Early primary voting starts April 22

By Steve Miller, Journal staff | Wednesday, April 09, 2008

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South Dakota voters can begin casting their ballots in the Democratic and Republican primaries on April 22, well before the June 3 date.

April 22 is the first date allowed by the state for early (absentee) voting, and Pennington County expects to have its 60,000 ballots printed and ready by that date, according to county elections supervisor Lori Severson.

Severson said Pennington County had 58,960 registered voters as of Tuesday. She said the county is printing 60,000 ballots. Some will be used for testing voting machines and ballot-counting scanners.

The 2004 primary had a 53 percent turnout, but this primary, because of the tight Democratic presidential race, may draw an even bigger turnout, she said.

Any registered voter may vote absentee and does not need a reason to do so.

Between April 22 and May 19, a person may register and vote absentee, Severson said.

May 19 at 5 p.m. is the deadline to register to vote in the June 3 primary.

All voters are required to provide identification before voting or obtaining an absentee ballot.

At least one form of the following personal identification must be presented:

* A South Dakota driver's license or nondriver identification card

* A passport or an identification card, including a picture, issued by an agency of the U.S. government

* A tribal identification card, including a picture; or

* A current student identification card, including a picture, issued by a high school or an accredited institution of higher education, including a university, college, or technical school in South Dakota.

If a voter is not able to present personal identification, the voter may complete an affidavit in place of the personal identification.

A voter may cast an absentee ballot by going to the local county auditor's office, getting a ballot and voting.

An absentee voter desiring to vote by mail may apply to the person in charge of the election for an absentee ballot.

Other mail absentee voting requirements, according to the South Dakota secretary of state's office, include:

* The application or request shall be made in writing and be signed by the applicant and state the applicant's voter registration address.

* The application or request shall contain an oath verifying the validity of the information contained in the application or request.

* The oath shall be administered by a notary public or other officer authorized by statute to administer an oath. If the application or request does not contain an oath, the application or request shall be accompanied by a copy of the voter's identification card. The requirement for the oath or the submission of the voter's identification card is waived for voters covered under Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. Those voters may submit the application for absentee ballot by fax or e-mail image, including a signature, to the jurisdiction in charge of the election.

For more on voting requirements and the 2008 election process, go to www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/upcomingelection.shtm.