(Charleston) -- Two Charleston County residents have sued the General Assembly and five Charleston Republicans who led the effort to combine the county's two voting offices last year.

The suit filed yesterday asks that the current Board of Elections and Voter Registration return the powers of registering
voters and running elections to separate boards.

The suit was filed by Mary Bendure, former director of the voter registration office and Curtis Inabinett Junior, who was denied a
spot on the new board.

They say lawmakers violated the state Constitution provision that prohibits county-specific special legislation.

Bendure lost her job in the change.

Republicans pushed the bill combining the two offices, saying it was the only way to bring efficiency to the election process.