South Carolina’s Electoral College Meets to Cast Votes for President and Vice President

Electors from across South Carolina gathered at the State House yesterday as part of the 2024 Electoral College process, a constitutionally mandated step in electing the next President and Vice President of the United States. Representing the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Laurens County, was Susan Aiken of Anderson. Aiken was joined by Laurens County Republicans Brenda Stewart (former chair of the Laurens County Republican Party) and Rick Shealy (current Executive Committeeman for the Laurens County Republican Party), who attended the event as her guests.

The event, presided over by South Carolina Secretary of State Mark Hammond, began at 11 a.m. and followed a formal and ceremonial agenda. The South Carolina Highway Patrol Honor Guard posted the colors, and Senator J.D. Chaplin led attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance. The invocation was delivered by John Matthews, Pastor of Cornerstone Fellowship Freewill Baptist Church, while Charles Seastrunk, Jr., Chaplain of the South Carolina House of Representatives, provided the benediction.

Each of South Carolina’s nine electors, representing the state’s seven congressional districts and two at-large positions, officially cast their votes. The slate included:

• Cindy Costa – At-large
• Drew McKissick – At-large
• Xiaodan Li – 1st Congressional District
• Tyson Grinstead – 2nd Congressional District
• Susan Aiken – 3rd Congressional District
• Alexia Newman – 4th Congressional District
• William Oden – 5th Congressional District
• Moye Graham – 6th Congressional District
• Michael Connick – 7th Congressional District

During the meeting, the electors voted to confirm South Carolina’s choice for President and Vice President as determined by the general election results held on November 5, 2024. The proceedings concluded with the signing and certification of the Certificates of Vote, which will be forwarded to the appropriate federal and state officials, including the President of the Senate and the Archivist of the United States.

The Electoral College, established by the Constitution, serves as the mechanism by which the United States formally elects its President. South Carolina, with its nine electoral votes, plays a critical role in the process. The 538 electors nationwide are tasked with confirming the will of the voters, with 270 votes required to secure victory.

Reflecting on the significance of the day, Secretary Hammond acknowledged the historical weight of the Electoral College’s role. “This meeting is not only a tradition but a testament to our democratic process,” he stated in his closing remarks.

A full recording of the event can be viewed at the South Carolina State House website: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/video/archives.php.