for their business.
Cons -
Opponents say there could be a drop in revenue to
the state if making drinks from larger bottles
replaces making drinks with
minibottles.
Amendment Number Two: Must
Section 1, Article X of the Constitution of this
State relating to the classification of property
and applicable assessment ratios for purposes of
property tax be amended so as to delete the
specific limit of ten shareholders as the most
shareholders a corporation may have for it to be
eligible for a four percent assessment ratio on
its agricultural real property and provide that
the General Assembly shall provide by law the
maximum number of shareholders a corporation may
have to be eligible for the four percent
assessment ratio?
Explanation: The state
constitution currently allows a four-percent
property tax assessment ratio for agricultural
land owned by a corporation with ten or fewer
shareholders. A 'YES' vote will allow the General
Assembly to set a shareholder limit by law. A 'NO'
vote will keep the current limit of ten or fewer
shareholders.
The fundamental purpose is to
allow state tax law to conform to federal tax law
with respect to Sub-Chapter S corporations. When
Article X, Section 1 of the Constitution was
adopted in 1977, the IRS defined a Sub-Chapter S
corporation as having no more than 10
shareholders. Subsequent to 1977 the federal law
was amended to authorize Sub-Chapter S
corporations as having no more than 75
shareholders. The IRS defines a Sub-Chapter S
corporation as a corporation which does not pay
income tax, but rather its income, deductions and
credits are passed through to its shareholders.
Legislators intend to introduce enabling
legislation to amend Section 12-43-1220 to
increase the maximum number of shareholders a
corporation may have to be eligible for the four
percent assessment ratio on its agricultural real
property.
WHEN AND WHERE TO
VOTE
Polls will open at 7:00 a.m. and close
at 7:00 p.m. on November 2. Any registered voter
standing in line at 7:00 p.m. will still be
allowed to vote.
In the past, lines have
usually been shorter from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. and
from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
If you don't know
where to vote, you can call your county's Voter
Registration Office. You can also visit the SC
State Election Commission web site at:
www.state.sc.us/scsec. Click on Voting (right side
of screen) - then Click on Precincts (left side of
screen) - then Click on your
county.
Election results will be posted on
the above web site once they become
available.
PLEASE VOTE ON NOVEMBER 2 - YOUR
VOTE COUNTS!
VOTING ASSISTANCE FOR
DISABLED
If you are disabled and prefer to
vote in your vehicle, curbside voting is
available.
We suggest that you bring a
friend with you when going to the polls. Ask your
friend to go into the building for you and tell a
poll worker that you are disabled. If there are a
number of people waiting in line to vote, your
friend can go directly to a poll worker rather
than standing in line. If you drive to the polls
by yourself, pull up to the curb and ask someone
to contact a poll worker for you. The poll worker
will take it from there. Having your
identification ready will help speed up the voting
process.
These regulations are part of the
Help America Vote Act (HAVA).
REMEMBER TO
BRING YOUR I.D. TO THE POLLS!
You will be
asked to show one of the following forms of
identification:
1. A voter registration
card OR
2. Your driver's license OR
3. A photo I.D. issued by the
DMV.
If you recently registered by mail and
did not send in a copy of a valid photo I.D. along
with your application, you may be asked for one of
the following:
1. A current and valid photo
ID OR
2. A copy of a current utility bill,
bank statement, government check, paycheck, or
other government document that shows your name and
address.
These new regulations are part of
the Help American Vote Act (HAVA). If you need
further information, call your country's Voter
Registration Office.
PLEASE VOTE ON
NOVEMBER 2 - YOUR VOTE COUNTS!
Go to
DNET.ORG For More In-Depth Candidate
Information
The new electronic equipment
will be used in the following counties: Abbeville,
Aiken, Anderson, Calhoun, Cherokee, Florence,
Greenville, Greenwood, Kershaw, Lexington, Oconee,
Pickens, Spartanburg, Union and York.
NEW
ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES
The new
electronic voting machines make voting easy. If
you make a mistake, you can fix it. You can also
take a second look at all of your choices before
casting your final vote. Remember that the poll
workers are there to help you. Don't be afraid to
ask!
Step One: The first screen will let
you vote a straight party ticket OR select a
candidate for each office. Make your choice by
touching the box next to your party's name OR your
candidate's name.
If you make a mistake,
touch the box again to erase it.
Then
choose another candidate by touching the box for
that candidate.
To vote for a "write-in"
candidate: touch the "write-in" box.
A
keyboard will appear on the screen. Just type the
name of your
candidate.
Step Two:
To go to the next set of candidates: touch the
yellow "Next" box in the lower right hand
corner.
Again, choose a candidate by
touching the box for that candidate.
If you
wish to go back to a previous screen, touch the
"Back" box in the lower left-hand corner. Touching
the "Back" box will not change any choices that
you have made.
Step Three: To review all of
the candidates that you chose, touch the "Review"
box in the lower right hand corner. You can make
changes at this point.
Step Four: To cast
your ballot and make your choices permanent: touch
the red flashing "Vote" button at the top of the
machine.
When you see the message: "Thank
you for voting", you know your choices have been
counted.
Visit scvotes.org. This web site
is loaded with voting information and will show
you an actual screen from the new
equipment.
Remember that you can take these
instructions with you. They will also be displayed
at the polling place.
PLEASE VOTE ON
NOVEMBER 2 - YOUR VOTE COUNTS!
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