ACLU of South Dakota prepared to respond to voting rights issues
The ACLU of South Dakota is prepared to respond immediately to any voting rights infringements that may arise on Election Day in Sioux Falls, Rapid City and Aberdeen.
In a press release, the ACLU said they will place trained election observers at polling locations in each city to watch for any issues that would disenfranchise voters, including questions about individual voter eligibility and mass challenges to absentee ballots.
The ACLU's election observer efforts are in response to June's primary election.
In Minnehaha County, 132 absentee ballots were rejected based on a mass eligibility challenge to the voters' residency status because they registered to vote with an address affiliated with a mail-forwarding service. The ballots weren't counted until more than two weeks later when three candidates petitioned for a recount because their races were with a 2% margin. The recount board then opted to include them.
"Voting is the most fundamental right we have in a democracy," said Samantha Chapman, ACLU of South Dakota advocacy manager. "All eligible voters who wish to exercise their rights during the 2024 general election deserve to be able to cast their ballots without interference and have confidence that their votes will be counted fairly."
The ACLU of South Dakota's election observer efforts are an expansion of its regular election protection work to ensure easy, fair and safe access to the ballot box. The ACLU and partners provide individual assistance through the Election Protection Hotline, by addressing systemic issues affecting access to the polls, and, when necessary, seeking relief for voters in the courts.
Voters who experience voting rights violations and irregularities or have other problems at the polls are encouraged to contact the nonpartisan Election Protection Hotline:
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