COLUMBIA, S.C. - The House Election Laws subcommittee approved a bill Wednesday to create a single statewide voting system.

The bill would require the State Election Commission to adopt one election system. South Carolina counties currently use seven types of voting operations, from electronic to punchcard machines.

The bill would go into effect once South Carolina receives funds for counties to make the switch. The subcommittee delayed the bill's effective date until the state finds the money so counties don't have to pay for new machines.

Under the Help America Vote Act, $3.9 billion in federal money goes to states to update voting systems or improve voter education and poll worker training. South Carolina must match 5 percent of the federal funds during the next 3 years to receive the money.

The bill now moves to the full House Judiciary Committee for debate.