Election Handbook - Municipal Association of South Carolina

Recount procedures
The municipal election commission must post a public notice at least 24 hours before meeting. At the meeting, the
municipal election commission canvasses, certifies the official results and orders a recount – all at the same time. It will
highlight with an asterisk (*) on the official results page any offices to be recounted. The recount date is established
when the recount is ordered. The municipal election commission can perform the recount on the same date as the certification.
It does not conduct a recount on election night. A recount cannot be performed until officially ordered by the
municipal election commission.
For planning purposes, the municipal election commission can informally notify the political parties and/or candidates
for the office to be recounted. The municipal election commission can let them know when and where the recount will
take place. The municipal election commission may issue the official notification to all candidates on the same date the
recount is actually held.
The municipal election commission must count all ballots for all precincts that elect this office. If the recount total differs
from the original total, it must take any necessary steps to identify the cause of the discrepancy and to ensure the
recount was conducted accurately and completely.
The municipal election commission must meet after the recount to certify the recount results.
Election winners
Newly elected officers must wait 48 hours after the polls close to be qualified. In cases where a protest is filed, the incumbent
remains in office until the protest is determined. SC Code 5-15-120. See section “protests.”
Oath of office
The oath of office is given to the newly elected officers before officially taking office. Someone who has the authority to
administer oaths such as a notary public must administers this oath. A municipality may already have a written policy
about who can and when to provide oaths. For questions about who can administer oaths and when, contact the municipality’s
clerk or attorney.
Successful candidates roster
The municipal election commission must provide a successful candidates’ roster to the State Ethics Commission. This
form is available from the State Ethics Commission Web site (www.ethics.sc.gov).
Retention of election materials
The municipal election commission must keep all election results and certification records permanently. It must keep
other election materials, including voted ballots, for two years or until all protests are resolved. This requirement is
located in section 12-601.14 of the general records retention schedules for municipal records established by the S.C.
Department of Archives and History. In addition, the commission must adhere to any local retention schedules.
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