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The head of the local NAACP says he’s worried about Orangeburg County’s elections office, with his group receiving complaints about delayed and incorrect voter registration cards, as well as unprofessional employees who can’t answer questions correctly.
Sen. John Matthews, D-Bowman, says he’ll address the concerns with the county office. The local office, like others around the state, has faced a large increase in the number of people registering to vote, he said.
“I hear they have an excessive amount and they’re behind,” plus the computers were down one day last week, Matthews said Monday after the Orangeburg County Legislative Delegation’s regular meeting.
But he said, “The county is assigning additional people to the office. They’re working until 9 p.m.” Voter registration cards should be out in time, he said. He said he will bring the other concerns to election officials.
Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter said as an Obama supporter, she has seen election offices across the state swamped with voter registration applications. But the situation may be worse in Orangeburg where workers have less than a year’s experience, the Orangeburg Democrat said.
“My concern is with the voters and that the process run as smooth as possible. Sen. Matthews says he will take care of that,” she said.
There have been other election concerns this year. The State Law Enforcement Division is looking into allegations from the county’s June primary at Cobb-Hunter’s request, and a special election in Elloree will have to be repeated after the county failed to give notice of the changed election date.
Speaking to the delegation Monday, NAACP President William Wilson said he is “gravely concerned” about the reports he’s been receiving.
He’s heard that some of the staff is unprofessional and rude, that they do not want to answer questions and are unable to tell people where polls are located.
In addition, he has received complaints that people, “are not receiving voter registration cards in a timely manner.” That is a special concern because some of the people who are waiting on cards are eligible to vote early.
In addition, there have been typos and errors on cards, and the NAACP wants to have time to make sure they are corrected, he said. Wilson said some voters have been asked to provide more than the required amount of identification.
In addition, some S.C. State and Claflin students who live on campus have been told to vote in the wrong place, Wilson said.
Rep. Jerry Govan, D-Orangeburg, said that problem has been corrected -- while Cobb-Hunter said she was unaware the delegation placed the college students into one precinct.
Wilson said, “It behooves us in the county of Orangeburg to do the best we can to have as few problems as possible on election day.”
The Rev. Frank Myers said his daughter received a blank absentee ballot and questioned if other people who are overseas, including those in the military, would know what to do if they received a blank ballot.
Matthews said he shares that concern as the father of three sons who are serving in the military overseas. He said he would address that, too.
“It should not happen, not one time,” he said.
Also during the meeting, Cobb-Hunter announced that she has a candidate to replace Sylvia Stephens of Bowman on the Orangeburg County Election Commission following her resignation. The 58-year-old Stephens was charged last month with breach of trust with fraudulent intent.
The other two members of the delegation who showed up did not consider Cobb-Hunter’s request to present the nomination immediately, however, saying they were seeing Stephen’s resignation letter for the first time.
Cobb-Hunter said, “It’s extremely important that voter registration have a full complement of people.”
Matthews said, “I’m prepared to take it up when we go to Columbia on the 21st or 23rd” for a special session to deal with state budget cuts. Cobb-Hunter said she has not received word from the House that members will be returning on those dates.
“I’ll act on it, but not today,” Matthews said.
The discussion got a little heated when Cobb-Hunter questioned why Govan should be given a chance to make a nomination for the seat. Bowman is served by Cobb-Hunter and Matthews.
“I don’t remember securing a nomination from Jerry for my district,” she said. Govan said, “I would defer to whatever the members of that area want.”
Cobb-Hunter questioned Govan’s use of “Mrs. Hunter,” leading Govan to tell her she can call him Rep. Govan instead of Jerry.
In other business:
* John Strickland of North questioned how absentee ballots will be handled. Matthews referred him to the voter registration office. Strickland is running as a Republican for the District 40 seat held by Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg.
Orangeburg County Republican Party Chairman Jim Ulmer questioned how the county can make sure students and retirees haven’t registered to vote in two places. The delegation referred him to the elections office for specific answers about how such problems are prevented.
* The three members of the delegation present Monday -- Cobb-Hunter, Govan and Matthews -- reappointed Sadie D. Jarvis to the Mental Health Board.
The vote to fill another slot was contested, however, with Govan voting for the Rev. D. Edward Chaney and Cobb-Hunter voting for Belinda Davis-Branch. Matthews broke the tie by voting for Chaney, causing Cobb-Hunter to give a sarcastic, “Surprise.”
Then Ruby Sanders, the delegation’s administrative assistant, informed the delegation the board had another seat open, too. Davis-Branch was elected.
William Henry Lockey Jr. was appointed to the Forestry Commission.
* Elloree Town Administration John Singh asked lawmakers to keep counties and towns in mind when they return to Columbia to deal with state budget cuts. He said the state’s Aid to Subdivisions -- the share of the state’s budget given to local governments -- has already been affected by a 4 percent across-the-board cut.
T&D City Editor Gene Crider can be reached by e-mail at gcrider@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5570.