Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2. Constitutional
provisions
violated.
Article
II
Section
1
clearly
states
that
the
ballots
shall
not
be
counted
in
secret.
The
ballots
were
clearly
counted
in
secret
by
staff
and
election
commissioners
on
October
20.
The
public
was
not
permitted
visual
access
to
verify
chain
of
custody,
opening
of
the
ballot
boxes
or
the
tabulation
process.
The
work
of
the
county
election
commission
in
processing
and
tabulating
the
absentee
ballots,
and
overseeing
the
security
and
delivery
of
the
electronic
ballots,
and
their
consolidation
is
clearly
acting
upon
the
matter
over
which
they
have
duties
and
jurisdiction.
Important
decisions
and
inquiries
are
made
in
these
meetings,
as
they
were
in
Colleton
on
October
20.
The
label
of
the
gathering
of
the
quorum
is
of
no
consequence.
The
failure
to
formally
call
the
work
a
meeting
does
not
change
the
substance
of
the
meeting
content,
or
the
fact
that
it
is
a
meeting
of
a
public
body
under
South
Carolina
law.
5. Inability
to
observe
ballot
counting
compromises
rights
of
campaigns.
With
high-
profile
presidential
primary
elections
on
the
immediate
horizon,
South
Carolina
runs
a
significant
risk
of
controversy
if
observers
are
blocked
from
ballot
processing
and
tabulation.
The
primaries
are
likely
to
be
highly
competitive
and
contentious
with
demands
made
for
the
full
transparency
that
the
law
allows.
Immediate
changes
are
required
in
South
Carolina
to
meet
the
fundamental
promise
of
the
suffrage
provisions
of
the
state
constitution.
I
respectfully
request
that
the
state
board
undertake
a
formal
reconsideration
of
the
above
matters
and
all
matters
covered
in
the
original
complaint.
Marilyn
Marks
Individually
and
also
on
behalf
of
Rocky
Mountain
Foundation
7035
Marching
Duck
Drive
E504
Charlotte,
NC
28210
970-404
2225
October 29, 2015
South Carolina Election Commission
Ms. Marci Andino, Executive Director
Via email (elections@elections.sc.gov)
Ms. Andino:
I am writing to follow up the complaint filed with your office on October 21,
2015 by Rocky Mountain Foundation and me. I have not received a response
to the complaint, although I did place a call to Mr. Whitmire of your office. I
note that Mr. Whitmire offered certain comments to the press for an article
that I have attached for your reference. I write to seek clarification of those
comments.
Mr. Whitmire apparently told the press that the complaint was not
considered a formal complaint, and therefore would not be reviewed by the
state commission. Please direct me to the guidelines that document the
requirements to file a formal complaint that is subject to review by the
commission. I request that this matter be taken up by the Commission in a
formal review.
Whitmire also reportedly stated that I misunderstand the Open Meetings
Laws in South Carolina claiming that the law does not apply if a formal
meeting has not been called. The law is clear that no meetings of a public
body such as the County Election Board may take place without a public
notice. No public business is to be conducted without such a noticed public
meeting. 7-15-420 provides that the election board is responsible for the
tabulation of absentee ballots. Absentee ballot tabulation and review is
certainly business of the board. 30-4-20(d) prohibits actions taken without a
properly noticed and conducted meeting of the board. If there is a statutory
exemption for election boards to undertake action in private, please provide
that reference. 7-13-1110 requires that the ballot box be publicly opened.
Article II, Section 1 of the South Carolina Constitution is clear that ballots
may not be counted in secret. Please explain what Commission believes to be
my misunderstanding of the law that requires public observation of ballot
counting conducted by the public board undertaking their statutory duties.
The clear intent of the constitutional provisions and the statutory provisions
are to permit the public to observe the ballot counting at a close enough range
to verify the accuracy of the count, and to file challenges if there are ineligible
absentee ballots or inaccurate tabulations. The reported example of the
Marilyn Marks
7025 Marching Duck Drive E504
Charlotte, NC 28210
970 404 2225
Rocky Mountain Foundation
1550 Larimer Street #246
Denver, CO 80202
cc: Chris Whitmire (via email)
meeting privately to process the ballots and memory cards. Fryar became verbally
aggressive and accusatory toward Marks falsely claiming that Marks was changing your
story, every time you tell it about Markss statement that she did not represent a
candidate or anyone other than herself and the Rocky Mountain Foundation. Fryar
declared that Marks would not be allowed in the ballot counting room. Fyar and
Upchurch stated that no one is ever allowed in the ballot counting room other than staff
and board members. Presumably certified watchers are purportedly also not permitted
in the ballot counting room in Colleton.
Marks asked Fryar and Upchurch to reference the state law on the public observation of
the ballot counting process, and they refused. When Marks objected to being prohibited
from observing the process, Fryar responded, well, this [in the foyer] is where you are
going to observe tonight. Upchurch stated againthat no one is allowed in the room
other than board members. Marks asked to see the absentee ballot box opening by the
board and ballot processing and Upchurch and Fryar denied her request. Marks asked
Upchurch if she and Upchurch could speak to the Commissions office the following
morning to address the policy regarding transparency and Upchurch readily agreed, but
Fryar instructed Upchurch to inform Marks that the state Commission had no authority
over the County board.
Marks overheard Fryar inform other meeting participants that they did not have to deal
with Marks.
Marks remained outside the board meeting room attempting to see the processes and
hear the proceedings, but was only able to occasionally hear a few phrases and ballots
and processes were not visible through the glass except for scanning of the paper
ballots, approximately 10 feet away from the glass, making it impossible to observe,
witness or verify the ballots or machine counts. Marks informed Upchurch that she could
not observe the processes or hear the proceedings of the board, (a public body), but she
was still not permitted access to witness the proceedings and ballot counting.
It should be noted that there was ample space in the room to accommodate observers.
From the window looking into the room, no meeting participants could be seen, but
available areas of the room could be observed. (See Exhibits 1-2) The absentee ballot
box was opened in areas of the room that could not be seen from the windows.
Marks remained in the foyer and hallway of the Elections office attempting to observe
through the windows and reviewing machine tapes as they were posted in the hall. At
one point Fryar opened the door, addressed Marks accusing her of being dishonest
claiming that Marks should have disclosed that you are an attorney. Marks informed
Fryar that she is not an attorney, to which Fryar responded that Markss site
(presumably website) states that she is an attorney. Marks requested to see the
referenced website, given that she does not have a site, nor is she an attorney. Fryar
refused to respond, and refused to address the truth of the allegations, but attempted to
publicly discredit and intimidate Marks by making false allegations against her. Marks
could occasionally overhear various disparaging remarks about Marks made by Fryar
during the board meeting. Fryar presumably attempted to convince the board members
that Marks was an attorney and in some type of violation of professional ethics.
It should be noted that despite Fryars claims that no one except board members could
enter the room, numerous staff members entered at will, as did an advisor from another
county, his child, and numerous precinct poll workers. Clearly some citizens were given
access and others were denied access.
Marks wrote a note on her business card to attempt to set the record straight on the fact
that she is not an attorney, nor does she have a website. She asked the receptionist to
deliver the note to Fryar during a break or time that would not interrupt the proceedings
of the meeting.
When Fryar exited the building at the conclusion of the board meeting, Marks attempted
to speak to Fryar to address the allegations Fryar had made. Fryar stated that she was
not going to deal with Marks.
Marks remained in the hallway attempting to observe the processes and reviewed the
precinct tapes as they were intermittently posted, and exchanged pleasantries and
asked a few questions of members posting the results. She left the building at
approximately 8:55pm after obtaining a copy of the consolidated county totals, and
returned to her car parked in front of the elections office. Before Marks started the car,
two Walterboro police officers approached the car, requested Markss identification and
contacted other law enforcement authorities asking for a review of Markss record using
her Colorado drivers license number. The police officers reported that they had
received a report that Marks had created a disturbance in the elections office. Marks
requested that she be allowed to leave her car and walk with the police officers to talk
with Ms. Upchurch whom they were going to talk with. The police officers would not
allow Marks to leave her car. They stated that Fryar and others were meeting with
Upchurch in the parking area, and they would not allow Marks to approach them to
inquire about the police complaint. Such actions by members of public County Board
should not be tolerated. False reporting of a crime to a peace officer is also in violation
of the states criminal statutes.
The complaint is being filed to request disciplinary and injunctive relief.
Violations of Law
1. Article II, Section 1 of the states constitution is clear
All elections by the people shall be by secret ballot, but the ballots shall not be
counted in secret.
2. SC Code 7-13-1110 require the public opening of the ballot boxes and public
counting of the ballots.
The Poll Managers handbook page 27 clearly reinforces this requirement by instructing
officials to permit observers to observe the public process. (Exhibit 3)
The boards absentee ballot counting process took place amid protest behind closed
doors between 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.
3. SC Code 30-4-60 requires meetings of the County Board to be open to the public.
The meeting of members of the board on election night was closed to the public.
4. Although filing of false reports of crimes is outside the jurisdiction of the Commission
and the Board, these governing bodies should address the unacceptable policy of such
improper attempts to intimidate an election observer.
Relief requested
Injunctive relief as provided in 7-3-25 is requested to prevent future failures of election
transparency. Marks and Rocky Mountain Foundation are requesting that the
Commission and Board publish written policies making clear that observers and
watchers may witness and observe the counting, tabulation and ballot processing
activities of the board. The observation must be allowed at a close enough distance to
provide visual access and the meaningful ability to challenge any discrepancies or
irregularities.
Marks requests that the Executive Director of the Commission consider disciplinary
action against, including the potential removal of, Ms. Fryar from the County Board for
her knowing and willful violations of law and her unprofessional behavior in her official
duties. Such authority has been granted under 7-3-25(C).
The information contained in this complaint is true and correct.
Please provide copies to all State Election Commission members and Colleton County
Board of Elections members.
Marilyn Marks
Contact Information
Marilyn Marks
(Temp) 7035 Marching Duck Drive E 504
Charlotte, NC 28210
970 404 2225
Marilyn@AspenOffice.com
Rocky Mountain Foundation
1550 Larimer Street, #246
Denver, CO 80202
970 404 2225
CC:
Angela Upchurch (aupchurch@colletoncounty.org)
Marci Andino (elections@elections.sc.gov)
Chris Whitmire (cwhitmi@elections.sc.gov)
County Administration (mchaplin@colletoncounty.org)
Legislative Delegation and Appointment authority(via legislative website)
Senator Chip Campsen
27
manner. Watchers who are disorderly or unruly may be removed from the polling place. (7-13-140,
7-13-860, 7-13-130)
The voter registration list is a matter of public record. Under supervision of the poll managers, poll
watchers should be allowed to look at the list as long as it does not interfere with or disrupt the orderly voting process.
To be more knowledgeable about election day procedures, poll watchers may want to attend poll
manager training conducted by the county election commission. Special poll watchers training may
also be available.
Observers
Since elections are a public process, anyone should be allowed to observe under certain conditions.
Any member of the public in a polling place who isnt performing a specific role (manager, voter,
watcher, etc) is considered an observer. Observers may stay inside polling place if they do not talk to
voters or interfere with the election process. Because of a polling place size, observers may be limited
in number. Observers, as with anyone inside the polling place, may not display any type of campaign
literature including a badge or item of clothing. Observers must conduct themselves in an orderly
manner. Observers who are disorderly or unruly may be removed from the polling place (7-13-140).
Assistance to Voters
Generally, no one except a voter preparing his ballot is allowed within five feet of the voting booth.
However, voters with disabilities and voters who are blind, have low vision and voters who are unable
to read or write may receive assistance in voting (7-13-780).
Section 208 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, as amended, states:
Any voter who requires assistance to vote by reason of blindness, disability, or inability to read or
write may be given assistance by a person of the voters choice, other than the voters employer or