‘Abundance of caution’: Recount ordered in Beaufort County over U.S. District 1 concerns
The South Carolina Election Commission has ordered the Beaufort County Board of Voter Registration and Elections to publicly recount all ballots cast in Tuesday’s primary in Beaufort County after concerns were raised that numbers didn’t match.
That’s according to the Beaufort County Legislative Delegation, which is made up of nine elected state lawmakers representing Beaufort County. The group serves as a liaison between residents and governmental agencies and makes appointments to commissioners including the Beaufort County Board of Voter Registration and Elections.
The primary concern was regarding the race for U.S. House District 1 between Nancy Mace and Katie Arrington, according to Jean Felix, head of the Beaufort County Election Board.
“We decided that this is the best course of action to be accurate, transparent and correct,” Felix said.
William Weston J. Newton, who chairs the delegation, said he spoke Thursday morning with South Carolina’s chief election official, Howard M. Knapp, about constituent concerns raised concerning the 2022 primaries.
“Out of an abundance of caution and to ensure election integrity and transparency, the South Carolina Election Commission has ordered the Beaufort County Board of Voter Registration and Elections to publicly retabulate all ballots cast in the June 14 primaries,” Knapp said in a statement.
After the election process has concluded, including adjudication of any protests, the legislative delegation will get a briefing from local and state election officials, the group said.
The board will publicly reconvene at 10 a.m. Friday to certify the election.
The recount is primarily over the congressional race between freshman U.S. Rep. Mace and former state representative Katie Arrington, both Republicans, in U.S. District 1 and does not involve a problem with several names of Beaufort County Council candidates not appearing on some ballots, Felix said. Those problems were attributed to the recent redistricting in the county.
This story was originally published June 16, 2022 at 5:09 PM.
