The Clarendon County Board of Voter Registration and Elections (CCVRE) voted Friday to direct Chairman Ed Gamble to notify the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) of possible criminal violations involving a current staff member. The action followed an emergency called meeting and executive session.
Vice Chairman Brian Magaw made the motion after the board returned to public session, stating that, based on “preliminary information,” South Carolina Code Sections 7-13-1140 and 7-25-170 may have been violated. The motion, seconded by board member Michael Streath, passed unanimously.
South Carolina Code Section 7-13-1140 addresses discrepancies between the number of ballots cast or votes tabulated at a polling place and the number of voters recorded on the poll list. Section 7-25-170 makes it a felony for an election officer other than a poll manager to willfully neglect a duty imposed by election law or engage in corrupt conduct while carrying it out.
The board did not publicly discuss the specific allegations or identify the employee before adjourning. Gamble confirmed after the meeting that the matter involves a current employee, but said questions regarding the employee’s status – including whether any suspension, resignation or termination had occurred – should be referred to the elections director because it is a personnel matter.
The agenda for the 2 p.m. meeting listed executive session for personnel and attorney-client privileged matters related to possible discipline, demotion or release of an employee.
Before entering executive session, the board called the meeting to order, established a quorum and approved both the agenda and proceeding as an emergency meeting by the required two-thirds vote of members present. Board member Mary Jo Ardis participated by phone. Three board seats remain vacant.
After returning to public session, the board first approved taking action on emergency motions. Gamble then restated Magaw’s motion, saying the board had received preliminary information suggesting possible violations of the two statutes and that he was being directed to immediately request a SLED investigation into possible criminal violations involving a staff member.
Gamble also confirmed that the South Carolina State Election Commission has been notified. Because the vote came late Friday, the request to SLED had not yet been submitted. Gamble said the board’s action came together quickly and that he expects to notify the agency early next week.
Friday’s agenda noted that while notice to media was not required for the emergency meeting under state law, The Manning Times was notified and notice was posted to the Clarendon County Facebook page, the Clarendon County Administrative Building bulletin board and the voter registration office.
The board adjourned shortly after the vote.
