Turnout for South Dakota primary election rises to 34.55%

Voter turnout for Tuesday’s South Dakota primary election was 34.55%, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.

It was the strongest turnout for a primary election in the state since 2008.

There were 171,729 ballots cast for Tuesday’s election, and 497,046 voters registered.

Turnout among Republicans was 43%. The Republican Party, whose primary races are open only to Republican voters, chose its nominees for governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House, and had 49 legislative primaries spread across the state.

Democrats had mostly local races on their ballots, with no statewide primary races and one legislative primary. Democratic turnout was 17%. Turnout among other voters, including those from minor parties, independents and those not listing an affiliation on their registration, was 19%.

This was the first election under a new state law that requires local elections to be combined with either the June primary or November general election. State lawmakers who approved the law said they were motivated in part by a desire to increase turnout.