Sen. Shane Massey aims to assure state and local elections can’t be rigged.

The Senate Majority Leader who represents Lexington County is concerned by the elections commissioners and director Marci Adano.

In their defense, Chris Whitmire of the State Elections Commission said they wanted to make it easier to vote during the pandemic.

His comments are on A3.

In a letter to the Chronicle Sen. Massey said lawmakers must act because:

• SC Election Commission Chairman John Wells and his 4 commissioners failed to defend SC election laws.

• Gov. Henry McMaster refused to hold the commission accountable for it.

• SC election laws were challenged in federal and state courts last year.

One lawsuit alleged some counties were improperly verifying absentee ballot signatures and ignoring signature discrepancies.

• The Election Commission had the power but did not enforce election laws.

State law already requires commission director Marci Adano to ensure local officials comply with the law.

Massey said she knew counties used illegal drop boxes and did not stop it.

Due to the pandemic, lawmakers and the Elections Commission voted to let voters request and return absentee ballots in person.

Election officials were to confirm the voter’s identity and lock up the ballots until they were to be counted.

Massey said the law combats ballot harvesting by banning drop boxes and other potential ballot rigging practices.