Category Updates

Are current South Carolina Election security procedures and processes adequate to ensure that the citizens have confidence in their vote? Is our election system transparent and secure?

The attached whitepaper was prepared in response to the various concerns about the certification and vulnerabilities of the ES&S election management system that South Carolina used for the 2020 election and will use for the upcoming 2022 midterms and general elections.

This paper is meant to raise the awareness of the ongoing issues with electronic voting systems. ES&S, Dominion and Hart Intercivic which are the main voting system manufacturers all have similar architecture and thus similar potential vulnerabilities.

This paper focuses on ES&S which is used in approximately 20 other states so the inherent problems discussed in the paper could be pertinent to these other systems around the nation. 

As the paper states no electronic voting system is impenetrable.  That is why IT experts recommend a paper ballot system with strong protocols to protect against fraud.   

The citizens of South Carolina have seen too many examples of fraud –whether it be ballot stuffing through the movie 2000 mules, votes flipped in front of our eyes on election night, boxes of ballots being brought out from tables in GA, election data being erased in Mesa and Maricopa County or ballot marking devices switching our vote as we vote in real time, our trust in the process has been diminished.  Our vote is our voice and if there are ineligible votes like what we found in our canvassing efforts that cancel out our individual and collective vote, we start believing that our officials are “selected” not elected. Our overall mission is ultimately to enhance trust in the system so that everyone believes it transparent, honest, fair and safe.  Every legitimate vote should count.

Until we are confident that our election management systems are secure, we should not be utilizing the machines for any election. Our system has not been properly certified up to the current standards which is required by law. This leads to credibility issues with the results of the elections.

It is our hope that the appropriate measures such as penetration testing and other security provisions can be made to reduce the probability of intrusion. We provide several recommendations to do so. Until then we should vote using paper ballots or delay the primary until we can ensure our vote is safe and accurate.

Another way to evade any potential issues with the election management system is for the citizens to vote “en masse.” This is especially critical in primaries which have particularly low turnouts. If we overwhelm the system with the passion of our voices we can prevail.

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.