The state Election Commission will hear protests of election results from two unsuccessful Horry County legislative candidates.

Republican Katherine Jenerette is protesting the way campaigning was conducted during the state Senate District 28 race she lost to incumbent Democrat Dick Elliott, and Democrat Dick Withington is protesting the outcome of the state House District 108 race he lost to Republican Nelson Hardwick.

Jenerette, a former field aide to U.S. Rep. Henry Brown, R-Hanahan, filed a 13-page list of allegations including attempts to obtain money from her to deliver votes, offers of jobs if she would withdraw, threats to her supporters and an error in a voter guide published by The Sun News.

Her protest says there is evidence "that there is more than a reasonable probability that the election results of Nov. 2 would have been substantially different, and in my favor, had it not been for the irregularities, criminal actions, voter fraud and fraudulent deception on the part of my opponent and or his supporters, and other parties."

Elliott said her complaints are groundless.

"I know of no improper, illegal or unethical activities that took place before, during or after the election by myself or any of my campaign workers," he said.

Withington's complaint is about the layout of the ballot on the voting screen. He called it "unfair and confusing," partly because each candidate's name did not have an "R" or "D" beside it in addition to being listed under the party heading.

Election Commission spokeswoman Hannah Majewski said the protests will be heard by the panel, probably the week after Thanksgiving. They are the only protests from legislative candidates filed with the state, she said. Such protests go directly to the commission rather than to county election commissions. State law does not allow the ballot to be marked the way Withington wants, she added. The state panel may also have appeals from decisions of county election commissions. The deadline to file such appeals is noon Monday.

In both types of election challenges, the burden is on the person complaining to prove that the alleged improprieties affected the outcome of the election, Majewski said.