COLUMBIA — Gov. Henry McMaster can intervene in a lawsuit attempting to block the state Elections Commission from disclosing the personal data of 3.3 million South Carolinians to the U.S. Department of Justice, a turnover of data he supports.

The court ruling comes despite concerns the governor’s office attempted to unduly influence the commission during the case.

In a one-page decision Sept. 25, Circuit Judge Daniel Coble determined McMaster can be allowed to submit arguments alongside the commission in opposition to a state resident’s lawsuit seeking to block the data from release.

McMaster’s request to join is directly relevant to the operations of his office, Coble said.

“This Court finds that the motion to intervene is timely and that it will not delay or prejudice the original pa

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