Dysfunction at the SD SOS

Is there dysfunction at the South Dakota Secretary of State (SOS) Office?

Today, I received an email from the Director of Elections indicating that they are still “working on ballots.” Early voting is scheduled to begin Friday, April 17, 2026. However, as of today, the SOS continues to add candidates to the 2026 Primary Election Candidate List, despite the March 31, 2026, deadline for petition submissions. Challenges to submitted petitions also remain unresolved.

I spoke with the Bennett County Auditor today, and it appears she will not receive ballots until Sunday at the earliest—effectively delaying the start of early voting.

Additionally, South Dakota Codified Law (SDCL) 9-13-13 requires that a “Notice of Municipal Election” be published once each week for two consecutive weeks, with the first publication occurring no fewer than ten days before the election. A facsimile of the official ballot must also be published during the calendar week preceding the election. These notices are required to appear in the municipality’s designated official newspaper.

While I recognize this is a demanding time of year for the SOS, the office appears to be struggling to meet statutory requirements for elections. This raises serious concerns about administrative readiness and compliance with state law.

If elected to the State Senate, I will introduce legislation to shorten the current 45-day election season. Voters deserve better, and candidates should not have to wait until the first day of early voting to determine whether they will face a primary challenge.