Landrum prepping for November election

Published 1:15 pm Monday, May 20, 2013

While Landrum residents might not have Nov. 5 on their radars yet, city and county officials do.

Spartanburg County Office of Registrations and Elections director Henry Laye discussed changes to elections during the May 13 Landrum City Council meeting.

Spartanburg County now runs Landrum’s election process because the state passed a law requiring municipal commissioners to be certified. Getting municipal commissioners certified required a $1,500 to $1,700 expense for the city even if volunteers carpooled to Columbia to attend courses.

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“Your general population will not notice any change,” Laye said.

All Landrum voters will continue to vote at the Landrum United Methodist Church.

Candidates however will no longer need to obtain petitions with a certain percentage of the population approving their candidacy. Instead, anyone wishing to run for a Landrum municipal office must pay appropriate filing fees at Landrum City Hall and complete statements of intention and economic interest.

The fee for mayor is $200 and to run for council is $100. Filing begins on July 5 at noon and ends Aug. 7 at noon.

Up for election this year are Mayor Robert Briggs and the council seats of Jan Horton, Billy Inman and Don Smith.

Elections for District 1 school trustees will also be on the Nov. 5 ballot.

A statewide law going into affect this year also requires voters to show a South Carolina photo ID when voting.

“This act will not disenfranchise anybody; they will still be able to vote,” Laye said.

Five forms of photo ID will be accepted, including a drivers license, SC photo ID, military ID or veterans admin ID, passport or voter registration card with photo on it. Voter registration IDs with photos can be obtained by going to the voter registration office located at 366 North Church Street, Spartanburg, S.C. 29303.