Unrest at South Carolina election commission

The curated articles reveal a consistent theme of turmoil at the South Carolina Election Commission. Investigations and controversies surrounding leadership, particularly former director Howard Knapp, remain at the center. Knapp faces allegations of misusing state vehicles and funds. The State Law Enforcement Division investigated his vehicle usage, but the report's outcome is unclear.

The commission's handling of a $32 million loan for voting machines is under scrutiny, with $4 million reportedly unaccounted for. Additionally, Knapp was accused of creating a hostile work environment and misleading the commission about contracts. A hidden recording device incident further fuels the ongoing drama.

NO. 1: SC ELECTION COMMISSION OUSTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HOWARD KNAPP

The state election commission fired Executive Director Howard Knapp from his post during a scheduled meeting Wednesday, but declined to immediately disclose why other than a desire for “new leadership.” The removal did not have to do with the “conduct of any election in South Carolina,” chairman Dennis Shedd said in an emailed statement after the meeting. | Published September 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lucy Valeski

Two State Law Enforcement Division agents, Matt Downey and Jeremy Smith, were at the State Election Commission office on Lady Street in downtown Columbia, S.C., on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. SLED has been investigating former elections Executive Director Howard Knapp for misconduct. By John Monk

NO. 2: ONE DAY AFTER DIRECTOR’S FIRING, SLED AGENTS SEEN AT STATE ELECTION COMMISSION

On Thursday, one day after South Carolina’s top election official was fired, agents from the State Law Enforcement Division were inside the State Election Commission’s offices in downtown Columbia. | Published September 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by John Monk, Lucy Valeski

NO. 3: HIDDEN RECORDING DEVICE FOUND IN STATE ELECTION COMMISSION MEETING ROOM

A hidden recording device was found in the meeting room of the State Election Commission last week, sources familiar with the situation told The State newspaper. | Published September 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by John Monk

Light rain greeted voters on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 outside The Lourie Center in Columbia. By Tracy Glantz

NO. 4: A DIRECTOR FIRED. A SECRET RECORDER. INSIDE A CHAOTIC DAY AT SC ELECTION AGENCY

For the past week, the South Carolina Election Commission has been rocked by chaos and uncertainty. | Published September 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lucy Valeski, Ted Clifford

NO. 5: AFTER SLED INVESTIGATED HOWARD KNAPP CAR USE, IT GAVE REPORT TO SC AG, SOURCES SAY

Former State Election Commission director Howard Knapp, who was fired by the commission last week for unclear reasons, has been in controversy before. | Published September 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by John Monk

State Election Commission chairman Dennis Shedd chaired the meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025 By John Monk

NO. 6: MISSING $4 MILLION? STATE INVESTIGATIONS? SC ELECTION COMMISSION AWASH IN DRAMA

A missing $4 million, a $10 million loan installment coming due with no money to pay for it and whether former State Election Commission director Howard Knapp misrepresented the price of buying new machines for the state in 2024. | Published October 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by John Monk, Lucy Valeski

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.