South Carolina GOP alerts state officials of alleged Democratic ballot harvesting operation

The South Carolina Republican Party is alerting state officials of an alleged Democratic ballot harvesting operation in Marion County after finding multiple voters registered at a vacant address.

The state GOP on Monday announced that it had found a paid Democratic staffer and 15 other voters registered at an address that is currently vacant. Also, in one precinct, the number of absentee ballots increased by 844 between the February presidential primary election and the June state primary.

The party additionally discovered that at least five paid Democratic campaign workers have a different voter registration address than their reported address on a campaign financial disclosure.

Under state law, it is illegal for anyone to return more than five absentee ballots in an election in addition to their own.

The South Carolina GOP said that it was providing this information to South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson (R) and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division for review.

“Clearly what’s happening in Marion County does not pass the smell test," South Carolina GOP Chairman Drew McKissick said in a statement on Monday.

"Ballot Harvesting is a felony in South Carolina, plain and simple. As Early Voting kicks off today, I call for an immediate investigation into any irregularities and for any violations to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Our citizens are entitled to election results that truly reflect the will of the people, not the will of lawbreakers.”