The general election is not until Tuesday, Nov. 5, but absentee voting in South Dakota has already started.
Registered voters in Marshall County can vote in-person at the County Auditor’s new temporary location at the Schumaker Building, 1611 Vander Horck, Britton. To vote, people must bring along a valid photo ID. If a voter does not have a photo ID, they will be given the option to sign a personal identification affidavit and vote a regular ballot.
People can also vote early by mail. In this case, a voter must request an absentee ballot application from your County Election Official. The County Election Official will send a paper absentee ballot to the voter. The voter then completes the ballot and in Marshall County, returns it to the Auditor’s Office, PO Box 130, Britton 57430.
At any time prior to an election, a voter may apply for an absentee ballot in person at the Auditor’s office during regular office hours or until five p.m. on the day before the election, whichever is later. Your voted ballot MUST be received by your County Election Official on Election Day in enough time to deliver your ballot to your voting precinct before the polls close.
The deadline for voter registration for the General Election is Oct. 21.
There are various contested local races on the ballot
There are two contested races for Marshall County Commissioner positions. In District 3, incumbent Jason Bender (Republican) is running against Gerry Person, a Democrat. There are three candidates for the District 4 position. Incumbent Leron Knebel, a Democrat, is being challenged by Andrea Kilker, a Republican, and Jared Holland, an Independent.
If you’re unsure what County district you fall in, check at marshall.sdcounties.org/county-commissioners.
The race for District 1 State Representative includes six candidates. On the Democratic side, Steven McCleerey and Mark Sumption are running. Representing the Libertarian Party are Josh Dennert and Tamara Lesnar. The Republican candidates are Logan Manhart and Christopher Reder. Voters may choose up to two of these candidates. District 1 State Reps currently are Tamara St John, who lost in the Republican primary, and Joe Donnell who did not run this time.
The Journal will run questionnaires for these candidates closer to the Election Day.
Other races that appear on the ballot:
Public Utilities Commissioner: Forrest Wilson (Democrat), A. Gideon Oakes (Libertarian), Kristie Fiegen (Republican)
U.S. Representative: Sheryl Johnson (Democrat), Dusty Johnson (Republican).
President: Harris & Walz (Dem.), Trump & Vance (Rep.), Oliver & ter Maat (Lib), Kennedy Jr. & Shanahan (Ind).
Also on the ballot: Amendment E - Amend the constitution to change male pronouns in the Constitution to gender-neutral terms or titles. Amendment F- Amend the South Dakota Constitution to provide that the state “may impose a work requirement on any person ... who has not been diagnosed as being physically or mentally disabled” for eligible individuals to receive Medicaid under the Medicaid expansion that took effect on July 1, 2023. Amendment G- Provide for a state constitutional right to abortion with a trimester framework for regulations. Amendment H- Establish top-four primaries for federal, state, and certain local offices in South Dakota.
IM 28- Prohibit state sales taxes on anything sold for human consumption, not including alcoholic beverages or prepared food. IM 29- Legalize the recreational or personal use of marijuana, Referred Law 21- Uphold or repeal Senate Bill 201, a law that provides statutory requirements for regulating carbon dioxide pipelines and other transmission facilities, and allows counties to impose a surcharge on certain pipeline companies.
Ballot question explanations from Ballotpedia.
