COLUMBIA, S.C. — The head of South Carolina's election agency has been fired by the board of the commission that oversees the job.

The South Carolina Election Commission's chair, Dennis Shedd, confirmed that the board voted Wednesday to remove Howard Knapp from his position as executive director effective immediately. Shedd said the board did so while "expressing a desire for new leadership."

"The decision was unrelated to the conduct of any election in South Carolina," Shedd added in a statement. "The Commission’s leadership and staff remain dedicated to ensuring South Carolina’s elections are accurate, secure, and accessible."

Shedd said Chief of Staff Jenny Wooten has been appointed Interim Executive Director.

Knapp had been named executive director in January of 2022. In that role,

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