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DECISION 2008: Early Voting Popular In South Dakota
Several State County Auditors Report Record Number Of Returned Absentee Ballots
By JOE KAFKA
Associated Press Writer
PIERRE — South Dakotans no longer need excuses to vote early, and the word has gotten out.
County auditors reported Monday that many people already had voted by way of absentee ballots.
In Pennington County, early voting already has set a record.
Almost 17,000 people had marked absentee ballots by midmorning Monday in Pennington County. Auditor Julie Pearson predicted that one-third of all voters in Pennington County will have voted before the polls even opened Tuesday.
The large number of early voters will help ensure that those who vote on Election Day do not have to wait very long, she said.
“We’re not expecting long lines at the polls, except when they first open up in the morning and maybe at noon,” Pearson said. “Because so many people are voting early, the lines are less than they used to be.”
Minnehaha County Auditor Sue Roust said about 17,000 absentee ballots had been cast by early Monday. She predicted that about 20 percent to 22 percent of registered voters in the county would vote early.
More than 1,000 people voted absentee on Friday, Roust said.
“People are telling me that even with a line they’re getting out in 10 minutes. Anybody that comes prepared, it shouldn’t take them very long to vote at all,” she said.
Unlike other counties, Minnehaha waits until all ballots cast that day are counted before running absentees through the machines, since they’re folded and don’t process as quickly. That means results will be posted all evening but the precinct total will stay at zero until those ballots are counted, Roust said.
Early voting has been popular in South Dakota since the 2004 Legislature changed state law to expand absentee voting.
Previously, people wishing to vote absentee had to swear that they would be away from home that day, were unable to get to the polls because of illness, could not get off work, were observing a religious holiday or attending college away from home.
Harding County Deputy Auditor Connie Bowers said about 15 percent of registered voters had cast absentee ballots by Monday.
She said voters seemed prepared even though the ballot has several complicated state issues in addition to the candidates.
“We have had many people who brought in their cheat sheets or sample ballots,” Bowers said.
County auditors reported Monday that many people already had voted by way of absentee ballots.
In Pennington County, early voting already has set a record.
Almost 17,000 people had marked absentee ballots by midmorning Monday in Pennington County. Auditor Julie Pearson predicted that one-third of all voters in Pennington County will have voted before the polls even opened Tuesday.
The large number of early voters will help ensure that those who vote on Election Day do not have to wait very long, she said.
“We’re not expecting long lines at the polls, except when they first open up in the morning and maybe at noon,” Pearson said. “Because so many people are voting early, the lines are less than they used to be.”
Minnehaha County Auditor Sue Roust said about 17,000 absentee ballots had been cast by early Monday. She predicted that about 20 percent to 22 percent of registered voters in the county would vote early.
More than 1,000 people voted absentee on Friday, Roust said.
“People are telling me that even with a line they’re getting out in 10 minutes. Anybody that comes prepared, it shouldn’t take them very long to vote at all,” she said.
Unlike other counties, Minnehaha waits until all ballots cast that day are counted before running absentees through the machines, since they’re folded and don’t process as quickly. That means results will be posted all evening but the precinct total will stay at zero until those ballots are counted, Roust said.
Early voting has been popular in South Dakota since the 2004 Legislature changed state law to expand absentee voting.
Previously, people wishing to vote absentee had to swear that they would be away from home that day, were unable to get to the polls because of illness, could not get off work, were observing a religious holiday or attending college away from home.
Harding County Deputy Auditor Connie Bowers said about 15 percent of registered voters had cast absentee ballots by Monday.
She said voters seemed prepared even though the ballot has several complicated state issues in addition to the candidates.
“We have had many people who brought in their cheat sheets or sample ballots,” Bowers said.
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