Live South Dakota Election Day coverage

Polling places are closed: Check South Dakota Searchlight’s Live Results page

Polling places in western South Dakota have just closed, at 8 p.m. Central/7 p.m. Mountain. Polls closed in eastern South Dakota at 7 p.m. Central/6 p.m. Mountain.

For the latest vote tallies as they’re reported, check South Dakota Searchlight’s Live Results page.

ACLU spreads 40 election observers among three South Dakota cities

The American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota has 40 trained election observers spread among Sioux Falls, Aberdeen and Rapid City today, and the organization said it’s ready to respond immediately to voting rights infringements.

The ACLU said it’s watching for any problems that would disenfranchise voters, including questions about individual voter eligibility and mass challenges to absentee ballots.

Justice Department to monitor voting law compliance in tribal areas and Minnehaha County

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 weeks later when three candidates petitioned for a recount because their races were within 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, in a news release. “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 encourages voters who experience voting rights violations and irregularities or have other problems at the polls to contact the organization’s Election Protection Hotline:

• 866-OUR-VOTE (English)
• 888-VE-Y-VOTA (Spanish)
• 844-YALLA-US (Arabic)
• 888-API-VOTE (Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Punjabi, Tagalog, Urdu, Vietnamese)

South Dakota and the nine other states where abortion is on the ballot today

South Dakota’s Amendment G asks voters whether to ban legislators from regulating abortion until the end of the first trimester, allow regulations during the second trimester “in ways that are reasonably related to the physical health of the pregnant woman” and let the state prohibit abortion in the third trimester unless the procedure is necessary to save the life or health of a pregnant patient.

Here’s a look at the abortion measures on ballots today in nine other states, based on a summary published in September by States Newsroom.

Arizona

Abortion is illegal after 15 weeks in Arizona, unless the patient’s life is at risk. There are no exceptions for rape, incest or genetic abnormalities.

Proposition 139 asks voters if they want to allow abortion up to fetal viability with exceptions later in pregnancy for the patient’s life, or physical or mental health. The amendment would also prevent any penalties for someone who helps a person get an abortion. Arizona for Abortion Access is behind the initiative.

Colorado

Abortion is legal throughout pregnancy in Colorado, but the state enacted a ban on public funds being used for abortions in 1984. Government employees’ insurance does not cover abortion care.

Initiative 89, titled “Right to Abortion,” could effectively repeal that 40-year-old coverage ban if 55% of voters approve the amendment. Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom is leading the effort.

Florida

Abortion is illegal after six weeks in Florida with exceptions for rape, incest and to save the patient’s life.

Amendment 4 would bar government interference in abortion access before fetal viability or when a provider deems the procedure necessary to save a person’s health. Sixty percent of voters have to approve the measure, which wouldn’t remove the parental notification requirement for minors seeking abortions. Floridians Protecting Freedom is behind the campaign.

Maryland

In March 2023, the Democratic-controlled Legislature voted in favor of a referendum that put the “Right to Reproductive Freedom Act” before voters this fall. Abortion is broadly legal in Maryland.

Question 1 would reify the right to “reproductive freedom,” including the right to make “decisions to prevent, continue, or end” a pregnancy. The proposed amendment would also prevent the state from interfering in the right for the most part.

Missouri

Abortion is only permitted in Missouri for medical emergencies. Restrictions on clinics and providers hindered access in the state before the Dobbs decision, Missouri Independent reported.

Amendment 3, if approved by a simple majority, would legalize abortion up to fetal viability with exceptions later in pregnancy to protect the life or physical or mental health of a pregnant person. It also states patients and providers cannot be prosecuted for abortion. Missourians for Constitutional Freedom is the political action committee behind the initiative.

Montana

A 1999 Montana Supreme Court ruling solidified abortion access based on the state’s constitutional right to privacy, and a 2023 decision reaffirmed the precedent, while also ruling that advanced practice nurses can provide abortions. Still, the Republican-controlled legislature advanced abortion restrictions, which are largely blocked by the courts, Daily Montanan reported.

CI-128 asks voters to further enshrine into the state’s constitution the right to make decisions about one’s pregnancy, including abortion up to fetal viability, without government regulation. The amendment would include exceptions later in pregnancy to protect the life or health of the patients, as determined by providers. Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights headed the ballot effort.

Nebraska

A 12-week abortion ban was enacted last year. Protect Our Rights launched a campaign last November for an amendment that would expand access up to viability, as determined by a provider, with later exceptions for a mother’s health.

Protect Women and Children announced a counter-effort in the spring for a competing constitutional amendment that would ban abortions after the first trimester (12-14 weeks), with later exceptions for rape, incest or the life of a mother. It would allow the legislature to pass stricter bans in the future.

If both questions are approved by voters, the one with the most votes wins, Nebraska Examiner reported.

Nevada

In 1990, Nevada voters secured the right to an abortion through 24 weeks of pregnancy, or later if the mother’s life is at risk. Question 6 asks voters to ensure similar rights constitutionally — making them harder for lawmakers to modify. If passed, this amendment would protect abortion access up to fetal viability, or later to protect the life or health of the patient, Nevada Current reported.

The coalition Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom is behind the proposal, which will have to be approved twice — once this year and again in 2026.

New York

Abortion is legal in New York up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, and abortions after that point must be approved by providers who decide whether a fetus is viable, or if a patient’s life or health is at risk.

Proposal 1, a legislatively referred referendum, asks voters if they want to add an equal rights amendment to the constitution. If approved, it would bar discrimination based on sex, including “pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes and reproductive health care and autonomy.” Supporters say this would add protection for the right to an abortion.

— State summaries by States Newsroom’s Elisha Brown

A look back at South Dakota Searchlight’s 2024 election coverage

At South Dakota Searchlight, we’ve been busy covering the 2024 general election for the past several months.

While you wait for South Dakota results to roll in after 8 p.m. Central/7 p.m. Mountain today, here’s a look back at some of the coverage by our reporters and States Newsroom’s D.C. and national bureaus:

South Dakota’s U.S. House race

• Rep. Johnson answers criticism by pointing to record and private sector experience
• ‘Mom for Congress’ pins bid to unseat Dusty Johnson on message of pragmatism, public service
• Rep. Johnson sitting on nearly $6 million in campaign cash as he seeks reelection

SD legislative races

• June primary coverage: New landscape confronts South Dakota Republicans after political earthquake shakes incumbents
• Before votes are counted, Republicans already have a near-majority in the Legislature
• Campaign finance reports reveal high-stakes spending in key legislative races

South Dakota ballot question explainers

• Amendment E: Expanding the state constitution’s scope beyond men
• Amendment F: Sending the debate over Medicaid work requirements to voters
• Amendment G: Supporters seek to restore abortion rights that opponents call extreme
• Amendment H: Opposing sides differ on the likely outcomes of open primaries
• Initiated Measure 28: What supporters call tax relief, opponents call a budget problem
• IM 29: If voters decriminalize marijuana, lawmakers would make the call on sales
• Referred Law 21: A landowner bill of rights or an undermining of local control

Ballot question campaign finances

• $500K contribution helps abortion-rights group narrow fundraising gap
• Ethanol is fueling support of South Dakota carbon pipeline ballot measure
• Businesses and interest groups drive spending against tax repeal measure
• Ethanol cooperative kicks in another $400,000 to support carbon pipeline ballot question
• Out-of-state nonprofit outspends in-state groups in open primaries campaign
• Health-related nonprofits are funding opposition to the Medicaid work requirement ballot question
• Marijuana industry is major funder of legalization ballot question
• Group opposing abortion-rights measure receives $500,000 from out-of-state nonprofit

SD Public Utilities Commission race

• Q&A: Kristie Fiegen, incumbent Republican candidate for Public Utilities Commission
• Q&A: Forrest Wilson, Democratic candidate for Public Utilities Commission
• Q&A: Gideon Oakes, Libertarian candidate for Public Utilities Commission
• Incumbent raises more than opponents in PUC race, and has support from industry groups

Voting issues

• Winning young artists get their designs on ‘I voted’ stickers
• State official says employee error led to 273 non-US citizens on voter rolls
• Officials urge voters to be prepared and consider voting early as turnout predictions grow

Harris and Trump on the issues

• Reforms at the U.S. Supreme Court: Where do Harris and Trump stand?
• Guns: Where do Trump and Harris stand?
• Social Security and Medicare: Where do Harris and Trump stand?
• Immigration: Where do Trump and Harris stand?
• Foreign policy: Where do Harris and Trump stand?
• Reproductive rights: Where do Trump and Harris stand?
• Education: Where do Harris and Trump stand?
• Housing: Where do Trump and Harris stand?
• Taxes: Where do Trump and Harris stand?

Where this year’s turnout could rank historically

South Dakota’s top election official, Secretary of State Monae Johnson, estimated last month that voter turnout for today’s election could reach 75%.

If that prediction proves true, it would be the highest turnout for a South Dakota general election in 20 years, since 78.6% of registered voters cast ballots in 2004.

Here’s a look at the past two decades of general election turnout in the state.

Polls are open: Don’t forget your ID, and other helpful information

It’s Election Day 2024, and South Dakota polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.

Registered voters searching for their polling place can find it in the state’s Voter Information Portal at vip.sdsos.gov/VIPLogin.aspx.

South Dakotans going to the polls today should bring an accepted form of identification, such as a South Dakota driver’s license or non-driver ID card, tribal ID, passport, student ID issued by a South Dakota high school or college, or any other photo ID issued by the U.S. government. Voters who do not have ID must be given the option to sign a personal affidavit swearing to their identity.

There are more than 600,000 registered voters in South Dakota, and more than 20% of them — about 140,000 — had already voted early or absentee by last Friday. Some election officials are predicting turnout around 70% or higher by the time polls close, which means voters could encounter lines at polling places.

South Dakota Searchlight reporters will visit polling places today, monitor watch parties tonight, and report results as they become available after 8 p.m. Central/7 p.m. Mountain from the South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office. The office compiles all the results from the state’s 66 counties, where votes are tallied.

For a summary of what’s on the ballot today, check out our story: Election Day 2024: What’s at stake in South Dakota.