House passes measure to exempt poll-worker pay from state tax withholding

The South Carolina House on the floor approved on second reading House Bill 3551, a measure to exempt poll-worker pay from state income tax withholding intended to increase workers’ take-home pay and reduce administrative burdens for county election offices.

Representative Brandon Newton, sponsor and floor explainer, told colleagues: "This bill will exempt poll worker pay, from state, income tax withholdings." He said the change mirrors federal practice and will give poll workers "a modest pay raise by not withholding their taxes from the checks" and will cut the counties’ paperwork burden.

Representative Cobb‑Hunter asked for clarification about the scope of the change and whether a broader pay increase was intended now or if that would be handled later in budget discussions; Newton said the bill "pretty much deal[s] with the tax withholding part of their pay" and that conversations about raising base pay would take place separately during the budget process.

Representative Mark Smith urged bipartisan support, calling an increase in net pay for poll workers a way to "have a waiting list of folks wanting to work those" elections rather than struggling to fill precincts.

Clerk Reed closed the roll and the House recorded the vote; the bill passed second reading and Representative Newton requested unanimous consent for third reading on Friday. The House recorded the passage on second reading and moved the bill forward for further consideration.

Next steps: the sponsor requested third reading on Friday; no date for final disposition was announced on the floor during this session.