RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. — Election season is here and there's a new director in charge of Voter Registration and Elections in Richland County.
"I'm here to work for the people of Richland County," Travis Alexander said.
The Richland County Elections office has seen it's fair share of problems from long lines to election equipment warehouse leaks to lost ballots.
But there's a new face in charge of elections this fall, sworn in earlier this year.
His name is Travis Alexander. He tells News 19 he's looking ahead, hoping to establish a solid foundation and trying to create some extra audits.
"Forward thinking. Coming in from day one was day one and so everything that was done prior, really didn't focus on that. I just looked at it and said okay, what kind of policies and procedures can we put in place, what are the strengths of the staff members we have in place and going forward with that," Alexander said.
With experience from the Upstate, the Lowcountry and the State Election Commission, Alexander explains he's been a poll manager, a clerk, a precinct coordinator, a director and a liaison since 2008.
Right now Alexander is managing the State Senate District 19 special election early voting and next week municipal election early voting will begin.
"We've already got the machines and things ready for the October 24th date. We'll take this early voting stuff on Friday, switch it over to the municipal election. We also have great early voting workers that have come out to help us, about 15-16 early voting workers, which they will keep the early voting going, while my main staff will work on that election day and process that Senate District 19," Alexander said.
Alexander tells News 19 some staple poll sites of schools, churches and other facilities will not be used this election season because of scheduling conflicts, so be sure to check your polling location the day before you cast your ballot.
Alexander also adds that he reached out to Richland County administrators and they are currently working on a temporary location to move the warehouse that stores election equipment. He explains they should have a move of the items starting this election cycle.
According to Alexander, they are short about 50 poll workers for the November 7 municipal elections. If you are interested, the last training is on October 30 and you get a stipend from the state of $185. To learn more, click here.
For a list of the Richland County precincts in the Senate District 19 Democratic Primary Special Election, click here.