A South Carolina judge has granted Gov. Henry McMaster the ability to intervene in a case over the release of voter data.
Circuit Court Judge Daniel Coble issued a decision on Sept. 25 granting the Republican governor the right to intervene in a legal case involving the U.S. Department of Justice’s request for state voter information. McMaster filed a motion to intervene on Sept. 3, citing significant interest and authority in the case.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster speaks Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, during the Sheri Biggs’ Salute to Liberty event at Anderson Sports and Entertainment Center in Anderson, South Carolina.
The DOJ reached out to the South Carolina Election Commission over the summer seeking copies of the state’s voter registration list, including information such as a voter’s full name, address, a driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number.
The request pushed Anne Crook, the case’s respondent, to file a lawsuit on Aug. 29, arguing that the data release would violate her constitutional right to privacy. Attorneys Brad Hutto, who is also a Democrat state senator from Orangeburg, and Skylar Hutto are representing Crook in the case.
More: South Carolina’s chief election official removed from position after vote by commissioners
The respondent sought a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, and declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent the election commission from passing her voter registration information over to the DOJ. A circuit court first granted the motion for a temporary retraining order, but the South Carolina Supreme Court reversed that decision in an order filed on Sept. 11 — meaning the commission could turn voter information to the DOJ.
Cooke’s legal representation argued against McMaster’s motion to intervene, claiming the governor has tried to “exert control” over the South Carolina Election Commission in the matter. They cite emails sent by the governor’s legal counsel which state the commission should not take action on the matter without his office’s consent.
“In this attempt, the governor’s office showcases an improper attempt to influence the defendant, a state agency with inherent independence built within its statutory framework,” Brad Hutto stated in the filing. “The governor or his office appears to consider themselves the defendant in this matter, when they are simply not.”
A hearing in the case over the release of voter information has been scheduled for Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. at the Richland County Courthouse.
The state’s chief election official, former South Carolina Election Commission Executive Director Howard Knapp, was notably voted out of his leadership position on Sept. 17 by the five-member commission. Commission chairman Dennis W. Shedd issued a statement, saying that the board decided to vote out Knapp out of a “desire for new leadership.”
Shedd stated that the decision was unrelated to the conduct of any state elections. Chief of Staff Jenny Wooten has served as interim executive director since Knapp’s ousting.
Bella Carpentier covers the South Carolina legislature, state and Greenville County politics. Contact her at bcarpentier@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: SC judge grants McMaster right to intervene in voter information case