South Carolina Amendment 1

Amendment 1

November 7, 2006
Marriage Act
Results
Choice Votes % Yes 829,360 77.97% No 234,316 22.03% Valid votes 1,063,676 97.41% Invalid or blank votes 28,276 2.59% Total votes 1,091,952 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 2,452,714 43.37%
Yes   90%–100%   80%–90%   70%–80%   60%–70%
Sources: [1][2]

South Carolina Amendment 1 of 2006 amended the South Carolina Constitution to make it unconstitutional for the U.S. state to recognize or perform same-sex marriages or civil unions. The referendum was approved by 78% of voters.^[3] Unlike the other sixteen such state amendments, South Carolina's explicitly disavows any effort to prevent private contracts between same-sex partners from being recognized^[4]—Virginia being the only state to do so.^[5][6]

Elections in South Carolina
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Ballot measures 2006 Amendment 1 2008 2010 2012 2014
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The text of South Carolina Amendment 1 states:

A marriage between one man and one woman is the only lawful domestic union that shall be valid or recognized in this State. This State and its political subdivisions shall not create a legal status, right, or claim respecting any other domestic union, however denominated. This State and its political subdivisions shall not recognize or give effect to a legal status, right, or claim created by another jurisdiction respecting any other domestic union, however denominated. Nothing in this section shall impair any right or benefit extended by the State or its political subdivisions other than a right or benefit arising from a domestic union that is not valid or recognized in this State. This section shall not prohibit or limit parties, other than the State or its political subdivisions, from entering into contracts or other legal instruments.^[4]