Authorities are investigating allegations that several people conspired to extort money from the candidates in the S.C. Senate District 30 race in exchange for votes in Marlboro County.

The offenses reportedly took place before the original Democratic primary June 8 and continued through the new primary Sept. 28 involving incumbent Sen. Maggie Glover and challengers Kent Williams and Tim Norwood, said 4th Circuit Solicitor Jay Hodge. The would-be political power brokers under investigation sought to use their influence in gathering absentee ballots as leverage in the scheme.

“Reportedly, these people seemed to make their living from supplying votes,” Hodge said, “and I just think it’s something that needs to be looked into.”

The accusations surfaced two weeks ago. No one has been arrested in connection with the investigation, Hodge said.

The 4th Judicial Circuit consists of Marlboro, Florence, Marion and Dillon counties. S.C. Senate District 30 comprises portions of the same four counties.

Glover of Florence and Williams of Marion will meet in a runoff Tuesday, possibly ending the race to represent District 30 that saw its share of controversy long before news of the alleged voter impropriety in Marlboro County.

The incumbent took first place in the June 8 contest, with Norwood determined to be leading Williams by seven votes. The June 9 certification of the election results, however, produced a different result, with six votes separating Norwood and Williams.

According to state law, a mandatory recount of the vote must be held by individual county election commissions if less than 1 percent of the total vote separates two candidates. On June 12, the election results were sent to the state Election Commission for certification, which ordered the mandatory recount.

The recount was held June 14 and again, the results differed. This time, the count showed Williams ahead of Norwood by six votes.

These events touched off summer-long protests among the three candidates about alleged voter fraud and irregularities.

If these latest allegations of attempts at election tampering are founded, Hodge said, the people being targeted in the investigation could face a variety of criminal charges applicable to the “number of statutes on the books to cover these types of things.

“I have an idea that it’s a practice that’s perhaps gotten a little out of hand, especially in light of what’s happening nationally,” alluding to the situation in Florida during the 2000 presidential election, Hodge said.

“You want to encourage people to participate in the political process,” he said. “You want to keep the process straight and above reproach so that people will feel comfortable participating in it ... not discourage them because of such wrongdoing.”

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