Poll workers arrange stickers to read “Thanks” at Stiles Point Elementary School on Election Day in on Nov. 3, 2020, in Charleston, South Carolina. (File/Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images)
When it comes to elections, disruptions tend to get the most attention. Whether it’s the risk of artificial intelligence, natural disasters, political violence, election subversion, or foreign interference, it can feel like the threats are never-ending.
Yet while early voting begins in South Carolina on Oct. 21, election officials across South Carolina have been diligently preparing for months — and, in many cases, years — to administer a safe, secure, and accurate election, no matter what threats may arise.
Across South Carolina’s 46 counties, election officials, workers, and volunteers work tirelessly to administer elections for the state’s 3.5 million registered voters. Once a quiet, behind-the-scenes position, the responsibilities of election officials today go far beyond the clerical or ministerial. Officials manage everything from complex voting and registration logistics to cybersecurity, crisis management, and public communication.
Some feared that the scrutiny placed on election administration after the 2020 election would result in a deluge of turnover, threatening institutional knowledge and operational stability. Instead, election officials have risen to meet new challenges by doubling down on professionalization, preparedness, and security.
Officials join together in national and state networks to receive training and share information. National certification programs administered by Election Center and the University of Minnesota train officials on the core competencies they need to be successful in their roles, based on industry-best practices and emerging research. Forty-three states, including South Carolina, also offer training directly to their local officials.
Beyond formal training and certification, officials also rely on their extensive experience. A recent Bipartisan Policy Center study found that 65% of chief local election officials nationwide have already managed a presidential election. Those who haven’t have an average of eight years of experience working as staff in an election office.
It’s clear: Election officials are trained professionals. And South Carolina’s officials are no exception.
While South Carolina has experienced above-average rates of turnover, the state’s officials have the support of the South Carolina Association of Registration and Election Officials, which provides ongoing training, best practices, and collaboration.
The association equips election officials — whether seasoned or new — with the tools they need to handle the complexities of running an election. Furthermore, because South Carolina conducts hundreds of elections statewide throughout the year, even new officials have practice conducting lower-turnout elections.
Turnover also doesn’t change the procedures and practices already in place. Each election official in South Carolina is held to strict statutory requirements that ensure votes from all eligible voters — and only eligible voters — are counted accurately.
Voters are required to show identification at the time of registration and at the time of voting. Officials also routinely monitor their voter registration rolls to ensure it only includes active, eligible voters.
Additionally, all South Carolina voting systems are required to meet federal standards for security, accuracy, and accessibility.
Before every election, officials test their voting equipment in public view to verify that they function properly. These tests are designed to catch any potential issues before voting begins.
But the work doesn’t stop there.
After the election, officials then double and triple check their work. They conduct two types of tabulation audits, which provide an additional layer of security by verifying that the results reported match the actual votes cast.
These are just some of the countless safeguards in place to ensure a free and fair election this November.
So even when threats loom large, you can rest assured that your state and local election officials are one step ahead, prepared to administer an accessible and secure election no matter what lies ahead.