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Council advances ordinance to reclassify poll workers as distinct from county employees
Summary
In a first reading, Lancaster County Council moved to adopt an ordinance clarifying that poll workers appointed under state election law are not county employees and will be governed by the board of voter registration and elections; council advanced the measure by a 6–1 vote.
Lancaster County Council advanced, on first reading, an ordinance that would remove poll workers from the county’s temporary/part-time/full-time employee classification and instead recognize them as a separate category governed by state election law and the county board of voter registration and elections.
Speaker 7 explained staff proposed the change to "carve out poll workers in a separate category," noting the ordinance language says "poll workers appointed pursuant to South Carolina election law shall not be considered temporary, part time, or full time employees of the county" and that such individuals "shall be governed by applicable state law and policies established by the county board of voter registration and elections."
Council member voice 3 asked whether poll workers would still be subject to drug testing or criminal-background checks under the proposed change. Staff replied those requirements would not apply at the county level unless the Board of Voter Registration and Elections implemented them.
The first reading passed with a recorded vote of 6–1.
The ordinance will return for subsequent readings and any public hearings required by county ordinance before final adoption.
