BROOKINGS The nations Nov. 5 general election was noteworthy in a number of ways with Brookings Countys claim to fame being the 7,696 absentee ballots outnumbering the 7,559 ballots cast on Election Day.
That was one of the tidbits of information the Brookings County Commission learned at its Nov. 7 meeting where it approved, on a 5-0 vote, the general election canvas. Absentee voting accounted for 50.45% of the countys ballots, Finance Director Lori Schultz said, adding that overall voter turnout basically hit 71%, just a touch higher than the 70% statewide turnout.
We had a wonderful turnout, she told the Brookings Register. The office staff and all auxiliary workers had a nonstop day. We had office staff monitoring phones and troubleshooting. We ran supplies to the vote centers. Everyone was busy with the election in addition to our regular office work.
Schultz said the day started at 6 a.m. and didnt wrap up until 11:45 p.m. almost an 18-hour span when it was all said and done.
Commissioners also learned:
- The election required the services of 62 workers, which didnt include finance office staff or four temporary election workers.
- Voter turnout in Brookings County was 62% in 2022 and, in 2020, hit 74%.
- There were 15,255 ballots cast in the county, per unofficial totals from the secretary of states website.
- Eighteen absentee ballots were spoiled in one fashion or another, while nine ballots lacked precinct stamps. As a result, those ballots were not included in the 15,255 overall total.
- There were two provisional ballots, with one being counted after an investigation by finance office staffers.
- Tabulating machines couldnt read 160 improperly marked ballots, but resolution boards each consisting of a Democrat and a Republican ensured those ballots counted.
Schultz is certain early and absentee voting is only going to keep increasing in popularity, which is good, but also comes with a caveat or two.
I would like to see that process refined so that it could save South Dakota counties both time and a lot of money, she said. The absentee process is spendy compared to Election Day voting.
The change, if it were to occur, would have to come from Pierre, Schultz said, and would also likely require rewording of the states laws as they apply to absentee voting. She plans to float an idea to the Secretary of State Monae Johnsons office to see what they think and what revisions would be needed.
If absentee/early voting continues to rise with each election, it is something that will need to be addressed, Schultz said.
The countys election hand count, mandated by state law, was also determined at the meeting. It will audit the Bruce Community Room voting center, along with the Referred Law 21 and state Supreme Court justice retention statewide contests.
It will take place at 9 a.m. on Nov. 14 in the Commission Chambers in the Brookings City & County Government Center, 520 Third St., and is open to the public.
Finally, the effort put forth by Schultz, her staff and everyone else involved in the voting process didnt go unnoticed by county commissioners.
Thank you for your work very impressive, as always, Commissioner Mike Bartley said following the canvas.
I know its been a long process to get to where we are today, Commissioner Larry Jensen added. Id like to thank you for your dedicated service.
Commissioner Kelly VanderWal echoed his fellow commissioners thoughts. Thank you, thank you and thank you.
Deputy Finance Officer Jenna Baker shared her thoughts as well, noting there were no problems whatsoever in Brookings County.
Everyone was great this year. We had a lot of people that came out, a lot of people that had signs out, kind of protesting, but they were all outside of the 100-foot boundary, so they were all fine, Baker said. It was fun to see everyone participating in their own way.
Contact Mondell Keck at [email protected].
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