Category Updates

Many of you are concerned about the integrity of our election process but feel powerless to do anything. You CAN help in many ways this election season. First and foremost, remember to vote in person on election day as late as you possibly can. Don’t vote absentee and don’t vote during the early in person 2 week period prior to election day! This will minimize the potential for fraud.

Whether you just are going to vote and want to observe what is going on around you during that time or can spend a day or more monitoring the polls, here are some suggested steps that our team is recommending. Please read and consider doing at least one of these important actions:

SC SAFE ELECTIONS

Strategies For Voter Integrity

3 Ways To Get involved and be a part of the election process:

1) POLL WATCHER

We need all hands on deck to protect our votes in the upcoming Primary and General Elections.

Poll Watcher: A volunteer position that requires minimal training. They are assigned to a polling place by a candidate or a political party in the Primary Election and by the political party in the General Election. A poll watcher observes and documents the election process and make sure that everything is done according to SC laws and procedures.

How to become a poll watcher:

1) Contact your local party for their poll watcher training schedule and sign-up with them for training.

2) Also contact Tammy (see her info below) to get on our master poll watcher list so that we can send you additional training information and possibly assign you to polling locations for the primary election to represent a campaign. http://scvotes.gov/poll-watchers

You will also need to contact your local party to get basic training.

2) MYSTERY VOTERS

Mystery Voters: are voters that sign-up with us to pay attention to the voters in front of them while they are going through the voting process at the poll. They will have a list of questions that they will fill out and return to us. They will be watching to see if they are checking voter identification; if voters in front of them have to fill out provisional or emergency ballots; if the voters in front of them had any trouble with the voting machines. This is a simple action item that takes very little time and we encourage EVERYONE to participate in it.

Please contact Tammy to sign-up to be a Mystery Voter at your polling location.

3) ELECTION EYES REPORTING–if you see something say something

Election Eyes Reporting Voters: are voters who are alert to their surroundings when they go to vote. They keep their eyes and ears open for any unusual issues that may be going on around them. These issues can then be reported to “ELECTION EYES” by:

1. Calling 6072-V-WATCH (enter code SC) or
2. Go to electioneyes.us to fill out a form                                                                                                        You must still maintain the privacy of the voters around you and not be intrusive or interruptive to the voting process in any way.
3. Launch a formal complaint with our election commission here http://www.scvotes.gov/title-iii-complaint-procedures

Please spread this info far and wide so we can maximize our eyes on the election process this important primary season and beyond.

Thanks,

Tammy P.

theinold6@gmail.com

scsafeelections.org

The SC legislature has passed election reform legislation in the final week of session. Our team has scoured the bill and here is the good, the bad and the ugly of this bill. If you want to read the full bill yourself here is the link:
https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess124_2021-2022/prever/108_20220511.htm

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!