WALHALLA — At least one absentee vote recorded in Oconee County will be appealed.
Jerry Edwards, an owner of the Daily Journal/Messenger, cast his ballot by absentee ballot Monday in Walhalla. He is a resident of Pickens County.
His vote was witnessed by incumbent council member Tommy Crumpton, who said he felt compelled to report the infraction.
Edward driver’s license lists 125 Eagles Nest, the address of the corporate office, as his residence, as does his voter registration card. Edwards said he has been voting in Oconee, where he lived before moving to Clemson, for years. He said it has never been an issue.
South Carolina election law states that a domicile is a person’s fixed home where he has an intention of returning when absent. The law says a person can have only one domicile.
Oconee County Republican Party Chairman Eddie Adams said in a prepared statement the issue was of concern to him.
“There are those in Oconee County who take the political process very seriously,” Adams said. “Individuals should vote in the districts in which they are residents and anyone who looks to go outside those rules should be challenged. I hope all voters are properly registered and do whatever is needed to correct any inaccuracies.”
Crumpton is one of two incumbents the Daily Journal/Messenger has not endorsed for re-election. However, he does not represent the district in which Edwards voted — District 3. Edwards explained that he was only qualified to vote in the U.S. Senate, State House and solicitor races.
Crumpton said he was taking his wife to vote absentee when he saw Edwards vote and decided to appeal.
“If someone is doing something wrong, I feel it’s my duty to do something about it,” Crumpton said.
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June 10, 2008
3:05 a.m.Report inappropriate content
EVERYONE should vote in the county and district of their residence. I live in Oconee County and occasionally a friend of mine will run for an office in Pickens County (I lived in Pickens County many years ago). If we can vote wherever we choose I want to vote in Pickens County whenever a friend needs my vote.
Mr. Edwards you need to have your driver's license changed to show your real address and do your voting where you are supposed to vote.
I am glad Mr. Crumpton brought this to our attention.
June 11, 2008
10:37 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Whoa! Did I just read that Edwards' drivers' license lists his business address as his home address? Even if his business address had EVER been his actual residence address, and he moved some time ago to Clemson, doesn't state law REQUIRE him to correct his address on his license at the DMV within a very limited amount of time? One more thing....Edwards said he was qualified to vote in the solicittor's race. Oh really? If the solicitor's race was for Anderson and Oconee Counties only, not Pickens County where he lives, how is this Pickens County resident "qualified" to vote in this Anderson/Oconee race? I believe he not only has some explaining to do to the Election Commission, but also to the DMV.