NAACP files federal complaint

The national office of the NAACP has filed a federal complaint, demanding three satellite polling places that were closed Monday be reopened.

At a press conference, members of the Aiken Chapter's executive board announced the decision to take the case to a national level as they believed "thousands of people, not just African-Americans and minorities," could be affected by the closures.

Tuesday, members of the Aiken Chapter of the civil rights organization contacted their national branch to discuss the closing of the offices.

Reading from a prepared statement, NAACP attorney Kim Anderson Ray stated that as South Carolina is one of nine states that must seek approval from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to open precincts, they must also seek sanction on any retrogression - according to the tenets of the 1965 Voter Rights Act.

Any action that may make it more difficult for someone to vote must be scrutinized by federally. As these three locations had previously been cleared by the Department of Justice to serve in this capacity, Ray argued, they could not be closed without direct authorization from the federal law enforcement body.

Monday the Aiken County Registration and Election Commission (ACREC) closed these stations - one in North Augusta, one in Wagener and one at Kalmia Hall in Aiken - that they had long advertised would be open for those who would not be able to vote on election day.

After a raucous ACREC meeting Monday, including two executive sessions and disorderly public comment, it was decided to close the satellite offices upon further investigation.

The meeting was held after a complaint was filed by Simpsonville Republican attorney Todd Kincannon. Kincannon contended that state law does not allow for any absentee ballots to be cast outside of the voter registration office.

County Attorney Jim Holly agreed with Kincannon's assessment through his reading of the applicable statutes and advised the board to close the polls everywhere except the election office itself.

Gary Baum, the director of public information for the State Election Commission, disagrees.

"The law does allow for this," he said. "(The law) does allow for extension office for the purposes of absentee voting."

The investigation continued Tuesday as both the State Election Commission and ACREC sought a resolution by contacting the State Attorney General's Office asking them to help in rendering a permanent decision, according to Commission Chair Kevin Bumpus.

At close of business Tuesday, the Attorney General's office had not spoken with ACREC.

In South Carolina, only one county uses a satellite office for absentee balloting. This office, in Beaufort County on Hilton Head Island, has been accepting absentee ballots for more than a decade, according to Agnes Garvin, Chair of the Beaufort Election Commission.

"But, our satellite office just doesn't open for absentee voting," she said. "It's open year round, it is an election office year round. You can register there, I have a clerk there year round."

NAACP representatives at the meeting Monday said three counties in South Carolina operated satellite offices -- Dorchester, Horry and Beaufort counties. Horry and Dorchester Counties denied ever operating such offices when asked Tuesday.

The challenge of something going on in Aiken by an out-of-county GOP attorney has turned many heads, especially those on the other side of the political divide.

Democratic Party Chair John Brecht plainly believes closing the offices "would be beneficial to the Republican Party."

Brecht contends that the more people that vote, the more likely is a Democrat win.

"This is voter suppression," he said.

Ray did not know what the next step in the procedure would be, but simply offered hope that a swift resolution would come.

This move is "effectively going to suppress the vote of African Americans and minorities," Ray said. "We have asked the Department of Justice to step in."

The complaint was sent to DOJ Tuesday, and the federal agency sent notice that the complaint had been received.

"We are looking at thousands of people, not just African Americans and minorities, but those of the majority who want to vote in this way, "James Gallman, a member of the National NAACP board said.