Public Hearing on Richland County Election Held Today

It was not long after polls opened on Election Day that voters in Richland County realized something was wrong. By lunchtime, there were reports of lines several hours long and officials were besieged with complaints from citizens.

Today, at 1 p.m. in Room 105 of the Gressette Building, the Richland County Legislative Delegation will try to find out what caused the lines.

Much of the criticism for the lines has fallen on the shoulders of the County’s Director of Elections and Voter Registration, Lillian McBride. Sen. John Courson (R-20), told The State newspaper he would have to hear compelling evidence to not ask for McBride’s resignation. Sen. Darrell Jackson (D-21), who heads the County’s delegation, said he would not object to finding a replacement for McBride if circumstances came to that.

Rep. Nathan Ballentine (R-78) has not called for McBride to step down, but told Patch he plans on investigating how she came to her position as well as the County’s procedures for hiring leadership positions. Ballentine said that Monday's session will not have public input, but lawmakers can hold forums in their districts to hear from voters. (To find out who you're representatives are enter your street address HERE.).

Liz Crum, who leads the Richland County Election Commission, said she does not plan to seek re-election when her term expires next Spring. She is expected to testify today.

The Commission is also investigating what went wrong on Election Day through Steve Hamm, an attorney it retained for that expressed purpose.

One group believes that there so many problems and conflicts of interest that a new election needs to be held.

An independent investigation released over the weekend showed that the County deployed 185 machines fewer than it did in 2010, even though turnout is almost always higher in the year of a presidential election, as it was this year. More than 16,000 people in Richland County vote in 2012 than in 2010. Even in 2010, the County likely deployed less machines than were required by law, which states that there must be one machine for every 250 registered voters. Of the machines that were used this year, more than a tenth of them broke at some point during the day.

The report also found that 12,000 people cast their votes after polls had closed at 7 p.m. compared to 2,000 in 2010.

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