Republican voting bill expands early voting, limits voting by mail. The House bill could create a two-week "no excuse" early voting period for everyone but limits who is eligible to vote absentee by mail. Author: Julia Kauffman (WLTX) Updated: 7:40 PM EDT April 21, 2021 South Carolina lawmakers heard feedback from the public Wednesday on a Republican-backed voting bill. The bill would allow registered voters to vote early in-person two weeks before an election, but it limits mail-in voting. “My goal is to not get rid of absentee voting. My goal is to simply make absentee voting what it’s namesake is, which is absentee, which is people who are unable to vote for reasons of not being able to be at a polling place for reasons they can’t control,” said author of House Bill 4150, Representative Brandon Newton.