Group to Call for New Elections Amid 'Suspicion'
A group of candidates, voters and public officials say that failure to hold a new election would "betray the trust of citizens for Richland County to move forward with this controversial tax increase."
In the wake of the disastrous elections and legal actions taken against the Richland County elections commission, a group will call for another election to take place with more accurate voting methods.
Led by Michael Letts, candidate who lost in Richland County Council 8, and Rod Shealy Jr., the group will present six points of contention at a press conference at 11:30 a.m at the Richland County Elections office on Hampton Street.
In addition to waits of three, four and five hours — which caused thousands of voters to not cast ballots, according to organizers — there have been doubts raised about why voting machines were lacking during such a crucial vote on a $1.2 billion sales tax referendum, which passed.
Patch on Friday reported several connections between pro-sales-tax forces and the elections director and a legislator who has oversight of the elections board.
Letts said he also has concerns about the objectivity of Election Board Chairwoman Liz Crum. Crum's employer, the McNair Law Firm, has a stake in the bonding that will take place from the new tax, he said.
On Thursday, a lower court judge ruled in favor of South Carolina Democrats for a recount of all votes. On Friday, a South Carolina Supreme Court judge overruled that and halted the recount shortly after it began. Both sides are due written arguments to the judge by Tuesday at noon.
According to a press release from Letts and Shealy, the points to be discussed are as follows:
- Richland County government made a decision to use fewer voting machines than required by law, and the resulting long lines caused thousands of voters to be unable to participate in the election process
- Many voters say they initially voted straight-ticket and then voted for a candidate of a different party, only to have the machines correct their votes back to straight-ticket
- The *reported* proximity of the Elections Director to a leader of the pro-sales tax increase campaign raises enough questions that her decision regarding voting machines are, rightly or wrongly, viewed with suspicion
- Many of the voting machine shortages occurred in areas which, in the opinion of tax increase opponents, many voters were likely to oppose the tax increase
- The only appropriate action of recourse is to hold new, valid elections. Citizens deserve the peace of mind that election results -- particularly in elections that affect the tax rates of the lowest-income citizens -- reflect the true will of the voters.
- If the new elections are NOT held, it would betray the trust of citizens for Richland County to move forward with this controversial tax increase. Richland County cannot deny citizens the ability to participate and still proceed with a tax increase which is adamantly opposed by roughly half of the citizens.
RamonEBT
2:36 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
I voted No on this tax deal and this election seems a lil fishy that their was an overwhelming Yes vote on something that's fishy from the beginning. That is to say a 2 billion additional tax that was mostly marketed to save the bus, but less than a quarter of that money is for that and the majority of the funds have nothing to do with the bus. Like a million dollar bike path, an industrial park construction and a bunch of road repairs. This seems to be more about someone getting construction contracts than about saving a dilapidated bus system. And worse, that none of this additional monies accounts for additional security or police, maintenance & repairs or additional employees to manage and maintain what they are proposing. Seems to me that if it's about the bus, let it be about the bus only and send a separate proposal for all the other junk. REBT.
RamonEBT
2:38 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
BTW, how come the scientific poll isn't operating for me to vote No? REBT.
Shawn Drury
3:38 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
REBT, Should be working now.
Watchingrichland
3:07 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
Voters who would like to see a new election including the transportation tax can go to http://www.fair-election.com to have their voices heard. Fill out the online form that will be given to the authorities.
Jim Manning
5:04 pm on Monday, November 12, 2012
Here we go again! I, Jim Manning, am compelled to respond to Mr. Letts' often times grandious contentions point by point as he seems to believe I will just go away and he can freely assail his assertions:
• ONE Wrong from the get go – Elections are a function of the Legislative Delegation, not the County government.
• TWO "Many" in the world of Michael Math may be 2 or 3 based on my recent public forums with him during the campaign.
• THREE How vague is this; “*reported* proximity” “viewed with suspicion” and even he admits he is uncertain if this is “rightly” or “wrongly.”
• FOUR Here again, "many" in the world of Michael Math may be 2 or 3, and as he says, in the “opinion of tax increase opponents” (losing side ironically).
• FIVE Wrong again, the tax rates effect ALL citizens.
• SIX Wrong again, no one was denied the ability to participate. Additionally, when roughly half of the citizens adamantly support something (and it is the “roughly half” with a majority vote), in America, they win! Maybe this was a world history/politics lesson His Excellency, Sir Michael A. Letts, Count/Baron, Knight of Honour of the Imperial Teutonic Order, Republic of Germany slept through in school.