And in doing so says NO to Governor Haley…
By Paul Gable
The South Carolina Election Commission negated the SCGOP decision last night to place Katrina Shealy on the upcoming June 12th primary ballot for Senate District 23.
According to a press release issued Thursday, the Election Commission is holding certification of candidates to the May 4, 2012 date set by the S.C. Supreme Court May 2nd.
“Under order of the S.C. Supreme Court, state and county political parties were required to provide the state and county election commissions with an updated list of candidates who properly filed for office by noon, May 4th,” reads the commission website.
“As an agency of the State of South Carolina, the State Election Commission has no authority to accept additional candidates after the May 4, 2012 noon deadline set by the Supreme Court,” said the commission in a press release.
All the posturing by the SCGOP with its five candidate hearings yesterday was for naught. The fiery speech given by Gov. Nikki Haley prior to the vote on Shealy’s protest was in vain.
Are we now to expect the SCGOP to file suit against the S.C. Election Commission to force a change in Shealy’s candidacy?
Other candidates will also be affected by the election commission holding to the Court order. At least 10 Democrats in various Pee Dee counties were decertified in the past week. However, because those decisions were taken after the May 4th date, they will appear on the June 12th ballots?
It’s not over folks. Every time one of the many players takes an action or makes a decision, it only opens up the possibility of more lawsuits in the future.
For now, the ballots are set and the June 12th primary elections will go forward, but we can’t even begin to imagine what chaos will result when the election challenges and lawsuits are filed following the voting.
Does any player, other than the election commission, care about the Supreme Court decision? You can be certain its decision will weigh heavily in election challenges and lawsuits later.
Speak Up…