Atlantic Beach Election Commission to hold protest hearing in March

ATLANTIC BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) - The reassembled Atlantic Beach Election Commission voted Wednesday to hold a protest hearing next month connected to the November 2023 election.

The request has reportedly been made by mayoral candidate and Mayor Pro Tem Josephine Isom.

“We’re going to have a protest hearing on March 20th at 10 o’clock and to try to finally resolve the outstanding ballots that the commission has decided were the ones that need to be resolved,” said Kenneth McIver, who was selected as the acting chairman of the commission.

The historic town has been embroiled in controversy since the election in November, when the Atlantic Beach Town Council claimed then Election Commissioner Joe Montgomery violated multiple state laws, including attempting to certify results without a court reporter and attending campaign events.

Montgomery denied the allegations.

John David, Isom’s challenger for mayor, was previously caught up in allegations of dual residency when he ran for council over a year ago. He says he’s glad the votes can be counted during the protest hearing.

“I’m encouraged that we can have a date to count the votes. The votes should have been counted on November 7th. People came with their driver’s license, their voter registration cards, they were granted permission to vote by Horry County,” said David.

David says he feels the voters are unjustly being targeted and questions the motives of his challenger.

“I don’t know why these voters are being targeted in their right to vote in America when they haven’t voted anywhere else and this is their municipality to vote. Why does my opponent continue to challenge votes?” said David.

WMBF News reached out to Josephine Isom several times, and calls/messages have not been returned.

Isom wrote a letter following the election, protesting the certification, and claiming that 19 provisional ballots were cast from residents who do not live in the town.

In her complaint, Isom claims four of those people who voted listed an address that is a building under construction and a certificate of occupancy has not been issued.

During the latest meeting, 15 people believed to be connected to the ballots challenged by Isom, were named by the acting chairman. Those individuals are said to be subpoenaed for an appearance at the March 20 protest hearing.

McIver says he looks forward to the Horry County Election Commission taking over future elections, but the county has refused to step in on the current election situation.

“Horry County did not want to go back through ballots that were already tampered with. So I feel like this is a fair thing and I’m looking forward to Horry County handling in the future,” said McIver.

The protest hearing is scheduled to be held March 20 at 10 a.m.

Stay with WMBF News for updates.

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