Beaufort Co. Election Board Rules Against Local Critic in Rare Voter Qualification Challenge

BLUFFTON, S.C. (WTOC) - After hours of discussion and an executive session, the Beaufort County Board of Voter Registration and Elections has ruled in a rare voter-qualification case involving local government critic Skip Hoagland.

The decision marks the first voter qualification challenge in Beaufort County in six or seven years.

The board ruled in favor of Hilton Head Island resident Ron Thomas, who filed the challenge against Hoagland two weeks ago. Thomas questioned Hoagland’s voting qualifications and residency, specifically his “domicile”—defined under South Carolina law as the permanent home where a person intends to return when absent.

To vote in South Carolina, a resident is legally allowed to have only one domicile.

“It was up to me to speak up or knowingly let another voter registration take place,” Thomas said. “I am just the whistleblower, trying to stop corruption and keep everyone honest.”

The dispute centers on a home located within the Long Cove community on Hilton Head Island.

The property is owned by a friend of Hoagland’s, who asked him to move in so that he could run for mayor of Hilton Head Island earlier this year.

Although Hoagland showed the board various documents listing the Long Cove property as his permanent address, including his voter registration, driver’s license, and other records, he has not actually stayed in the home yet.

Instead, he has continued residing at his other house, which sits just outside the Town of Hilton Head Island limits or at one of his various other homes.

The board ultimately determined that Hoagland had not provided sufficient information to establish the Long Cove property as his legal domicile, thereby granting Thomas’ challenge.

In addition to their ruling, the board voted to send all information gathered from the hearing to law enforcement to investigate whether Hoagland violated the South Carolina Code of Laws.

“[People] can make the necessary changes in their life to properly become integrated into our Beaufort County society and behave like a majority of the Beaufort County taxpaying, registered voters. Not an exception,” Thomas said.

Hoagland strongly defended his residency status during the hearing, expressing frustration with the board’s demands and the challenge to his residency.

“The legal issue is whether one residence has been established as that person’s permanent domicile and where that person intends that residence to be their permanent address,” Hoagland said. “I have done exactly that and have fully complied with that and the law. ... I’ve never seen or heard so many attacks on my credibility as a 50-year resident.”

Hoagland questioned what more he could do to satisfy the board.

“What do I need to submit to you today that I haven’t already, or that I won’t today, and what else do I need to provide you under the law for my domicile to be Long Cove?”

Following the board’s decision, Hoagland has the opportunity to appeal.

He indicated that he plans to take legal action against Thomas and will likely file an official appeal within the next 30 days.