What you should know about Election Day in South Dakota

SIOUX FALLS, SD (Dakota News Now) – Where should you vote? When do the polling stations open? What’s on the ballot? We have the answers you need for Election Day in South Dakota.

The 2024 general election will take place on November 5th. Mail-in voting opened in South Dakota on September 20th. According to South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson’s office, over 141,000 ballots were received as of November 1st.

To find out where you can vote, visit the voter information portal on the Secretary of State’s website. Enter your first and last name, date of birth or address to see where you can cast your vote.

On November 5th, polling stations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you are in line at polling stations when the polls close at 7 p.m., you have the right to stay in line and cast your vote.

In order to vote, you must present ID. This may include a valid South Dakota driver’s license or non-driver’s license, a U.S. government photo ID such as a passport, a U.S. Armed Forces ID card, a tribal photo ID card, or a current student photo ID card from a South Dakota high school or accredited institution of higher education include training.

A sample ballot can also be viewed on the voter information portal.

Below is a breakdown of the statewide races and the seven measures on the ballot:

Johnson vs. Johnson

Republican incumbent Dusty Johnson is being challenged by Democrat Sheryl Johnson for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Dusty Johnson has held the seat since 2019.

Sheryl Johnson is a former Republican who has never held office but ran for a seat in the South Dakota House of Representatives (2018, 2020) and Senate (2022) for District 11.

Public Utilities Commission

Republican Kristie Fiegen hopes to retain her seat on the state’s Public Utilities Commission, while challengers Forrest Wilson of the Democratic Party and Gideon Oaks of the Libertarian Party seek the election.

Fiegen is currently a member of the PUC along with Chris Nelson and Gary Hanson, both of whom are also Republicans.

Change E

Amendment E would update references to public officials in the South Dakota Constitution, specifically removing generic male pronouns that date back to the document’s implementation in 1889.

Amendment F

Amendment F would authorize the state to impose work requirements on Medicaid expansion recipients if the federal government allows it. Currently, this is not the case with the Biden administration.

Amendment G

Amendment G would restore abortion access in South Dakota. The proposed constitutional amendment would legalize first-trimester abortion without government regulation. The state could restrict abortion in the second trimester and ban the procedure in the third trimester, with exceptions for the life and health of the mother.

Amendment H

Amendment H would create an open primary system of the top two states in South Dakota. The amendment requires candidates for governor, state legislature, congress and district offices to run in the same primary. The two candidates with the most votes would advance to the parliamentary election, regardless of their party affiliation.

Measure initiated 28

Measure 28, introduced, would prohibit the state from collecting taxes on anything sold for human consumption. This does not apply to alcoholic beverages or prepared meals, which legally include food that is heated or sold with utensils.

Measure initiated 29

Measure 29, introduced, would allow anyone over the age of 21 to possess up to two ounces of marijuana. It would also allow restrictions on where people can have marijuana, such as schools or workplaces.

Referring law 21

Referendum Law 21 is a referendum on Senate Bill 201, which focuses on carbon pipeline regulations passed by the state Legislature in Pierre last session. These regulations addressed setback powers, payments to counties and landowners, and easement periods.

To learn more about the arguments made by supporters and opponents of each measure, visit the Secretary of State’s website website.

Be sure to stay with Dakota News Now on air and online for the latest local Election Day results.