Horry County takes Atlantic Beach voting machines

ATLANTIC BEACH, S.C. (AP) — Horry County sheriff’s deputies have taken voting machines used in the November election in Atlantic Beach.

Horry County and state officials say Atlantic Beach had refused to return the machines after the voting. Horry County officials typically provide the machines the day before an election and pick them up the day after the election.

Deputies obtained the machines under court order Tuesday.

Atlantic Beach Mayor Retha Pierce had said the town would not return the machines because they were evidence that votes were not recorded properly during the election. Pierce was defeated in the voting, but a protest hearing last month resulted in the Nov. 1 results being tossed out with orders for a new election in six months.

The order kept current officials in place until the new election.