Rickenmann campaign mailer gave wrong address for early voting. He called it an error
Columbia mayoral candidate Daniel Rickenmann said the wrong address for early voting for city races was printed by mistake on a mailer from his campaign that was sent to thousands of homes.
Meanwhile, the campaign manager for Tameika Isaac Devine, one of Rickenmann’s mayoral opponents, suggested on social media that having the wrong early voting address on the mailer could be a voter suppression move. But Devine herself told The State she didn’t think it was a suppression effort.
Rickenmann, who has been on Columbia City Council for 12 years and is one of four candidates running for mayor, recently sent out a campaign mailer, which he said went to 10,000 homes across the city, promoting his efforts to enhance public safety in Columbia. The mailer included a notation that early voting for the city election is now open at “2020 Harden Street.”
However, the early voting location is at the county election office at 2020 Hampton Street, which is the Richland County administration building. The building is at the corner of Hampton and Harden streets. The election office can be accessed on the Harden Street side.
There is not a building addressed 2020 Harden St. in Columbia. The 2000 block of Harden is near the Drew Wellness Center, about a mile away from the Hampton Street voting location.
On Tuesday, Rickenmann stressed that it was simply an error that his mailer listed 2020 Harden St. as the address for early voting.
“I’m not going to spend money on 10,000 mailers for the wrong reason when I’m trying to send out a positive message,” Rickenmann said.
But others questioned whether there was another intent behind the mailer. Christina Cue, the campaign manager for Devine’s mayoral run, suggested on Twitter Tuesday that it was a form of voter suppression.
“Just wondering if this is going make in the news cycle today!” Cue tweeted in a response to a photo of the mailer. “Voter suppression tactics have begun! @CityofColumbia deserves better! Vote early @DevineForMayor at #2020Hampton or Vote Nov 2nd.”
The photo of the mailer Cue was commenting on was posted on Twitter by South Carolina Democratic Party Executive Director Jay Parmley. The communications director for Devine’s campaign also sent a tweet pointing out Parmley’s photo of the mailer to The State and other members of the Columbia press corps.
When reached by The State, Devine said she didn’t think the issue was a voter suppression tactic, but rather a mistake.
“I’d give him the benefit of the doubt that it was an honest mistake,” Devine said.
Devine said a number of people have texted her in recent days pointing out the wrong address on the mailer.
Rickenmann said the voter suppression idea is “absolutely false.”
“The reality is it was a mistake,” Rickenmann said. “It happened. It was supposed to be 2020 Hampton Street. But (the elections and voter registration office) is on the Harden Street side of the building. ... Look, I’m not spending that kind of money on a big mail piece to misdirect anybody when I’m sending a message. It makes no sense. How does that help me?”
Rickenmann added that “if any editor, reporter or opponent thinks this is anything more than an error, they’re crazy.”
Rickenmann pointed out that his campaign has shared a number of posts on social media where the early voting site at 2020 Hampton St. is correctly cited, including an Oct. 3 message on Facebook and Oct. 8 post on Instagram. He also has sent out campaign emails that list 2020 Hampton St. as the early voting location, including one that specifically details how people can vote early at the address.
The Columbia city election is on Nov. 2. Early in-person absentee voting is taking place at 2020 Hampton St. from 8:30 a.m to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday up until Nov. 1, per county election officials. Voters should bring a photo ID with them to the polls.
This story was originally published October 13, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
