Former Richland elections chief discusses firing

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The former Richland County elections director, fired after eight months, says the elections board unlawfully meddled in his job and refused to let him make staff changes.

Howard Jackson, who also says he will turn over documents to the State Law Enforcement Division, held a news conference in Columbia on Tuesday, the day after he was fired by a 4-1 vote.

Jackson says he will give documents. including hundreds of absentee ballots uncounted last November, to investigators. He says he’s prepared to answer questions under oath about the elections office.

Jackson was hired last year after widespread problems in the 2012 general election, when there were too few voting machines and some waited up to seven hours to vote.

Previous director Lillian McBride was demoted.