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BYRD v. NESBIT, 2016-MO-024. (2016)

Court: Supreme Court of South Carolina Number: inscco20160713575 Visitors: 18
Filed: Jul. 13, 2016
Latest Update: Jul. 13, 2016
Summary: THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 268(d)(2), SCACR. PER CURIAM . This case arises from the Bishopville Municipal Election Commission's decision to invalidate a May 2015 city council election. Edward Byrd, Ken Currie, Mike Morrow, and Willie Mae Muldrow—winning candidates in the election—appeal the circuit court's order affirming the Commission's decision, arguing the circuit court should have
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THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 268(d)(2), SCACR.

This case arises from the Bishopville Municipal Election Commission's decision to invalidate a May 2015 city council election. Edward Byrd, Ken Currie, Mike Morrow, and Willie Mae Muldrow—winning candidates in the election—appeal the circuit court's order affirming the Commission's decision, arguing the circuit court should have reversed the Commission's finding that votes were counted in secret in violation of article II, section 1 of the South Carolina Constitution. We affirm pursuant to Rule 220(b)(1), SCACR, and the following authorities: S.C. Const. art. II, § 1 ("All elections by the people shall be by secret ballot, but the ballots shall not be counted in secret."); S.C. Code Ann. § 5-15-120 (2004) ("Immediately upon the closing of the polls at any municipal election, the managers shall count publicly the votes cast. . . ."); Gecy v. Bagwell, 372 S.C. 237, 241, 642 S.E.2d 569, 571 (2007) ("In municipal election cases, we review the judgment of the circuit court upholding or overturning the decision of a municipal election commission to correct errors of law. The review does not extend to findings of fact unless those findings are wholly unsupported by the evidence."); McKnight v. Smith, 182 S.C. 378, 383, 189 S.E. 361, 363 (1937) ("The law provides . . . that the managers of an election shall publicly count the votes; and persons desiring to see such count are not required to seek or receive permission from any one to do so.").

AFFIRMED.

PLEICONES, C.J., BEATTY, KITTREDGE, HEARN and FEW, JJ., concur.

Source:  Leagle

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