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The House passed on the senate version of 4919 and instead took their version of the bill and added to another totally unrelated Senate bill. It appears with only 3 days of session remaining any attempt at election reform is now dead. At this point, we prefer the status quo.

In this video, SC Safe Elections members Laura, Cryste, and Leslie discuss election bill 4919, the history of the reason the advice and consent was added and what we believe will be the end result.

Our team has scrutinized the bills and listened to the debates and we believe that the senate bill should be passed as is.  There is not much time left in the session so hopefully our legislative body can come to a consensus and get a decent election reform bill passed.

The people want accountability and centralizing control of the elections under an organization that only is overseen by the governor doesn’t seem wise given the history that Leslie so eloquently outlines in this video.

Senate 4919 isn’t ideal but it is a good first step especially given the amendments that were added. See our previous blogs on this topic.

Here also is a one-page summary of why we like the bill:

In addition, here is the Fitsnews article that breaks down the behind the scenes drama (along with incriminating emails) going on at the SEC as Marci Andino was heading out. Note that Wells is now the Chairmen of the commission.

Action items: Call your senate and house members and ask them to pass 4919 as is–to include accountability for the South Carolina Election Commission.

Watch this great clip from Senator Massey debating the bill. Some great comments by Senator Chip Campsen as well regarding inaccurate voter rolls.

Note that the issue of the witness signature issue where the senate sued DID go to the US supreme court. Luckily they won. That was a close call. Luckily our state didn’t enter into a consent decree nor did the legislature change the law. Per Sen. Massey, we were close to being GA! THIS IS A MUST WATCH!

Here is a video on the progress of the election integrity bills in the legislature.

Here is a related video that shows how much the leadership wanted to control the process.

The SC legislature is in a dog fight over election integrity bills. The House and senate unanimously passed an election reform bill. There were some changes made in the senate that created major controversy. 

The senate added what our GOP chairman is calling a poison pill to the current bill— He doesn’t want our senate having “advice and consent” over the appointment of our election commission. The bill made it back to the house where the lame duck speaker where without debate, motions or a vote was sent to the judiciary where it will likely die.

He pretended to have someone table the bill (this person never made the motion) and send it to the judiciary committee as well as pass the motion although there was NO VOTE! The house reps were shocked to say the least.  Our representative form of government apparently doesn’t matter nor does the will of the people.

Here is the video.  Go to https://www.scstatehouse.gov/video/archives.php and Tuesday April, 26^th, 2022 at 12 PM and go to the timestamp 1:37:58 to 1:39:19.

Our GOP leader Drew McKissick is trying to keep absolute power with the governor and has been stating that “We got all we wanted” regarding the election bill.  This shocking video (see below) of him harassing a citizen that is just asking him questions and him swatting her phone away was concerning. 

 Is the GOP leadership trying to thwart election reform as well as the will of the people?

We think so.  On a state as well as national level.

EMERGENCY!!! CALL TO ACTION: Call your house legislator now or election integrity dies

Make it to the State House tomorrow to put pressure on the speaker!

Today our SC Safe Elections group drafted a summary document that House representative Josiah Magnuson delivered to all of the house reps.  Numerous election integrity advocates in the house had made great headway in encouraging their fellow members to vote for bill 4919 “as is” with no changes from what the senate had revised. 

Given that momentum, House speaker Jay Lucas pulled a fast one and stated that there was a motion by house Rep Pope to send the bill to the judiciary committee though Mr. Pope apparently had not done that and Lucas said the “Aye’s have it” (although there was NO VOTE).

Here is the video.  Go to https://www.scstatehouse.gov/video/archives.php and Tuesday April, 26^th, 2022 at 12 PM and go to the timestamp 1:37:58 to 1:39:19.

Our House reps were shocked to say the least at this despicable and unethical power play.

Mr. Lucas then made the unilateral decision to send the bill to the judiciary committee where it will die unless there is a motion to reconsider TOMORROW.

This is a sad display of absolute power in our legislature that cannot go unnoticed or unchecked.  This appears to be an orchestrated effort to thwart election reform as well as the will of the people of South Carolina; and unfortunately, this is occurring across the nation. 

Let’s inundate our house representatives’ phones and show up tomorrow at the state house at 10 AM in in the House chamber. The gallery and balcony are open! Let’s stare the speaker down and encourage our house members to reverse these unethical actions of the speaker so this bill can move forward.

Let’s make history.

Thanks so much to Rep Magnuson and our other election integrity advocates in the House.

Please pass bill 4919 without amendments

These are the reasons SC Safe Elections would like to see this bill passed as is.

First regarding the poison pill, this is a good thing as it provides more scrutiny of a commission which currently has little accountability or oversight.  It also prevents partisan overreach and promotes neutrality. 

Furthermore, there were some meaningful reforms that help enhance election integrity:

• Cleaner voter rolls- it compels annual maintenance of the voter rolls and mandatory reporting to the general assembly.  This includes 7-day removal of unqualified electors.
• Registration applications should now affirm citizenship and that they are NOT registered in another state or county and that all applications should be date stamped.
• Enhanced agency reporting-    The bureau of vital statistics must report in state as well as OUT OF STATE deaths of SC citizens; the DMV must give a monthly report to the SEC of all non US citizens who have been issued a driver’s license or identification card at no charge.
• Prohibits the use of emergency declarations to change practices by procedures by the election commission
• Reduces outside influence: the SEC and county BOE must not accept any funds, grants or gifts from any source other than the state or federal government for preparation or to conduct elections. 
• Reduces the potential for ballot harvesting: Someone can only request up to 5 absentee applications and a person cannot register or vote using someone else’s name.
• Increased fines for election interference or fraud—violations of election laws
• Absentee balloting: The bill reduces the reasons for obtaining absentee ballots and specifies the time that they can be verified and tabulated and allows for access to candidates and poll watchers. Additional requirements were made for requesting absentee ballots; that info must be verified by the county board

• Language was added to maintain the image of ballots in the voting system that protects the anonymity of the voter and the retention period for ballots and election data was extended to 24 months (from 22).
• They are allowing a public input period prior to the purchase of statewide voting systems.

For more specifics on our view of the good and bad of this bill see this link.

This is a great start and we would like to see this bill pass.

Dear Speaker Lucas:

Thank you for your service to our state. You’ve served as our SC House Speaker since 2014…and now you are leaving. Before you go…

We, the citizens of SC need you. We have never needed your leadership more than right now. Now is the time…Now is your moment…Now is the time for you to cement your LEGACY…how do you want to be remembered?

Will you be remembered as the man who enabled our state legislators to fulfill their Constitutional duty to determine the election laws in our state? OR…Will you be remembered as the man who single-handedly killed an election reform bill that was passed by your colleagues 114 – 0 and in the Senate 43 – 0? You have a DUTY to bring 4919 to a vote. Let your statehouse colleagues decide.

The most sacred right of a citizen is the right to vote

Protect this right to vote. You will be a HERO.

Cave to political pressures. You’ll be remembered as a ZERO.

Your decision will be the lasting signature of your service.

All those years. Culminating in this one moment. How do you want to be remembered? CHOOSE WISELY.

THIS IS NOT A POWER GAME…it’s the FUTURE OF OUR REPUBLIC.

We, the citizens of South Carolina, are watching.

Here’s to being the HERO,

Leslie Thorne, Legislative liaison SC Safe Elections

Last week the senate surprised everyone in South Carolina by adding amendments to the election integrity bills that the GOP “guaranteed” would be signed and passed.

The Senate combined bills 4919 and 3444 which was a good thing. They also added some surprises that were not welcome by the GOP leadership and the House.  The main issue in their opinion was a so-called “poison pill.”  The language that was objectionable was the ability of the Senate to provide advice and consent to the state election commission members, currently now solely appointed by the governor:

“State Election Commission composed of five members, to be appointed by the Governor, upon the advice and consent of the Senate”

 In our opinion, this is a good thing as it provides more scrutiny of the nominees for a group that currently has very little accountability.  We think that Senator Massey did a great job of debating this in the session during deliberation and encourage everyone to listen to the link.  It starts about 4 hours and 46 minutes in. This is a safeguard against partisan control of this entity. 

Overall, some of the changes were good, some bad, and we don’t think the bill goes far enough to provide true election reform—a good method to clean and maintain the voter rolls, removing electronic poll books and machines, and transparency in the reporting of results.

The Good

• The bill reduces some of the reasons for applying for an absentee ballot however this is mainly due to the fact that they institute a 2-week early voting period and some categories would be permanently out of the county i.e., absent from residence.   Ideally some additional restrictions would be put on early voting whether “in person” at an early voting center or absentee by mail.
• 2 categories of electors who can vote early via absentee mail in balloting:
  • Unable to vote during duration of entire early voting period and election day
    • Due to work obligations
    • Taking care of sick or disabled
    • Confined to jail
    • Will be absent from residence
  • Regardless of ability to vote during those times
    • Disabled
    • 65 or older—(we would have liked to see this eliminated)
    • Armed forces
    • In hospital within 4 days of election

• Additional requirements were made for those requesting ballots for themselves as well as on behalf of others:
  • If request for self and/or another person must now include name, DOB, last 4 of SS#, requester name, DOB and address and relation and this information Must be verified by county board.  
  • Completed application must be returned in person (elector or member of immediate family or authorized rep) or by mail to county BOE no later than 5PM the 11^th day before the day of election—used to be day preceding the election
  • Witness must be 18 years or older. This age requirement was not present previously, and must include the address, name and signature of the witness.
• Someone can only request up to 5 absentee applications—this reduces the potential for ballot harvesting.
• The ballot needs to incorporate features to authenticate the ballot as official but do not make the ballot identifiable to a particular elector.   
• Authorization for the requested ballots is enhanced—authorization form must record specific form of government-issued photo for those who are acting on an elector’s behalf.  This deters the issue of “mules” trying to just hand in ballots for anyone.  It is a further safeguard against nursing home issues and other people who claim that they are the elector’s representative.
• The county can start checking the oath and witness signatures now at 7 AM two days prior to election day. Tabulation of the absentee ballots starts at 7 AM on election day.  The process of examining the return addressed enveloped, opening the Ballot Herein envelopes and tabulation of absentee ballots can be viewed by poll watchers and candidates at reasonable distance in order to maintain both the right to observe and the secrecy of the ballots.  Note that the witness signatures and other information must be verified for the ballot to count.
• Another positive is that registration applications should now affirm citizenship and that they are NOT registered in another state or county and that all applications should be date stamped.
• There must be an annual general registration list mainenance to maintain accurate voter rolls. A county board of elections shall send a notice my mail at the address on file with the board to verify the accuracy of the information and determine discrepancies. The name of the qualified elector that has not responded to a notice (notice is undeliverable) shall be placed in inactive status in the master file within 7 days of receipt of said returned notice assuming they moved or if deceased, noncitizen, or mentally incompetent.   This compels the state to do this list maintenance and it would be preferable if this info was provided via voter roll requests at a nominal fee.
• Language was added to maintain the image of ballots in the voting system that protects the anonymity of the voter and the retention period for ballots and election data was extended to 24 months (from 22).
• Increased fines and prison terms were added for early reporting of results and election interference or fraud and these were changed from misdemeanors to felonies.
• Does prevent auto adjudication which is also good as machine adjudication (checking that ballots voted as person intended) can be easily manipulated and or error prone.
• They are allowing a public input period prior to the purchase of statewide voting systems.
• The bureau of vital statistics must report in state as well as OUT OF STATE deaths of SC citizens
• The DMV must give a monthly report to the SEC of all non US citizens who have been issued a drivers license or identification card at no charge.
• Prohibits the use of emergency declarations to change practices by the election commission
• Finally, the SEC and county BOE must not accept any funds, grants or gifts from any source other than the state or federal government for preparation or to conduct elections. (Thus, if any of these donations go through the state procurement, it needs to be transparent)
• The SEC shall provide a report of voters removed and reason for removal, active, archived, new voter registrations and voters placed on inactive status to the general assembly annually on January 15th.

The Bad

• As we already stated, the bill extends election day to two weeks prior to “election day” and institutes early voting centers –up to 7 per county.  This early voting can be a potential vehicle for fraud and election irregularities.
• Certification of the election management system: If federal guidelines have been amended less than 36 months prior to election, the SEC may approve the election system based on prior standards.  This is a long time period and could be a way to avoid the new VVSG 2.0 protocol (federal voting guidelines) and avoid any recertification process.  Although it may streamline certification and reduce cost, it will likely result in greater vulnerabilities than already exist. 
• The bill doesn’t address cost of the voter rolls which is currently $2,500. They should be no more than $500 in line with most other states. This allows for citizens to analyze the quality control of the voter maintenance.
• The bill doesn’t address the machines or the ability for some counties to opt out so that they could try paper ballots.  Although it asks for: “anytime voter is eligible to cast a ballot the voting machine and counting device must be disabled from internet/network/wireless connection/other mechanism… and automatic resolution functionality for ballots flagged for further review; it does still state that there will be connection when counties report to the State Election Commission.  However, these systems don’t have to be connected to the internet to be vulnerable. There are hundreds of ways they can be manipulated per our cyber experts—and not just the tabulators but the poll books, reporting system and registration database.  This is why it is essential that we go to PAPER BALLOTS—and no, not the ballots that are spit out after you vote on the touch screen. These are NOT paper ballots; they are coded ballots (a bar code is programmed and printed on the card that comes out of the ballot marking device to be reflective of your vote.)  Paper ballots are when a human fills out the circles and chooses their candidates. These are then hand counted! See this related article.
• The bill doesn’t address ERIC the clearing house that is supposed to be helping our state clean the voter rolls.  This organization is concerning given the recent Gateway Pundit articles.

As it stands, given the overall good enhancements and amendments the last senate version is a huge improvement over the house version.  While this is a far cry from substantive reform it has many things to celebrate.  Unfortunately, a big issue is the 2-week early voting period.

This is a great start and we would like to see this bill pass.  Ideally, in the next session we can build on this momentum to get it “totally right” in South Carolina and adopt measures that really make a difference by enhancing accountability, eliminating the cost and complexity and potential for fraud with the current election management system (ideally move to paper poll books and ballots), totally revamping the voter registration and maintenance program and making the entire process more transparent.

Citizens would be shocked to know that our entire system is controlled by out of state entities for the most part. We don’t have any ability to see how our vote is being counted and reporting is done by a foreign entity.  Our own state doesn’t have access to the source codes for the machines. Is this even constitutional? According to our state constitution our votes should be cast in secret but NOT COUNTED IN SECRET. This is currently not the case. We have outsourced this responsibility to corporations and machine manufacturers.

Let’s bring the vote back to the people and instill more confidence in our elections. Great job, Senate!

Bill 3444 prohibits drop boxes which is a good thing.  However, there is no procedure for drop boxes in the current Code of Laws for SC. They are already illegal, which is why counties that contested the boxes in 2020 were successful and were limited to locations at the county board of election offices. 

Section 7-5-50 of the bill states that “no county board of voter registration and elections may accept or expend any funds other than public funds to prepare for or to conduct elections.” No outside involvement by for profit or nonprofit corporations should be involved in our state elections.  The county board of elections as well as the State Election Commission should not be allowed access to any outside funding.

Bill 3444 is problematic in that it centralizes more control at the state level.  which leaves our state elections more vulnerable to partisan control.  (NOTE: the Governor appoints ALL members of the SEC…with the caveat that one appointee needs to be a member of the majority party in the General Assembly and the other from the minority party…otherwise the Governor picks whoever he wants – and he also appoints the Chairman of the SEC. These officials who run our elections are NOT elected.)  Decentralization is important here because it mitigates the dangers of centralized control, allowing counties to make decision that best reflect their constituencies. In other words, with this bill’s passage, counties would no longer be able to make the decision to dump the machines! In the same vein, this bill ABOLISHES the municipal election commissions, a further effort to centralize control upwards.

A fundamental conservative tenet is that decentralization is more optimal in that it tends to foster innovation. Centralization of the functions of government only allows for more concentrated control and power which gives the people less confidence in their election system.  This is the main tenet of why the democrats are pushing H.R. 1. They want total control of elections under the guise of enhanced quality control.  To that point, our own election commission should not be responsible for auditing themselves. Perhaps this role should be relegated to the Secretary of State.  

There are some hidden aspects of this bill which are also problematic. Why should the Speaker of the House and Senate President be able to intervene in any federal or state legal case involving an election law…or the way an election is carried out?

Bill 4919 says that it limits reasons for absentee voting but it extends in person voting to 2 weeks (in person voting to be one day and was only expanded last year due to COVID). It also doesn’t substantially limit the categories of who can request mail-in absentee ballots. As of this writing, they include: members of the American Red Cross, armed forces, government workers, students (as well as their spouses and dependents) and people age 65 and older, among others. Does this seem like a restriction in absentee ballots?  The only limit appears to be people who are on vacation and absent on election day. Absentee ballots are a huge source of potential malfeasance and should be limited only to people or active military out of the country or the severely ill or disabled. 

This bill also requires witness signatures and the last digits of the voter’s SS# but most likely due to time constraints these ballots are checked very quickly or not at all.

Overall, the election reform bills (4919 and 3444) (are moving in the wrong direction. I hope that the senate can bring themselves to amend them substantially or stick with our current system and enforce the laws on the books. We need to move forward, not backward.  If our governor and legislature was serious about election reform these bills would reinstate ONE day of voting, severely limit reasons for absentee balloting, get rid of the machines and go to paper ballots as well as have enhanced voter roll maintenance procedures,  including the elimination of our reliance on ERIC (Electronic Registration Information Center).   .  

Here are some videos from our event that have been clipped from our main presentation. Enjoy. Here is also a link to our Rumble channel.

Below are some videos from our reveal.