Reports of widespread voting irregularities in the city of Columbia, South Carolina mayoral runoff election on Tuesday have led to calls for state and federal investigators to look into the alleged discrepancies.
South Carolina governor Henry McMaster has reportedly received calls urging him to direct the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to probe the allegations, which were exclusively reported on this news outlet early Tuesday.
As of this writing, SLED has not received a request to investigate the allegations.
City council members Daniel Rickenmann and Tameika Isaac Devine are running against each other in today’s close, contentious mayoral runoff.
Rickenmann received 8,410 votes (44 percent of ballots cast) during an ostensibly nonpartisan mayoral election on November 2, while Devine received 5,837 votes (30 percent of ballots cast). Because neither candidate received a majority of ballots, the two are facing off today in a head-to-head runoff election.
On Tuesday morning, this news outlet detailed a wide range of alleged irregularities – including voting machine malfunctions, ballot errors and citizens who were actually denied the right to vote.
The errors appear to be occurring almost exclusively in precincts which supported Rickenmann in the first round of voting on November 2.
Since then we have received reports of additional alleged irregularities – and subsequent efforts by attorneys to secure the integrity of the vote (and get to the bottom of the shenanigans).
This is a developing story … please check back for updates.
UPDATE: Rickenmann wins …
*****
ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
(Via: FITSNews)
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and seven children. And yes, he has LOTS of hats (including that New York Mets’ lid pictured above).
***
WANNA SOUND OFF?
Got something you’d like to say in response to one of our articles? Or an issue you’d like to proactively address? We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Got a tip for a story? CLICK HERE. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? CLICK HERE.
