Feb 25, 2026 Board of Voter Registration and Elections

[00:00:03]

MEETING IS CALLED TO

[I. Call to Order Followed by Pledge of Allegiance]

THIS IS THE FEBRUARY 25TH, 2026 BOARD MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS AT BUFORT COUNTY.

SO CAN WE ALL RAISE FOR RISE UP FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE, EXCUSE ME, THE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD AND INVISIBLE WITH THE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

[III. Introduction of New Director for the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County]

WELL, ON BEHALF OF MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, UM, WE'RE HERE TODAY TO DO SOMETHING WE HAVE NOT DONE SINCE 2013.

AND THAT IS INTRODUCE A NEW DIRECTOR OF THE VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTION DEPARTMENT.

LET ME BEGIN WITH A BIT OF CONTEXT WITH ABOUT 140,000 REGISTERED VOTERS.

BEAUFORT COUNTY IS THE NINTH LARGEST COUNTY IN SOUTH CAROLINA BY THAT METRIC, WE ALSO HAVE A UNIQUELY SENIOR ELECTORATE WITH 43% OF REGISTERED VOTERS, 65 AND OLDER, MANY OF WHOM SERVE AS DEPENDABLE CITIZEN POLL WORKERS, AND RANKING US FIRST IN THE STATE.

BY THAT DEMOGRAPHIC, OUR COUNTY CONSISTENTLY RANKS IN THE TOP 10% STATEWIDE FOR VOTER TURNOUT.

OVER THE PAST FOUR PRESIDENTIAL CYCLES, VOTER PARTICIPATION HAS INCREASED BY 42%.

IN 2024, ROUGHLY 105,000 VOTERS CAST THEIR BALLOTS, REPRESENTING ABOUT 62% OF OUR COUNTY'S ADULT POPULATION.

THAT LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT IS ONLY POSSIBLE WITH COUNTY-WIDE COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF OF 11 EXPANDS ON ELECTION DAY TWO HUNDREDS OF FULL WORKER IN NOVEMBER, 2024.

MORE THAN 800 CITIZENS STAFFED 126 PRECINCTS.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO TRAINING AND LONG ELECTION DAY HOURS.

ELECTIONS ARE IMPORTANT TO EVERYONE, AND I CANNOT THINK OF ANOTHER ACTIVITY SPONSORED BY BUFORD COUNTY THAT EMPLOYS AS MANY AS 800 CITIZENS AT ONE TIME AND ENGAGES A HUNDRED THOUSAND RESIDENTS VOLUNTARILY FOR A SINGLE EVENT.

AND THIS YEAR, WITH BOTH A PRIMARY AND A GENERAL ELECTION, WE WILL DO IT AT LEAST TWICE.

WITH THAT CONTEXT IN MIND, OUR BOARD TOOK VERY SERIOUSLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SELECTING A NEW DIRECTOR.

WE REVIEWED MORE THAN 30 APPLICATIONS, SOME FROM SEASONED ELECTION PROFESSIONALS AND OTHERS FROM, FROM OUTSIDE THE FIELD, BUT WITH EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP CREDENTIALS.

BEFORE SPEAKING ABOUT THE FUTURE, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LEADERS AND STAFF WHO CAME BEFORE THE NEW DIRECTOR, THEIR DEDICATION BUILT THE FOUNDATION ON WHICH OUR ELECTION OPERATIONS STAND TODAY, THE PROFESSIONALISM, INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, AND COMMITMENT OF THIS TEAM HAVE SERVED, HAVE SERVED BEAUFORT COUNTY WELL, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THAT SERVICE.

AT THE SAME TIME, EVERY ORGANIZATION BENEFITS FROM FRESH LEADERSHIP, RENEWED ENERGY, AND A CLEAR VISION FOR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.

MS. JEAN FELIX REPRESENTS THAT NEXT CHAPTER.

THE BOARD WAS IMPRESSED BY JEAN'S, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, ENTHUSIASM FOR PUBLIC SERVICE, AND COMMITMENT TO ELECTION INTEGRITY AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.

AS OUTREACH COORDINATOR, JEAN STRENGTHENED POLL WORKER TRAINING HELP DEVELOP A POLL CLERK PROGRAM THAT IS NOW OF INTEREST TO THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION AND LED RECRUITMENT, SCHEDULING AND TRAINING EFFORTS ACROSS THE COUNTY.

SHE ALSO EXPANDED OUTREACH THROUGH COMMUNITY FORUMS, WHICH HAVE ALREADY ACHIEVED RECORD PARTICIPATION.

JEAN UNDERSTANDS THE BOARD'S VISION FOR A HIGH PERFORMING DEPARTMENT AND HAS ALREADY BEGUN IMPLEMENTING IT UNDER HER LEADERSHIP.

OPERATIONS WILL EMPHASIZE PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT, ACCOUNTABILITY, ROBUST PROCESSES, AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION.

RESPECTFULLY, THIS WILL NOT BE BUSINESS AS USUAL, BUT RATHER BUSINESS DONE DELIBERATELY, COLLABORATIVELY.

AND WITH CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IN MIND.

DEAN IS COMMITTED TO STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE, THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION, AND HUNDREDS OF CITIZEN POLL WORKERS WHO MAKE ELECTIONS POSSIBLE.

SO ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS OF BUFORT COUNTY, IT'S MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW DIRECTOR, MS. JEAN FELIX.

[00:05:01]

WELCOME.

OKAY, UM, WITH THAT WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.

UM, WE SKIP NUMBER TWO, PUBLIC COMMENTS.

THERE ARE NO PUBLIC PRESENT TODAY, SO WE'LL MOVE ON

[IV. Minutes from Meetings on:]

SO DO I HAVE A MOTION TO, UM, ACCEPT THE DECEMBER 17TH MEETING MINUTES AS WRITTEN? SO MAY 2ND.

SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? A.

AYE.

ALL OPPOSED? OKAY.

HOW ABOUT THE MEETING MINUTES FOR JANUARY 14TH? THE SPECIAL CALL BOARD MEETING MOTION? SO MAY 2ND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

OKAY.

I THAT

[IV. Committee Reports (if any)]

LET'S START WITH THE BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.

I WILL COMMENT BEFORE, UH, MR. BATHER MAKES HIS REMARKS.

UH, WE HAD A MEETING ON THE 20TH, WHICH YOU PARTICIPATED IN, IN PART DUE TO A CONFLICT.

UM, THE, THE MEETING MINUTES FOR THAT MEETING WERE SENT OUT TO ALL PARTICIPANTS.

UM, ONLY MR. ROBERSON RESPONDED, SO WE CAN'T CONSIDER THOSE APPROVED AT THIS POINT.

AND THAT WAS MY ONLY COMMENT MEETING WAS, IT WAS, IT WAS ON THE 20TH.

I ATTENDED PARTIALLY BY PHONE AND HE SIGNIFICANT.

THANK YOU.

NEXT IS FACILITIES COMMITTEE, MR. WICKE.

OKAY.

WE JUST INCLUDED A MEETING, UM, ABOUT AN HOUR AGO.

AND IN OUR DISCUSSION WE DISCUSSED THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT, REVIEWED THE STATUS OF ALL EARLY VOTING AND GENERAL ELECTION SITES, DEVELOPED A DETAILED ACTION PLAN FOR USING DETECTIVE COLLEGE OF THE LOW COUNTRY OR EVC, UM, LAYOUT OF THE EQUIPMENT AND, UM, AND STAFFING.

AND WE DEVELOPED A PLAN, UH, FOR, UM, GETTING THE, UH, GETTING THE NOTICE OUT TO, TO THE PUBLIC PERTAINING TO THE NEW EARLY VOTING SITE.

AND WE DISCUSSED ALSO A, UH, PUTTING TOGETHER A DISASTER RECOVERY PLAN FOR THE WHAT IFS AND ALSO START THE, UH, PROCESS, UM, IN MOTION FOR LOOKING FOR A NEW VOTER REGISTRATION HEADQUARTERS.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. WICKY? OKAY, THANK YOU.

UH, NEXT IS LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

I'M THE CHAIRMAN.

I HAVE, UH, NOTHING TO REPORT.

NEXT IS RE PRECINCT COMMITTEE.

MS, DO I HAVE NOTHING? RULES COMMITTEE? I HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT.

UH, FINALLY, THE AD HOC DIRECTOR SEARCH COMMITTEE, UM, IN YOUR PACKET.

WE DO HAVE MEETING MINUTES FROM DECEMBER 17, JANUARY NINE ON FEBRUARY 2ND.

SO THESE HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE AD HOC COMMITTEE.

THERE ARE NO ACTION ITEMS FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS INCLUDED IN THOSE MINUTES.

WE NEED TO VOTE TO ADOPT THINGS.

OKAY, SO CAN I HAVE A, A MOTION TO ADOPT THESE MEETING MINUTES AGAIN FROM, UH, DECEMBER 17, JANUARY NINE, AND FEBRUARY 2ND OF THE AD HOC SEARCH COMMITTEE.

SO MOVED.

SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

A QUICK QUESTION.

YES.

DO WE NEED TO VOTE TO DISSOLVE THAT AD HOC COMMITTEE? YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A DISCUSSION IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND AFTER WE COME OUT, WE'LL, WE'LL DECIDE WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO DISSOLVE IT OR NOT.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE.

SO THAT'S, UH, MR. BACKER, MS. MITCHELL, AND MR. SOWICKI.

OKAY.

UH, NEXT

[V. Unfinished Business]

WELL, THE ONLY UNFINISHED BUSINESS COMMENT I HAVE IS REGARDING THE HOT WASH DISCUSSION THAT TOOK PLACE ON DECEMBER 17TH.

THERE WERE SOME DRAFT MINUTES INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE, HOWEVER, SINCE THAT WAS MORE OF A WORKSHOP, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO REVIEW.

AND THESE MINUTES, UM, STAFF IS GOING TO WORK ON A, A REVISED VERSION THAT'S GOT A HIGH LEVEL ACTION PLAN IN RESPONSE TO THE HOT WASH TOPICS.

SO WE'LL COVER THAT AT THE MARCH MEETING.

IS THERE ANY OTHER UNFINISHED BUSINESS THAT I SHOULD BE AWARE OF? ANYTHING I MISSED? OKAY, LET'S GO

[VI. New Business]

[00:10:01]

AND PERHAPS WE SHOULD DEFER THAT TO YOUR DIRECTOR'S REPORT SINCE WE'RE NOT PREPARED TO VOTE ON THAT TODAY.

UM, BUT I, I WILL, I WILL MAKE A COMMENT.

SINCE WE'RE NOT PREPARED TO VOTE, UH, WE'RE NOT PREPARED TO VOTE BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO LOCATIONS THAT ARE NOT FINALIZED YET.

UM, SO JEAN WILL ADDRESS THOSE IN HER COMMENTS.

AND WE WILL HAVE AN AD HOC, UH, SPECIAL CALLED MEETING ON, WHAT IS IT, TUESDAY THE THIRD.

WE'LL SEND OUT A REMINDER, BUT IT'S GONNA BE TUESDAY THE THIRD AT THREE O'CLOCK.

THREE O'CLOCK.

AND THAT'S A ZOOM CALL.

THE OFFICIAL MEETING LOCATION WILL BE AT 15.

JOHN GALT.

UH, BOARD MEMBERS CAN ATTEND IN PERSON OR YOU CAN PARTICIPATE BY ZOOM.

UM, OKAY.

THE OTHER NEW BUSINESS ITEM I HAVE IS THE POLL WORKER COMMENT FORM.

SO EVERYBODY RECEIVED A COPY OF THAT FORM ON FEBRUARY 21.

WHAT'S THIS ONE HERE? SO THIS IS A FORMAL DOCUMENTED FEEDBACK, UH, METHOD FOR BOARD MEMBERS TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO STAFF ON, UH, POLL WORK, POLL WORKER, UM, EXPERIENCES AND COMMENTS ABOUT THE FACILITIES ON ELECTION DAY.

SO I WOULD, UH, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THIS AS A BOARD FOR ALL FUTURE ELECTIONS.

JUST HAD ONE QUESTION ABOUT IT.

UM, DOWN UNDER THE VARIOUS CATEGORIES, UM, YOU HAVE NAME, THEN YOU HAVE CURRENT POLL MANAGER, POLL CLERK, RETIRE.

RETIRE.

IS THAT, UM, A COMMENT, WOULD THAT BE UNDER A, UM, A COMMENT OR RECOMMENDATION TO RETIRE OR? I, I GET KINDA CONFUSED IN THIS.

YES.

THE STATE, THE CURRENT COLUMN IS AT THIS GIVEN ELECTION, WHAT IS THEIR CURRENT POSITION? FULL CLERK OR FULL MANAGER.

WOULDN'T THAT GO UNDER PM OR C PC? UH, THE NEXT THREE COLUMNS, PMPC OR RETIRE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS.

SO PERHAPS, PERHAPS WE CAN ADD A HEADER ABOVE PMPC AND AND RETIRE THAT.

THAT'S RECOMMENDATION.

RIGHT.

BUT I'M THINKING YOU WOULDN'T NEED CURRENT IF YOU ARE A POLL MANAGER OR A POLL CLERK, WOULD YOU? WELL, THE REC RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE FOR FUTURE ELECTIONS.

SO THE CURRENT COLUMN IS JUST FOR THE CURRENT ELECTION, CURRENT POSITION.

CURRENT POSITION AT CURRENT ELECTION.

AND THEN THE NEXT THREE COLUMNS ARE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NEXT ELECTION.

RIGHT.

AND IT'S NOT KIND OF SELF EXPLANATORY.

THAT'S MY, THAT'S MY ANSWER.

SO THAT'S A VALID COMMENT.

UM, WE CAN MAKE A REVISION TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THAT'S A RECOMMENDATION FOR FUTURE.

AND THEN IF YOU PUT RECOMMENDATION ON THE TOP OF HIM, HE SEE RETIRE COMMENT AND THAT WOULD KINDA MAKE IT ALIGNED WITH ITSELF.

YOU SEE WHAT ALL SAYING.

OKAY.

ALL THOSE WERE WOULD BE THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

OKAY.

SO MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THIS FORM? REVISED MOTION TO ADOPT SECOND.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? NO.

OKAY.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NO.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

UM, NOW

[VII. Director’s Report]

OKAY.

SO THERE ARE LOTS OF UPDATES GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

SO WE HAVE THE LEGIS, I'M GONNA DISCUSS THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATES.

UM, UPCOMING ELECTIONS CANDIDATE FILING, UM, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, UH, SCARE UPDATE, CLERK, HANDS ON TRAINING, COMMUNITY FORUMS, NEW POLL WORKER TRAINING, AND THEN MISCELLANEOUS UPDATES THAT I HAVE.

SO THE FIRST LEGISLATIVE UPDATE IS FOR THE ELECTION SCHEDULE.

THIS IS A BILL THAT'S IN THE SENATE, SENATE BILL EIGHT 80.

AND THIS IS TO, UM, SAY THAT IF SOMEBODY RESIGNS THEIR SEAT PRIOR TO MARCH 1ST, THEN THE SCHEDULE WILL BE, UM, MOVED BACK RATHER THAN HAVING TO DO SEVERAL, UM, SPECIAL ELECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

SO RIGHT NOW IT'S BEEN READ THE THIRD TIME AND SENT TO THE HOUSE ON FEBRUARY 6TH.

SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE

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THE NEXT ONE, H 3 5 51.

THIS WAS ACTUALLY ONE THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BY THE LEGISLATIVE PANEL AT SCARE.

ALSO, THIS, THIS BILL, IF PASSED, WOULD MAKE IT SO THAT CLERKS AND POLL, ALL POLL WORKERS ARE NOT AFFECTED BY, UM, TAXES AND RETIREMENT REDUCTIONS BECAUSE OF IT.

SO THAT WAS, UM, THEY'VE CONSENTED TO A THIRD RATING AS OF FEBRUARY 5TH.

AND I CHECKED YESTERDAY, THERE WASN'T ANY UPDATE AT THIS TIME.

UM, S 1 28 VOTER REGISTRATION IS TO AMEND IT SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE AND PROOF OF THEIR CITIZENSHIP.

SO THIS WOULD BE IN LINE WITH WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO DO NOW AT THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO GET THE REAL ID.

SO THIS IS IN COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW.

UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY'RE WORKING TO REVISE IT AND ALL THIS INFORMATION ON THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATES I GOT FROM SC STATE HOUSE.GOV.

SO YOU COULD TRACK IT YOURSELF IF YOU WOULD LIKE, BUT CURRENTLY THAT IS WHERE IT STANDS AND IT HASN'T MOVED ANY FURTHER THAN THAT.

UM, H 5 0 8 9, EXCUSE ME MA'AM.

SURE.

CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? SURE.

UM, THIS S 1 28 MM-HMM .

THERE IS ANOTHER BILL AT THE US SENATE THAT WILL REQUIRE A DRIVER'S, UM, A BIRTH CERTIFICATE OR A PASSPORT.

HOW CLOSELY ALIGNED IS THIS BILL TO THE NATIONAL BILL? UM, I THINK IF THIS IS NOT REALLY SPECIFIC, I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD ASK YOU.

NO, THIS IS JUST, WHEN YOU LOOK UP THE BILLS, IT GIVES YOU KIND OF AN OVERVIEW OF IT AND THEN IT GOES INTO SPECIFICS DOWN BELOW.

BUT SOMETIMES THOSE AREN'T REVEALED UNTIL IT COMES OUT OF COMMITTEE.

AND SO SINCE IT'S IN COMMITTEE, THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT.

UM, SO ALL WE KNOW IS THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO CREATE A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO PROVE THEIR CITIZENSHIP.

HOW THE VERBIAGE, WHETHER IT ALIGNS WITH THE NATIONAL LEVEL OR NOT, IS NOT CLEAR AT THIS TIME.

BUT YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE CURRENT FORMS OF ID, UM, WELL, HOW WILL THAT IMPACT THAT? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ANYWAY? WE CAN FIND OUT? HOW, WHAT DISCUSSIONS ARE THE WE WOULD HAVE TO GET A HOLD OF THE LEGISLATORS THAT ARE IN THAT COMMITTEE.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT WOULD BE, IT DOESN'T AFFECT PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY REGISTERED.

THAT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT WOULD AFFECT PEOPLE THAT REGISTER IN THE FUTURE.

UM, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S NOT QUITE CLEAR YET BECAUSE IT'S STILL IN COMMITTEE BEING DISCUSSED.

I THINK THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE PROBABLY NEEDS TO MEET SO THAT WE CAN TRACK, UM, THE DISCUSSIONS AND SEE WHETHER WE NEED TO, UM, YEAH, WE COULD CERTAINLY DO THAT.

PERHAPS I'LL, I'LL TRY TO SCHEDULE SOMETHING BEFORE, UM, OR YEAH, IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE NEXT BOARD MEETING.

OKAY.

UM, BUT AT THE 30,000 FOOT VIEW, I THINK BOTH, UH, THIS S 1 28 AND THE SAVE ACT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF DOWNSTREAM ACTIVITY THAT WILL HAVE TO TAKE PLACE TO, TO PRESCRIBE THE IMPLEMENTATION BEFORE IT IMPACTS US.

SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE PLENTY OF NOTICE, UM, IF EITHER OF THESE IS PASSED.

UM, YEAH, I WAS JUST THINKING WE NEED TO KNOW AND NOT YES, REACT, BUT WE NEED TO NEED TO KNOW NOW SO THAT MAYBE WE CAN HAVE SOME IMPACT ON THE LEGISLATION.

OKAY.

I'LL PUT TOGETHER A LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING.

THANK YOU.

THE NEXT ONE IS H 5 0 8 9.

THIS IS THE ONE THAT WOULD CHANGE THE PRECINCT LINES FOR CHIESI.

SO IT WAS INTRODUCED AND READ FOR THE FIRST TIME ON FEBRUARY 4TH, AND THEN IT WAS DEFERRED TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY DELEGATION.

UM, OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT HAS NOT MOVED SINCE FEBRUARY 4TH WHEN THE DELEGATION GOT IT.

BUT THAT IS THE PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT IS REQUIRED TO PASS BEFORE WE CAN MOVE THE LINES AND HAVE A, UM, LOCATION THAT IS SOLELY AT THOSE RESIDENCE IN CH ONE.

I'M SORRY, JEAN.

SO THE STATUS IS SIMPLY FILED AT THIS POINT? YEAH, WELL IT WAS FILED AND READ AND THEN WHEN WE CALLED MR. ROBERTS, OR WHEN WENDELL CALLED MR. ROBERTS YESTERDAY, HE SAID THAT WESTON HAS IT AND HAS, AND NOTHING'S BEEN DONE WITH IT FURTHER.

SO IT'S IN JUDICIARY COMMITTEE NOW.

MM-HMM .

MM-HMM .

AND THEN BILLS THE WATCH, THESE TWO GO HAND IN HAND.

H 3 6, 4 3 AND H 3 3, 1 0.

THEY'RE TWO SEPARATE BILLS.

BUT THIS IS THE ONE THAT THESE BILLS REQUIRE

[00:20:01]

UM, WHICH WOULD CHANGE HOW WE ASSIGN POLL WORKERS.

AND LIKE I SAID, THERE'S BEEN NO MOVEMENT AT THIS TIME.

THEY'VE JUST BEEN FILED AND RIGHT NOW PEOPLE ARE REQUESTING TO BE ADDED TO IT, BUT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED TO PUSH THIS FORWARD AT THIS TIME.

UPCOMING ELECTION, SO MAY 12TH SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT NINE SPECIAL ELECTION.

THIS BILL OR THIS ELECTION AFFECTS 11,437 VOTERS.

EARLY VOTING WILL BE APRIL 27TH TO MAY 8TH, UM, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM EIGHT 30 TO FIVE.

WE'VE SCHEDULED THOSE MANDATORY BRIEFINGS, BOTH OF THEM SINCE IT AFFECTS A SMALLER NUMBER OF VOTERS AND THEREFORE A SMALLER NUMBER OF POLL WORKERS TO APRIL 16TH, WE'LL HAVE A 10:00 AM MANDATORY BRIEFING AND A 1:00 PM MANDATORY BRIEFING.

UM, MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE ONLY HAVE ONE EARLY VOTING CENTER FOR THIS ELECTION, SINCE IT AFFECTS SUCH A SMALL PORTION OF BLUFFTON.

UM, THE DOWNSIDE TO THAT IS BLUFFTON EARLY VOTING CENTER IS UP IN THE AIR.

WE DON'T KNOW WHERE IT WILL BE YET, SO YOU CAN'T REALLY VOTE ON WHAT LOCATION WE'LL USE.

'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A BLUFFTON LOCATION AT THIS TIME.

SO WE'LL TABLE THAT AND COVER IT ON THE THIRD.

CORRECT.

UM, THE LOCATIONS THAT ARE LISTED ON THERE ARE THE LOCATIONS AND PRECINCTS THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THE, BY THIS ELECTION.

THOSE ARE THE LOCATIONS WHERE THOSE VOTERS TYPICALLY VOTE ON ANY GIVEN ELECTION, BUT FOUR OF THEM ARE SCHOOLS.

WE SHOULD KNOW BY THE END OF THE WEEK IF THEY'RE GOING TO ALLOW US TO USE THE SCHOOL.

TYPICALLY THE ANSWER IS NO.

UM, BUT WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF THOSE LOCATIONS WHERE THERE'S ONLY 300 VOTERS IN THAT LOCATION, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT COMBINING IT.

SO WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE THOSE LOCATIONS FINALIZED ALSO BY THE END OF THE WEEK SO THAT YOU GUYS CAN VOTE ON THEM.

AT THE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING ON TUESDAY.

WHAT'S TYPICAL TURNOUT FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION LIKE THIS ON A SCHOOL DISTRICT? PERCENTAGE WISE? IS THIS, THIS ONE MAY BE SOMEWHAT INTERESTING.

UM, THE, THE PERSON LEFT EARLY AND THERE WERE A LOT OF, UH, WHAT WAS, ALI COULD PROBABLY TALK ABOUT THIS BETTER THAN I CAN.

NO, I, WE DON'T NEED THE DETAIL.

I JUST WONDERED WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE EXPECTED TURNOUT NOW OUT OF 11,400 VOTERS, DO YOU THINK WE MIGHT GET A THOUSAND OR IS THAT OPTIMISTIC? WE ARE OPTIMISTICALLY THINKING A COUPLE THOUSAND.

YEAH, COUPLE THOUSAND, MAYBE TWO.

IT DEPENDS ON WHO'S RUNNING TOO.

THAT'S THE THING.

SO THAT'S 20%, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD FOR SPECIAL ELECTION.

YEP.

LIKE YOU SAID, DEPENDS ON WHO'S RUNNING AND THAT CANDIDATE FILING ENDS ON MARCH 24TH.

AND WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ABSENTEE VOTING AND OUR PREPAREDNESS FOR THAT? THEY WOULD HAVE TO CALL US AND REQUEST IT.

TYPICALLY THE SPECIAL, UM, THE SPECIAL ELECTIONS, THE PARTICIPATION OF LOW.

SO THEREFORE PEOPLE CALL US FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

BUT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT.

THE NOTICES HAVE GONE OUT THAT THERE IS A SPECIAL ELECTION.

UM, CHRIS, DO YOU KNOW IF WE'VE GOTTEN ANY REQUESTS FOR ABSENTEE FOR THAT ELECTION? THE ONES THAT WE'VE GOTTEN SO FAR ARE BASICALLY THE YEAR-ROUND FOLKS.

SO OF COURSE THEY'RE GOING TO GET IT FOR IT.

THEY MENTIONED IF THEY WANT IT WHILE THEY'RE REQUESTING FOR YEAR ROUND.

SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS ELECTION ONLY.

NO, WE HAVEN'T, BUT MOST PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN JUNE AND NOVEMBER AND IF THEY'RE IN THE BLUFFTON AREA, WE CHECK TO SEE IF THEY'RE FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD.

AND IF THE R WOULD SAY, WELL YOU WANT THIS FOR IT.

AND USUALLY THEY'D SAY YES.

'CAUSE LIKE I SAID, THEY'RE THE YEAR-ROUND GROUP.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

OKAY.

OUR NEXT ELECTION IS THE JUNE 9TH STATEWIDE PRIMARY EARLY VOTING FOR THAT BEGINS.

UM, THOSE DATES ARE WRONG.

THE EARLY VOTING FOR THAT IS MAY 26TH TO JUNE 5TH, AND THAT'LL BE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

ALSO FROM EIGHT 30 TO FIVE, WE'LL HAVE FOUR EARLY VOTING CENTERS FOR THAT ONE.

BUT AGAIN, WHICH ONES WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THE BUFORT EARLY VOTING CENTER RIGHT NOW IS TO BE DETERMINED.

WE'RE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH TCL TO FINALIZE THAT LOCATION, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN DONE YET.

AGAIN, HOPING FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE END OF THE WEEK.

BLUFFTON, I ALREADY SPOKE ON THAT AND WE, WE HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR USEB, HILTON HEAD AND THE ST.

ELNA LIBRARY STILL.

UM, MANDATORY BRIEFINGS ARE ALSO, YES MA'AM.

UM, ONE QUICK CLARIFICATION.

[00:25:01]

YEAH.

26TH, YES.

ALRIGHT, THEN WE HAVE THE NOVEMBER 3RD GENERAL ELECTION, WHICH EARLY VOTING START, THAT'LL BE ON NOVEMBER 3RD, EARLY VOTING'S OCTOBER 19TH TO OCTOBER 31ST.

UM, THAT WILL BE MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY FROM EIGHT 30 TO SIX SINCE IT'S A GENERAL ELECTION.

AND AGAIN, THE EARLY VOTING CENTERS ARE TO BE DETERMINED AT THIS POINT.

THE MANDATORY BRIEFINGS ARE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 5TH THROUGH 10TH.

AND I SAY TENTATIVELY BECAUSE THE MANDATORY BRIEFINGS FOR THE PRIMARY OR SCHEDULED FOR MAY 11TH THROUGH THE 16TH AND THEN WE HAD A SPECIAL ELECTION COME UP THAT PUSHED THEM BACK A WEEK.

SO, AND THEN JUST HOPEFULLY WE DON'T, BUT IN CASE SOMETHING SIMILAR HAPPENS, THAT'S THE TENTATIVE WEEK, I PLAN TO DO THE MANDATORY BRIEF CANDIDATE FILING.

SO THE PARTISAN FILING PERIOD FOR 2026 IS NOON ON MARCH 16TH TO NOON ON MARCH 30TH.

NOW THIS IS GOING TO GET A LITTLE CONFUSING BECAUSE MARCH 31ST, OR ON MARCH 24TH IS THE DEADLINE FOR THE SPECIAL ELECTION.

SO IT FALLS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARTISAN FILING PERIOD.

SO COMMUNICATION IS GONNA BE KEY ON OUR PART FOR THAT TOO.

WHEN WE PUT OUT THE NOTICES ABOUT DEADLINES TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE SPECIAL ELECTION CANDIDATE FILING, FILING PERIOD ENDING, AND THE PARTISAN FILING PERIOD FOR THAT TWO WEEKS.

BECAUSE NON-PARTISAN CAN, CANDIDATES CAN FILE ALL YEAR LONG.

SO THE DEADLINE FOR NON-PARTISAN CANDIDATES FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION, THEY CAN FILE ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL AUGUST 17TH.

THAT'S A MONDAY.

OKAY.

SO COMMUNICATION'S GONNA BE KEY ON THAT.

MUNICIPALITIES, UM, THEIR DEADLINE TO FILE IS TYPICALLY 45 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION WHERE TO FILE FEDERAL, STATEWIDE AND MULTI-COUNTY OFFICES WILL FILE AT THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION.

STATE SENATE, AND STATE HOUSE CAN EITHER FILE AT THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSION OR IN THE COUNTY IN WHICH THEY RESIDE.

AND THEN COUNTYWIDE AND SCHOOL BOARD WILL, THEY WILL FILE AT THE COUNTY IN WHICH THEY RESIDE.

SO OUR OFFICE PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICTS FILE AT THEIR OWN PSD COMMISSIONS AND THEN MUNICIPALITIES FILE AT THEIR CITY OR TOWN HALLS RESPECTIVELY.

UM, WE HAVE GIVEN YOU ONE OF THESE BOOKLETS.

THIS IS BASICALLY OUR PRESENTATION THAT WE'RE GIVING.

WE'RE DOING A FILING, A CANDIDATE FILING WORKSHOP NEXT WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4TH.

SO THIS IS OUR PRESENTATION THAT WE'VE TURNED IN A BOOKLET FOR THESE CANDIDATES THAT ATTEND TO PICK UP AND WE CAN USE IT AS A RESOURCE, BUT IT'S BASICALLY HOW TO FILE, WHAT TO EXPECT, WHAT IS NEEDED.

AND WE WILL ALSO HAVE THE FILING PACKETS AVAILABLE AT THIS WORKSHOP FOR THE CANDIDATES TO PICK IT UP AND ASK US ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY MAY HAVE.

YEAH, I LIKE THIS IN A BINDER.

OKAY, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THOSE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN IN OUR OFFICE, WE GOT A BIT OF A FACELIFT.

OKAY.

SO WE GOT NEW PAINT IN THE TRAINING ROOM, THE HALLWAY, THE CONFERENCE ROOM, AND WENDELL'S IN MY OFFICE.

NEW CARPETS IN THAT ENTIRE SIDE OF THE BUILDING AS WELL.

THE HALLWAY GOING BACK TO THE RESTROOMS HAS BEEN REPLACED.

UM, AND WE ALSO HAD, WE'RE HAVING NEW BADGE ACCESS POINTS PUT IN ON THREE OF THE DOORS THAT DIDN'T PREVIOUSLY HAVE THEM, UM, FOR OUR GENERATOR.

ALTHOUGH WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WE CANNOT EXPECT TO HAVE THE GENERATOR UNTIL FY 27, THEY HAVE PUT IN THE BRACKET AND DONE THE WIRING FOR OUR BUILDING FOR WHEN THAT COMES IN.

AND IT IS ALSO EQUIPPED, THEY'VE BOUGHT A LARGER GENERATOR THAT WILL TEMPORARILY, UM, SUPPLY POWER TO OUR ENTIRE BUILDING INSTEAD OF ONE BUILDING AND THAT SAME BRACKET, UM, INSULATION POINT FOR OUR PERMANENT GENERATOR, IT WILL HOOK UP INTO THAT.

SO THE WIRING IS ALREADY COMPLETED FOR THAT ONGOING.

THE SAFETY GLASS AT THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING, UM, IS NEARLY COMPLETE.

HALF OF IT IS FINISHED AND WE'VE BEEN GIVEN A MIDDLE OF MARCH TIMELINE FOR WHEN THAT PROJECT CAN BE COMPLETED.

AND THEN OF COURSE THE FRAMING AROUND IT, KIND OF

[00:30:01]

UM, WAREHOUSE FLOORING IN THE OLD WAREHOUSE, TWO BIDS ARE IN, THEY'RE WAITING ON THE THIRD BID AND THEY DO NOT HAVE AN ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME FOR THAT.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THOSE ARE ALL THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE AT THIS TIME.

SCARE UPDATE.

WE HAD EIGHT STAFF MEMBERS AND THREE BOARD MEMBERS ATTEND THE SCARE CONFERENCE.

UM, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY ELSE IN ATTENDANCE, BUT I REALLY FELT LIKE THIS SCARE CONFERENCE COMPARED TO A LOT OF THEM THAT I'VE BEEN TO WAS VERY INFORMATIVE, VERY EDUCATIONAL.

I THINK THE BREAKOUT SESSIONS WERE FANTASTIC.

AMEN TO THAT.

I ENJOYED IT.

YEAH.

UM, THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION TOUCHED ON A FEW MAIN THINGS, WHICH WAS MUNICIPAL ELECTION DAY, WHICH THERE IS A BILL THAT HASN'T MOVED IN A YEAR, WHICH IS S 37 UP THERE.

AND WHAT THAT IS, IS SCARE WOULD LIKE THERE TO BE A SPRING AND A FALL DATE THAT, UM, SPECIAL ELECTIONS AND MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS CAN BE HELD ON TO ALLEVIATE THIS.

SOME COUNTIES HAVE ELECTIONS IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY MONTH BECAUSE OF SPECIAL ELECTIONS.

SO THAT WAS A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION.

THE LEGISLATORS DIDN'T THINK THAT THAT WOULD MOVE THIS YEAR THOUGH.

UM, POLL WORKER PAY, UM, THEY DIDN'T THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE AN INCREASE THIS YEAR EITHER.

BUT THEY ALSO BROUGHT UP ONE OF THE ONES THAT I ALREADY DISCUSSED, H 3 50 51, WHICH WOULD BE A TAX EXEMPTION FOR POLL WORKERS.

AND THAT WAS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE ON FEBRUARY 10TH.

AND THEN COMBINING POLLING LOCATIONS WAS A BIG TOPIC.

UM, WE PROBABLY SPENT AN HOUR OR TWO ON THIS ONE ALONE DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND I GOT UP AND SPOKE BECAUSE THEIR CONCERN IS THE LEGISLATORS, UM, THEIR STANCE IS NO, WE DON'T WANNA COMBINE POLLING LOCATIONS.

BUT THEIR CONCERN IS THE MORE RURAL AREAS WHERE THEY HAVE ONLY ONE BUILDING, THEIR CONCERN IS IF THEY GIVE PERMISSION FOR THIS, THEN WHAT'LL HAPPEN IS THOSE COUNTIES WITH POLLING LOCATIONS LIKE THAT WILL TAKE THAT ONE AWAY TO COMBINE IT WITH ONE FURTHER AWAY.

UM, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE ASKING.

WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS FOR THE LEGISLATION TO BE CHANGED SO THAT HOW WE COMBINE POLLING LOCATIONS IN SUN CITY BECAUSE THERE'S NO FACILITIES THAT WE CAN COMBINE IN THAT WAY.

SO IT WAS A BIG TOPIC.

THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN.

UM, THEIR TAKEAWAY FOR US WAS CONTINUE TO TALK TO YOUR COUNTY DELEGATION.

SO WE WILL DO THAT.

UM, WE ALSO, ONE OF THE SCARE TOPICS IS WE WOULD LIKE TO START TABULATING EARLY VOTING AT THE BEGINNING OF ELECTION DAY LIKE WE DO FOR THE MAIL-IN ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

THEY WERE REALLY HESITANT TO EVEN TALK ABOUT IT.

THEY SAID IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

UM, THEY SAID THIS IS WHERE THE CONSPIRACY THEORISTS COME OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE WORRIED THAT, UM, IF TABULATION ON THE EARLY VOTING IS DONE EARLIER IN THE DAY, THEN WORD WILL GET OUT THAT WHO IS AHEAD OF THE RACE AND THEREFORE IT COULD INFLUENCE ELECTION DAY VOTING.

THAT'S THEIR CONCERN.

UM, CURRENTLY WE CLOSE THE EARLY VOTING CENTERS AT THE END OF EARLY VOTING, BUT WE DON'T CLOSE THE POLLS ON THOSE MACHINES LIKE WE DO AT ALL THE PRECINCTS ON ELECTION DAY.

SO IT'S 7:00 PM WHEN THE POLLS CLOSE ON ELECTION DAY, THAT'S WHEN THE BUTTON IS PUSHED, SO TO SPEAK.

AND DEPENDING ON HOW MANY VOTERS WE HAD, LIKE WE HAD A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGH TURNOUT DURING THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION IN 24, IT TAKES A VERY LONG TIME.

SO THAT'S WHY THE REQUEST WAS MADE TO START EARLIER IN THE DAY.

LEGISLATORS HAVE BASICALLY SAID, NO, NOT RIGHT NOW.

ANYWAYS.

UM, AND THEN H 3 50 18, THEY BROUGHT THIS ONE UP ALSO, WHICH UM, ALLOWS SECURITY PROTECTION FOR ELECTION OFFICIALS.

HARSHER PENALTIES.

I LOOKED IT UP.

IT HAS NOT MOVED IN A LONG TIME EITHER.

BUT THIS WOULD, UM, ALLOW FOR CERTAIN PROTECTIONS FOR THOSE THAT WORK IN THE ELECTION FIELD.

AND AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, HARSHER PENALTIES FOR THOSE THAT THREATEN VIOLENCE OF ANY KIND TOWARDS AN ELECTION OFFICIAL.

SO THEY BROUGHT THAT ONE UP AND TOLD US, KIND OF KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

THE KEY TAKEAWAYS THAT I TOOK FROM SCARE WAS THAT WE NEED AN UPDATED CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS PLAN, A COOP

[00:35:01]

I ATTENDED EVERY SINGLE SESSION ON EVERY SINGLE DAY AT THE SCARE CONFERENCE AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM BROUGHT THIS UP AT ONE POINT.

UM, SO WHEN WE GOT BACK TO THE OFFICE, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN UPDATED ONE.

SO WE ARE WORKING ON THAT.

I HAVE PUT JAMIE IN CHARGE OF CREATING A TEAM TO KIND OF GET THIS TOGETHER AND I'VE REACHED OUT TO SOME OF THE OTHER COUNTIES THAT I KNOW HAVE ONE AND ARE ASKING FOR A COPY OF THEIRS TO HELP US WITH THE TEMPLATE.

I'VE ALSO TAKEN THE TEMPLATE FROM THE US ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION, WHICH IS GREAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN JUST PLUG IN AND USE IT.

I MEAN YOU CAN, BUT I'M HOPING NOT TO.

AS SOMEONE ONCE TOLD ME, REINVENT THE WHEEL.

BUT THAT ONE IS A GREAT RESOURCE ANYWAYS BECAUSE IT TELLS YOU THE WHO, WHAT, WHERE AND WHY OF THAT SECTION.

SO IT HELPS US UNDERSTAND THE TYPE OF INFORMATION SHOULD BE IN IT.

SO WE ARE WORKING ON THAT AND WE WILL CONFER WITH THE COUNTY AGENCIES, SO THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THE STATE, UM, BEAUFORT COUNTY ADMINISTRATION ON FACILITIES AND WHAT THEY DO IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.

AND THEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.

UM, I HAVE ASKED JAMIE TO DO, WE HAVE ELECTIONS COMING UP AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO, AT LEAST BY THE END OF 2026 CALENDAR YEAR, HAVE THE HAVE A DRAFT COMPLETED FOR YOU TO REVIEW BY BY THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON FOR THAT CLERK.

HANDS ON TRAINING.

SO WE'VE HAD TWO SESSIONS ALREADY.

FEEDBACK IS FANTASTIC.

THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING THAT, UM, BASICALLY FIVE OF US HAVE DEVELOPED.

UM, MIKE VERNON, CHRIS WENDELL AND MYSELF ALL SAT TOGETHER AND WE CREATED THIS TRAINING AND IT'S COMPREHENSIVE FROM THE VERY FIRST THING THAT THEY DO AS A CLERK, WHICH IS WHEN WE SEND THEM THEIR POLL WORKER LISTS UP UNTIL CLERK SUPPLY DROP-OFFS.

UM, FOUR OF US ARE TRAINING.

UM, WENDELL AND MYSELF ARE DOING THE INSTRUCTIONAL PORTION OF THIS CLASS AND VERNON AND MICHAEL ARE DOING THE HANDS-ON PRACTICAL PORTION.

BUT LIKE I SAID, THE FEEDBACK THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE CLERKS THAT HAVE ATTENDED SO FAR IS VERY WELL RECEIVED.

SO WE HAVE 11 ATTENDEES IN THE FIRST ONE, AND THEN THE ONE WE JUST HAD ON MONDAY HAD, UM, 15 ORIGINALLY REGISTERED, BUT WE HAD 14 ATTENDEES, 12 OF THEM WERE CLERKS AND THEN WE HAD TWO BOARD MEMBERS ATTEND THOSE CLASSES.

SO OUR GOAL WITH THESE IS TO INCREASE THEIR UNDERSTANDING, INCREASE THEIR CONFIDENCE, UM, AND TO HAVE MORE TRAINED CLERKS AVAILABLE BECAUSE EMERGENCIES HAPPEN.

SO THE HARDEST PART IS WHEN A CLERK HAS AN EMERGENCY COME UP AND THEY TELL US THAT THEY'RE NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO WORK AT THE ELECTION IS FINDING SOMEBODY THAT IS CAPABLE OF BEING THE CLERKS.

SO THESE CLASSES, THERE'S 12 OF THEM TOTAL AND I HAVE 'EM LISTED THERE.

AND THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT DAYS AND TIMES.

THEY'RE DIFFERENT DAYS OF THE WEEK.

SOME ARE DURING THE DAY, SOME ARE IN THE AFTERNOON, SOME ARE AT NIGHT, SOME ARE ON WEEKENDS.

UM, BECAUSE WE TRIED TO CREATE A SCHEDULE THAT WOULD ALLOW MORE PEOPLE TO ATTEND.

SO THE NUMBER OF SLOTS WE HAD WILL ALLOW ALL OF OUR CURRENT CLERKS AND UP TO 35 PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT CLERKS ALREADY.

THAT COULD BE TO TAKE THE TRAINING SO THAT THEY'RE PREPARED IF THEY'RE CALLED UPON IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

ALL OF THESE CLASSES ARE AT THE JOHN GOLF OFFICE? YES.

BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF EQUIPMENT REQUIRED.

I HAVE TO, I HAVE TO ATTEST, I TOOK IT ON MONDAY AND IT WAS, IT WAS FANTASTIC.

OH, GREAT.

INTERACTIVE, VERY INFORMATIVE.

RIGHT.

UM, EVEN THOUGH IT, IT'S FOUR HOURS AT A TIME, REALLY WENT BY FAST GENE.

HAVE YOU, HOW MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVE NEVER BEEN A CLERK HAVE SIGNED UP? QUITE A FEW.

GOOD.

BECAUSE I SENT OUT BASICALLY A CALL SAYING IF YOU, WELL, BASICALLY IT SAYS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A CLERK OR IF YOU'VE BEEN AN ASSISTANT CLERK, UM, TO REACH OUT TO ME.

AND SO BASED ON THE NUMBER, AS BASED ON THE EXPERIENCE THEY HAVE, IF SOMEBODY'S ONLY WORKED A COUPLE OF ELECTIONS, I ASK THEM TO HOLD OFF UNTIL THEY'VE WORKED A COUPLE MORE ELECTIONS.

BUT IF THEY'VE WORKED FOUR AND FIVE ELECTIONS AND ARE INTERESTED IN BEING A CLERK, I ALLOWED THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP FOR A CLASS.

SO QUITE A FEW.

IF I HAD TO GUESS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, 15 OR 20.

OKAY.

THAT'S THE NUMBER.

CAN I JUST SAY SOMETHING? YES.

AND, AND AS MIKE SAID, I ATTEND THAT CLASS TOO.

AND WHAT REALLY IMPRESSED ME IS TO SEE THE ENTHUSIASM OF THE FOLKS THAT WAS THERE.

THEY WERE REALLY INTO THE MACHINES BECAUSE THEY FELT LIKE KNOWING HOW TO PUT EVERYTHING BACK

[00:40:01]

AND, UM, THEY WERE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT DOING THAT.

AND I WAS WALKING AROUND LOOKING AND LISTENING AND, UM, AND I, AND I HOPE THAT WE HAVE THAT SAME ENTHUSIASM GOING FORWARD AND I WILL BE DROPPING IN .

HAVE ALL BOARD MEMBERS SIGNED UP FOR A CLASS? I HAVEN'T NOT YET.

GET SIGNED UP.

'CAUSE YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT AS A BOARD MEMBER IN CASE YOU NEED TO ASSIST YOUR CLERKS WITH QUESTIONS, PLEASE EVERYBODY SIGN UP FOR A CLASS.

AND WHAT WAS IMPRESSIVE TOO IS THEY STARTED TO, UM, MAKE THE PROCESS OF PACKING UP AT NIGHT MUCH EASIER THAN BEFORE.

IT WAS BROKEN DOWN IN, IN PARTS AND EXPLAINED TO THEM MUCH EASIER THAN BEFORE.

RIGHT.

SO THERE SHOULDN'T BE AS MANY, UM, UM, OR FIVE AS AS THEY'VE HAD IN THE PAST.

YEAH.

OKAY.

COMMUNITY FORUMS. SO WE HAVE HAD FOUR.

UM, WE DID OUR FIRST ONE AT THE MAIN OFFICE IN BEAUFORT, WHICH I THINK HAD PRETTY MUCH THE HIGHEST ATTENDANCE I'VE EVER SEEN SINCE I'VE WORKED AT THE OFFICE.

UM, FOR ONE UP UNTIL WE GOT TO THE ONE LAST WEEK.

BUT WE HAD 30 ATTENDEES AT THAT ONE.

A LARGE PORTION OF THEM WERE POLL WORKERS, WHICH IS OKAY 'CAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES LEARN ABOUT ELECTIONS AND THE PROCESSES AND THE LOCATIONS THROUGH OUR POLL WORKERS.

SO I WAS GLAD THAT, UM, SO MANY ATTENDED.

IF I HAD TO GUESS, I THINK LIKE OF THOSE 30, 15, 12 OR 15 WERE POLL WORKERS.

UM, AND THEN WE DID THE EVENT ON THE 17TH FOR THE PANHELLENIC COUNCIL AND WE HAD SEVEN ATTENDEES.

THE BLUFFTON LIBRARY LAST WEEK WAS SHOCKING.

IN A GOOD WAY, IN A VERY GOOD WAY.

THE LAST TIME I DID IT, ONE AT BLUFFTON, WE HAD ONE PERSON AND IT WAS ELAINE.

MM-HMM .

SO, UM, IT WAS INCREDIBLE.

WE HAD PUT OUT TWO ROWS OF CHAIRS AND THEN PEOPLE JUST KEPT COMING.

UM, I THINK IT'S, LIKE I SAID, THIS YEAR I REALLY FOCUSED ON, WELL ADVERTISED ANY PLACE THAT I COULD THINK OF.

I WAS SENDING THE FLYERS.

UM, AND THEN THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, THEY HAVE A NORTH OF THE BROAD AND A SOUTH OF THE BROAD CHAPTER.

SO THE SOUTH OF THE BROAD LADY, A LADY BY THE NAME OF, I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT'S HIGH C OR HEIGHTS, BUT SHE HAD REACHED OUT TO ME AND SHE HAD ASKED ME, THIS IS AFTER SHE SAW THE FLYER IN JANUARY, AND SHE HAD ASKED ME IF I WOULD BE WILLING TO GO TO MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL AND SPEAK TO THE STUDENTS THERE BECAUSE THEY HAD DEVELOPED A, UM, LEAGUE OF STUDENT VOTERS ASSOCIATION THERE AND THERE'S ABOUT 17 MEMBERS OF THAT ASSOCIATION.

AND I SAID YES.

AND SO SHE STARTED WORKING WITH THE SCHOOLS AND GOING THROUGH THE CHANNELS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO.

AND IT DIDN'T END UP HAPPENING FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER ON THE SCHOOL'S END.

BUT WE HAD SIX OF THOSE MEMBERS SHOW UP AT THE BLUFFTON LOCATION STUDENTS AND THE ONES THAT WERE THERE ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE AND THEY TOOK OUT ALL THE HANDOUTS AND FLYERS.

THEY WERE ASKING QUESTIONS.

IT WAS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE TO SEE THAT.

AND THEN LOW COUNTRY HAPPENINGS IN SUN CITY ON FRIDAY.

THIS WAS REQUESTED BY COUNCILMAN PASSMAN, UM, AND SET UP IN JANUARY.

AND THAT HAD A GREAT TURNOUT AS WELL OF 26 ATTENDEES.

AND THEN ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, WE HAVE SEVERAL COMING UP.

THE ONES THAT ARE SCHEDULED THROUGH OUR OFFICE ARE THE MARCH 19TH, APRIL 9TH, AND APRIL 16TH SESSIONS.

THE OTHER ONES WERE REQUESTED, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, THE UNITED METHODIST MEN'S GROUP AND THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

THOSE WERE REQUESTED FROM THOSE ORGANIZATIONS.

SO WE WILL BE SPEAKING THE FIRST PART OF THEIR MEETINGS.

SO IS THAT TO SAY THAT THOSE PARTICULAR MEETINGS ARE NOT OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC? THOSE ONES ARE NOT NEW POLL WORKER TRAINING.

THIS YEAR I HAVE HAD TWO CLASSES, UM, JANUARY 24TH AND FEBRUARY 18TH.

BETWEEN THOSE TWO CLASSES, 40 PEOPLE WERE TRAINED.

UM, FOR THE FEBRUARY 18TH CLASS 27 WERE REGISTERED.

LIKE FOUR DIDN'T SHOW UP.

BUT THEN PEOPLE THAT HAD NOT REGISTERED FOR UH, WAIT SEVEN DIDN'T SHOW UP.

AND THEN PEOPLE THAT WERE NOT REGISTERED HAD SHOWN UP FOR THE CLASS.

SO WE TRAINED 21, THEY WERE IN OUR SYSTEM.

THEY JUST HADN'T REGISTERED.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE I APPLIED YESTERDAY AND SHOWED UP TO THE CLASS TODAY.

SO, UM, BUT THOSE

[00:45:01]

ON THE NEXT SLIDE, JUST LIKE LAST YEAR, I'VE BROKEN DOWN, UM, HOW MANY FROM THESE CLASSES LIVE IN EACH OF YOUR AREAS? AND SO MR. BACKER, OF THOSE 40 YOU ENDED UP WITH NINE.

UM, THE SUN CITY AND THE WEST BLUFFTON AREAS, WHICH CURRENTLY HAS A BOARD VACANCY IS NINE.

MS, DO TWO.

MR. FORD? TWO MS. JOHNSON.

THREE.

MS. MITCHELL, FIVE.

MR. SWEENEY.

TWO.

AND THEN MR. SOWICKI.

FIVE.

AND THEN MR. LUCAS, YOU GOT THREE.

SO THAT IS, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE THOSE NUMBERS AS WE HAVE THE CLASSES.

MISCELLANEOUS UPDATE, THE FY 27 BUDGET REQUEST WAS SUBMITTED ON FEBRUARY 20TH.

THAT IS THE DEADLINE.

AND I HAVE BEEN PLUGGING TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT I'VE COME IN CONTACT WITH SINCE THEN.

UM, THAT WE HAVE AN INCREASE.

AND WHY? SO WHEN I DID THE LOW COUNTRY HAPPENINGS FORUM AND SUN CITY ON FRIDAY, UM, COUNCILMAN PASSMAN AND TO BENIC WERE THERE.

SO I WAS MENTIONING IT TO THEM AND THEY HAD SAID THEY WERE ALREADY AWARE OF IT.

AND SO I JUST SPOKE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.

SO TIME WILL TELL ON THAT.

AVAILABILITY.

SURVEYS FOR POLL WORKERS ABLE TO WORK THE MAY 12TH SPECIAL AND THE JUNE 9TH PRIMARY HAVE GONE OUT.

UM, ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE MAY 12TH ELECTION HAVE BEGUN.

JUNE 9TH ASSIGNMENTS HAVE NOT YET BEGUN, BUT THEY WILL WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.

UM, SEC, THEIR PRIMARY WORKSHOPS.

SO IF, IF YOU DON'T KNOW PRIOR TO LARGE ELECTIONS, UM, STATEWIDE PRIMARIES AND GENERAL ELECTIONS, THE SEC, WHAT THEY DO, WHAT THEY CALL PRIMARY WORKSHOPS AND, UM, GENERAL ELECTION WORKSHOPS.

SO THE ONES FOR THIS YEAR, FOR THE PRIMARIES, THE PRIMARY WORKSHOP FOR THE BOARD AND DIRECTOR IS, I MEAN, FOR STAFF AND DIRECTOR IS APRIL 20TH.

AND THE BOARD WORKSHOP IS APRIL 27TH.

I HAVE PUT IN A REQUEST WITH BETHANY BARBER WHO'S IN CHARGE OF, UM, SETTING UP THE TRAINING CLASSES TO FIND OUT HOW MANY ARE GONNA BE ALLOWED.

'CAUSE THEY USUALLY PUT A LIMIT ON HOW MANY CAN ATTEND FROM EACH COUNTY.

UM, SHE SAID AT THIS TIME SHE DIDN'T KNOW, BUT SHE SHOULD KNOW BY THE TIME SIGNUPS ARE ALLOWED, WHICH IS MARCH 12TH.

SO ANY CHANCE WE COULD ATTEND VIRTUALLY? NOT TYPICALLY.

TYPICALLY IT'S AN IN-PERSON, BUT I WILL DOUBLE CHECK ON THAT.

SO THE APRIL 27TH ONE WILL BE IN COLUMBIA.

IT WILL BE, UM, JEAN, IF, UH, THERE'S AN OPENING, I'D BE WILLING TO ATTEND.

OKAY.

I HAVEN'T GONE TO ONE YET.

I WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND TO THIS.

USUALLY A LOT OF INFORMATION IS RAPIDLY PRESENTED AND YOU JUST REALLY HAVE TO FOCUS ALL DAY THAT THEY TAKE UP EVERY MINUTE OF THE DAY.

DOES THAT COUNT IF HE ATTENDED, WOULD IT COUNT AS PART OF MR. LUCAS'S? WE ASKED THAT LAST YEAR, EVEN THOUGH IT DOESN'T, UNFORTUNATELY.

GETTING, IT DOESN'T COUNT FOR GETTING CERTIFIED.

YEAH.

SO, UM, AS SOON AS I KNOW HOW MANY STAFF AND DIRECTOR THEY'RE GONNA ALLOW TO ATTEND FROM OUR COUNTY AND HOW MANY BOARD I WILL REACH OUT TO YOU ALL AND WE CAN FIGURE OUT, OR YOU GUYS CAN FIGURE OUT AMONGST YOURSELF WHO WILL ATTEND AND WE'LL GET YOU REGISTERED FOR IT.

OKAY.

AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO.

VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

OKAY.

MAY I HAVE A

[VIII. Executive Session: Personnel]

MR. LUCAS? SECOND.

SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

PUBLIC SESSION.

UH, THERE WERE NO VOTES TAKEN DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION.

UM,

[IX. Matters Arising Out of Executive Session]

SO THAT'LL BE THE LAST, UH, THIS IS THE LAST MEETING THAT WE'LL WE'LL HAVE THEM ADDRESS

[00:50:01]

OKAY.

[X. Closing Comments]

SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON BETWEEN, UM, FACILITIES, THE VOTING CENTERS, UM, POLL WORKER TRAINING, POLL CLERK TRAINING.

UM, I APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT OF THE BOARD MEMBERS.

AND AGAIN, I, I ASK THAT EVERY ONE OF YOU SIGN UP FOR ONE OF THE POLL CLERK TRAINING CLASSES.

UM, AND THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAD FOR CLOSING COMMENTS.

DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS WE WANTED TO ASK? JEAN, IF YOU COULD PUT TOGETHER ANY? YEAH.

THANK YOU.

UM, JEAN, COULD YOU, UH, PLEASE PUT TOGETHER A SCHEDULE OF THE, UH, COMMITTEE MEETINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SINCE, UH, THE, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING? SO THERE ARE FOUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS THERE TODAY.