COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) – The South Carolina State Election Commission has voted to remove its executive director, the agency said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.
Commission Chair Dennis Shedd said the decision to remove Howard Knapp is effective immediately and the vote expressed “a desire for new leadership.”
“The decision was unrelated to the conduct of any election in South Carolina,” Shedd said.
Chief of Staff Jenny Wooten was appointed interim executive director, also effective immediately, Shedd said.
He was confirmed for the role in March of 2023 for a term of four years, according to the election commission’s website.
Prior to becoming executive director, Knapp served as the interim executive director and director of Voter Services. In his role as director of Voter Services, Knapp was responsible for information technology, cyber security, support of the statewide voting system, the agency’s area representatives, and the agency’s election audit initiatives and processes.
Prior to joining the SEC, Knapp spent over a decade in state government service in the legislative and executive branches of government.