Latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Midlands

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- State Democrats have dropped their request that votes in Richland County be recounted.

In court papers filed Tuesday, the state Democratic Party said they'd consulted with county attorneys and feel that votes can be released from state police custody and will be accurately counted.

Last week, a circuit judge granted Democrats' request to recount all Richland County votes after an Election Day mess that included broken voting machines and hours-long lines.

The South Carolina Supreme Court halted the recount at the behest of state Republicans. That court would need to rule on the matter for counting to resume.

State election officials have said Richland County was the only one of the state's 46 counties that reported serious problems. County officials have not explained how the problems occurred.