Election official outlines House Bill 5231 and filing process for 2024 school board races

Mr. Charles Boyin addressed the board on House Bill 5231 and the mechanics of the 2024 Bamberg County school board elections, answering trustees’ questions about seats, filing deadlines, costs and public access to maps.

Boyin said the board will remain nine members and described which seats will be elected and which will initially be appointed by the state legislative delegation to serve interim terms. He cited the statute’s filing deadline: “the filing must be done by 12 noon August 15th,” and said filings would open at 12:00 p.m. on Aug. 1 per the local election commission’s schedule. He identified Nov. 5 as the expected election date.

Boyin said the county election commission handles filings and administers the election; the district’s role is limited to paying for election-related administrative costs such as required advertising notices in newspapers. He encouraged candidates and citizens to contact the election commission for filing procedures and said maps showing districts would be made available to the public on request.

On Title IX matters the presenter flagged the issue as legally complex and said some questions would require legal advice in executive session. He warned that certain state provisions could risk a substantial loss of state funding if the district implements prohibited actions, and advised trustees that legal counsel would guide how the district complies with applicable federal and state law.