LEE COUNTY, S.C. — The South Carolina Election Commission is set to hear a protest next week involving a disputed race for a South Carolina State Senate seat.
Democrat Gerald Malloy, the incumbent senator for South Carolina District 29, has filed a formal protest challenging the results of his race against Republican J.D. Chaplin. Malloy’s complaint focuses on vote discrepancies in Lee County that emerged after a mandatory recount.
The recount, triggered by the race’s narrow margin, revealed significant differences from the original election night totals. Officials reported 4,643 votes in Lee County during the recount—70 fewer than initially counted.
Additionally, the recount showed a shift in candidate totals: Chaplin lost 129 votes, while Malloy gained 59. Despite Malloy’s increase, Chaplin remained ahead by 87 votes.
Senate 29 has five counties in it but only the vote totals in Lee County are being disputed.
The South Carolina Election Commission has called for clarity. In a letter dated Nov. 18, the commission asked the Lee County Voter Registration and Elections Office to explain the discrepancies. The county’s response attributed the issue to test ballots not being completely zeroed out before election night tabulation.
In its response, the Lee County Elections Office stated, “The recount process in Lee County follows and adheres to the state and federal election laws established in the recount procedure.”
A hearing on Malloy’s protest is scheduled for Dec. 3 at 10 a.m. The South Carolina Election Commission will consider whether to order a new election. Officials say the hearing could span several days as commissioners review evidence and testimony.