If a new election is held for all four candidates, as the county's Democratic Party recommended Wednesday, then Gov. Mark Sanford, with input from the U.S. Justice Department, must set the date, said Charleston County Board of Elections and Voter Registration chairman Roy DeHaven.

"I'm guessing it will take a minimum of 30 to 45 days," DeHaven said Thursday. It could take up to two months.

On June 8, District 4 Democratic candidate Henry Darby received the most votes, 401, but he didn't have the 50-percent-plus margin needed to win without a runoff. His two closest competitors, Karen Hollinshead Brown and Robert Mitchell, were separated by only two votes, but Mitchell, who finished just behind, argued that a polling error at the Bayside Manor precinct led to as many as 10 people being wrongly prevented from voting in the race.

DeHaven took responsibility for the mix-up Thursday.

"The blame for voter confusion and inadequate poll manager training rests squarely upon our board, not the Charleston County Democratic Party," he said in a statement.

Brown has until today to appeal the county party's decision to hold the election over again, and she said Thursday she still had not made up her mind.

DeHaven said that even if Brown appeals, the state party wouldn't rule on it until Saturday. That would be too late to hold the runoff between the top two finishers Tuesday because there would not be adequate time to distribute absentee ballots.

The mix-up at the polls wasn't the board's only misstep. It met publicly Wednesday to review the certified results in the District 4 race, though it did not notify the media, as required by state law. The board did notify at least some of the District 4 candidates.

Asked about the failure to notify the public, DeHaven said: "I don't have a good explanation for that. That should have been sent out."

Darby, who seemed to be in the catbird seat last week, expressed some frustration Thursday with the decision to redo the election, especially because it looks as if he now will face at least two more elections before November -- another four-way race, plus a runoff. Still, Darby said: "I have no sour grapes. It's my first time. It's an experience."

Edith Askins finished fourth in the district, which extends from downtown Charleston through the eastern part of the Neck Area and includes most North Charleston neighborhoods east of Interstate 26 and south of Noisette Creek.

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