Tuesday, Atlantic Beach held an election that was ordered by Governor Nikki Haley in March. “When the governor issues an executive order for a state agency to do something, we react,” said State Election Commission spokesperson Chris Whitmire. “We want the voters to have an opportunity to cast a ballot today in a fair election and have the reassurance that their votes will count.” Governor Haley issued the order because she felt the town’s election commission did not act swiftly enough. Atlantic Beach’s Election Commission threw out the town’s November 2011 election after some of the losing candidates appealed the results, but the commission did not set a new election date. The governor’s order also included Horry County overseeing the election instead of Atlantic Beach.
Horry County faced a hurdle in finding a polling location when Atlantic Beach leaders said the normal polling place was already booked for the May 22nd election date ordered by the governor. “We had to move the polling place. So we sent out post cards to all voters to notify them of this election,” said Horry County Director of Registration and Election Sandy Martin.
Full Article: Atlantic Beach election under the microscope : News : CarolinaLive.com.