WHEREAS, on December 15, 2003, I received an Order of the Town of Pelzer Board of Elections ("Board") declaring that the Board found voting irregularities in the November 4, 2003, election for Mayor and Town Council members in the Town of Pelzer; and

WHEREAS, the Board has agreed to set aside the election for the seats of the Mayor and Town Council members and request that new elections be held; and

WHEREAS, Section 7-13-1170 of the South Carolina Code of Laws (1976), as amended, provides "when any election official of any political subdivision of this State charged with ordering, providing for, or holding an election has neglected, failed, or refused to order, provide for, or hold the election at the time appointed, or if for any reason the election is declared void by competent authority, and these facts are made to appear to the satisfaction of the Governor, he shall, should the law not otherwise provide for this contingency, order an election or a new election to be held at the time and place, and upon the notice being given which to him appears adequate to insure the will of the electorate being fairly expressed. To that end, he may designate the existing election official or other person as he may appoint to perform the necessary official duties pertaining to the election and to declare the result."

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State of South Carolina, I hereby (a) order that new elections be held in the Town of Pelzer for the seats for Mayor and Town Council members on March 2, 2004, or at the earliest possible date and time after March 2, 2004, as is permitted by the United States Department of Justice; and (b) designate the Town of Pelzer Municipal Election Commission to perform the necessary official duties pertaining to the election to declare the result.

GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, THIS 14th DAY OF JANUARY, 2004.

MARK SANFORD
Governor

Last Updated: Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 11:15 A.M.