South Carolina election chief fired after voting machine contract was undeclared over $4M

Columbia, SC (AP) – The South Carolina Elections Commission is trying to determine whether a $28 million contract for new voting machines costs $4 million more.

An investigation into the purchase of 3,200 ballot scanners in 2024 led to the firing of the head of the election agency and the second in command and cost him his job for the third time. And it’s not the only problem. About the election commission, said Chairman Dennis Shedd at the monthly meeting.

There was a hidden recording device in the room before the commissioners met behind closed doors to discuss the Executive Director Hoige KNApp and the so-called KNApp Salonich “.

Salonich was the Deputy Director of the Agency before the officers were fired to be caught by planting a video recorder and the release of the obvious after hearing heard.

“We’re getting new things from the management of the old administration,” Shedid said as he took time out of the meeting to answer questions from reporters.

HEDEDD emphasized that any misconduct did not affect the integrity of any election.

HEDED said at least three federal agencies are investigating the contract and other issues, and he does not know what happened to the difference of $4 million authorized for the $32 million authorized to pay for the equipment.

The difference between the prices was a sales tax that wasn’t included in the original agreement, KNApp attorney Joe Mcculloch told the Post and Courier, adding that he was baffled that the board tried to make a mistake a mistake.

Salonich’s attorney said he had no comment Wednesday. Salonich sued the election commission shortly after being fired, saying the agency had released embarrassing information about him.

Knapp was fired at Severch’s September Commission meeting. That led to a month of speculation about whether he would be approved because of the state’s ongoing negotiations with the US Department of Justice at the request of all Carolina voters – ongoing talks.

HEDED said Knapp’s position was that the information was similar to his own: Information could be released with a strict confidentiality agreement. HEDDD said the firing had nothing to do with data negotiations.

Commissioners discussed the request behind closed doors at Wednesday’s meeting. HEDED said they want a legally binding agreement that protects the privacy of data, including names, addresses and other information the State sells and four-digit security numbers.

“I’m clean

HEDED said the state could set up a system similar to what nearly half of the states in the US have that share data in highly regulated settings to vote on more than one state.

Carolina’s voter data is “already shared with about 25 other states,” HEDED said. “But that is shared under strict security protocols.”

Many states have stepped back and largely rebuffed the Justice Department’s request. At least eight have been sued by the Federal government for not complying with the request.

The states say the Federal Government has not yet clarified what it wants to do with the information.