Notwithstanding any other provision of law:

1. (A)

   1. (1) Effective March 15, 1998, there is established the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Berkeley County to be composed of nine members appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of a majority of the senators representing the county and a majority of the members of the House of Representatives representing the county.
   2. (2) The term of office for the members of the board is two years commencing on the fifteenth day of March in each even-numbered year. In case of a vacancy from any cause on the board, the vacancy must be filled in the same manner of original appointment, as provided in this section, for the unexpired term. The members of the board by majority vote shall elect the board's chairman, and the chairman shall serve a term of two years and may be reelected to that office for any number of successive terms without limitation. The board may choose to elect a vice chair, a secretary, and other officers as the board considers appropriate. The board shall employ a director, determine his compensation, and determine the number and compensation of other staff positions. These salaries must be consistent with the compensation schedules established by the county for similar positions. The director is responsible for hiring and management of the staff positions established by the board that report to the director. Staff positions are subject to the personnel system policies and procedures by which all county employees are regulated, except that the director shall serve at the pleasure of the board.
2. (B) The Governor shall notify the State Election Commission in writing of the appointments made under subsection (A)(1).
3. (C) The Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Berkeley County shall notify the State Election Commission in writing of the name of the person elected as chairman of the board under subsection (A)(2).
4. (D) A member who misses three consecutive meetings of the board is considered to have resigned his office and a vacancy on the board exists which must be filled in the manner provided in subsection (A)(2).
5. (E) Except as otherwise specifically provided in subsections (A), (B), (C), and (D), the provisions of law contained in Title 7 relating to county boards of voter registration and county election commissions apply to the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Berkeley County, mutatis mutandis.

6. (F)

   1. (1) The Berkeley County Board of Voter Registration is abolished effective March 15, 1998, and its functions, duties, and powers are devolved upon the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Berkeley County as established under subsection (A).
   2. (2) The Berkeley County Election Commission is abolished effective March 15, 1998, and its functions, duties, and powers are devolved upon the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Berkeley County as established under subsection (A).

7. (G)

   1. (1) The terms of the members of the Berkeley County Board of Voter Registration, regardless of when these members were appointed to office or when their current terms would otherwise have expired, expire for all purposes upon the abolishment of that board as provided under subsection (F).
   2. (2) The terms of the members of the Berkeley County Election Commission, regardless of when these members were appointed to office or when their current terms would otherwise have expired, expire for all purposes upon abolishment of that commission as provided under subsection (F).
   3. (3) Notwithstanding items (1) and (2) of this subsection or any other provision of law, a person serving as a member of the Berkeley County Board of Voter Registration or the Berkeley County Election Commission may not be removed from office, nor shall that board and that commission be abolished, until this section has been given final approval by the United States Department of Justice.