Absentee ballot application. Adobe Stock via GDNS.
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO.com) — South Dakota’s primary election is three weeks from today. Those overseeing the process, as well as groups educating voters, hope residents are taking steps to be ready to cast their ballot.
Steve Barnett, Secretary of State, said the midterm election will feel normal, and not like the 2020 vote where absentee ballots played a big role in light of the pandemic.
COVID-19 cases are still present, but Barnett emphasized the current situation should not limit the number of polling sites, and he added there are not as many fears about not having enough people working at each location. Older staff have returned, and newer faces are rounding things out.
“Teachers and folks, maybe college students,” Barnett observed. “We kind of tapped into a new base of Election Day workers And so, I think you’ve got more of an applicant pool for Election Day.”
Still, he pointed out absentee voting is a viable option. Completed absentee ballots must be received by your county auditor no later than Election Day. The voter registration deadline is next Monday.
On the primary ballot is a proposed constitutional amendment to raise the approval threshold for future ballot initiatives. There are also Republican primaries for governor, and the U.S. Senate and House.
Depending on your district, there are primary contests for both parties for seats in the state Legislature.
Erik Nelson, advocacy director for AARP South Dakota, said even though it is not a presidential election year, voters 50 and older should still participate. He argued there are a lot of issues right now affecting them.
“The impact will be felt starting next year when we gather again to work with lawmakers on issues that are important to AARP South Dakota,” Nelson outlined. “Such as a health care, consumer-protection, housing, elder-abuse and many more issues.”
And because South Dakota redrew its political boundaries based on the latest census data, voters are encouraged to find out if their district has changed. More election information can be found on both the Secretary of State’s website, as well the homepage for AARP South Dakota.
(Mike Moen, GDNS, contributed this report.)
