South Carolina Judge Permits Gov. McMaster to Intervene in Voter Data Release Lawsuit

Circuit Court Judge Daniel Coble on Sept. 25 granted Gov. Henry McMaster the right to intervene in a lawsuit aimed at blocking the South Carolina Election Commission from turning over its voter registration list — including names, addresses, driver’s license numbers and last-four Social Security digits for about 3.3 million voters — to the U.S. Department of Justice. The decision allows McMaster to submit arguments alongside the commission; his office says the intervention is timely and necessary to defend federal law and state operations, while plaintiff Anne Crook’s lawyers, including State Sen. Brad Hutto, say it risks politicizing and undermining the commission’s independence. The South Carolina Supreme Court earlier lifted a temporary injunction that had barred the data transfer, and a full hearing was scheduled in Richland County to consider Crook’s request for relief. McMaster’s counsel argued his involvement would be distinct from the commission’s and would not delay or prejudice the parties, but opponents contend the governor’s actions represent undue influence. Although the intervention affects who will argue in court, the ruling likely won’t resolve the broader legal question of whether the DOJ is legally entitled to obtain the voter database, leaving that issue for further proceedings.