(Published June 15‚ 2004)

FLORENCE, S.C. (AP) - A recount has put Kent Williams into next week's Democratic runoff with Sen. Maggie Glover, D-Florence.

The state Election Commission ordered the recount conducted Monday because there was a difference of less than 1 percent between Williams and Tim Norwood for the second place in the June 8 primary.

In the original count, Norwood beat Williams by six votes.

In Monday's recount, Glover had 6,218 votes, Williams had 5,772 and Norwood had 5,765.

Williams filed a protest of the results with the state Democratic Party Executive Committee on Monday before the recount was finished. The protest names Dillon, Florence, Marion and Marlboro counties' election commissions as defendants, alleging the election commissions failed to properly count absentee ballots.

Williams said even though he won second place in the recount, he might not withdraw his protest. Williams said he still has concerns the problem recur.

Norwood is thinking of joining Williams' protest of the election. Norwood said he's heard complaints from voters that they were told by poll workers they couldn't vote in the Democratic primary because they were Republicans. "They were asked the wrong question by the poll workers," Norwood said.

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Information from: Morning News, http://www.morningnewsonline.com/