The Beaufort County Board of Voter Registration and Elections and the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) are launching an innovative collaboration to deliver faster, more efficient election results to local voters.

Historically, election night data for Beaufort County has faced delays due to the unique logistical challenges of retrieving ballots from Daufuskie Island. In previous cycles, a sheriff's deputy would collect the equipment and physical results from the island's precinct, transporting everything back via the standard ferry schedule. This process was heavily dependent on ferry departure times, and often meant island data did not reach the central office until approximately 11 p.m.

Determined to find a faster solution, the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County Director approached Sheriff Tanner to explore alternative transit options. A dedicated Marine Patrol boat was initially offered to expedite the process, and a member of the elections staff would accompany the deputy to pick up the results and ensure data security.

The logistical framework was further upgraded the following day when the Sheriff's Office contacted the elections office with a unique recommendation: rather than a boat, the Sheriff's Office suggested deploying one of its Aviation Unit helicopters to fly the election staff member directly to and from Daufuskie Island.

"This is an example of two county agencies working together to provide a positive impact for the voters of Beaufort County," said Jean Felix, Board of Voter Registration and Elections Director. "Teamwork at its finest!"

This aviation plan is weather and operations dependent. The multi-agency airlift is designed to help ensure results are delivered to the main tabulation office sooner than the historical timeline. The specialized transportation plan will focus solely on the immediate return of the election results data, while the heavier physical hardware and ballot marking devices will be brought back via traditional ferry transit later in the week.

For verified contact details, office hours, and official updates, please visit the Beaufort County Board of Voter Registration and Elections website.