In case you missed it, there was an historical election on Tues., Nov. 5th. Local poll workers stated that they seen a good turnout, with a steady flow of voters. In South Dakota state politics, Republicans have long held a super majority. This dominance continued. In several state congressional races, Republicans ran uncontested.
SPINK COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS:
President:
Trump (R): 2,145 votes, 68%*
Harris (D): 921 votes, 29%
Kennedy (I): 60 votes, 2%
U.S. Representative:
D. Johnson (R): 2,430 votes, 78%*
S. Johnson (D): 685 votes, 22%
Public Utilities Commissioner:
Fiegen (R): 2,208 votes, 74%*
Wilson (D): 665 votes, 22%
Oakes (L): 113 votes, 4%
State Senator, District 22:
Wheeler (R): 1,998 votes, 68%*
Schmidt (D): 960 votes, 32%
State Representatives, District 22:

Greenfield (R): 2,125 votes, 61%*
Van Diepen (R): 1,345 votes, 39%*
County Commissioner, Spink-4
Smith (I): 465 votes, 73%*
Farmen (I): 175 votes, 27%
Supreme Court retention
Justice Scott P. Myren, 5th Supreme Court District
Yes: 2,277 votes, 83%*
No: 453 votes, 17%
Ballot Measures:
Amendment E: Gender references in state constitution
Yes: 1,046 votes, 34%
No: 2,066 votes, 66%*
Amendment F: Work requirements for expanded Medicaid benefit recipients
Yes: 1,574 votes, 51%*
No: 1,530 votes, 49%
Amendment G: Abortion rights
Yes: 1,037 votes, 33%
No: 2,081 votes, 67%*
Amendment H: Top-two primaries
Yes: 917 votes, 30%
No: 2,168 votes, 70%*
Initiated Measure 28: No tax on consumables
Yes: 721 votes, 23%
No: 2,382 votes, 77%*
Initiated Measure 29: Recreational marijuana
Yes: 1,096 votes, 35%
No: 2,030 votes, 65%*
Referred Law 21: “Landowner Bill of Rights”
Yes: 1,011, 33%
No: 2,077, 67%*
Overall, 436,478 ballots were cast in South Dakota. That’s 70% of registered voters. Statewide, 63% of voters opted for Trump (President), 72% went for Johnson (U.S. Congressman), and 68% cast their ballots for Fiegen (S.D. Public Utilities Commission). Per the ballot initiatives, 57% said no to changing wording in state documents to gender-neutral language; 59% said no to abortion; 66% said no to top-two primaries; 69% said no to banning state sales tax on consumables; 56% said no to recreational marijuana; and 59% said no to Referred Law 21, “Landowner Bill of Rights”. The one measure that did pass was Amendment F, which allows the state to impose work requirements for Medicaid recipients, pending federal approval. All poll results are considered unofficial until canvasses are completed.
Spink County Auditor Theresa Hodges said that the election went smoothly. It took poll workers approximately 3 and a half hours to get the ballots counted. The ballots are counted with tabulator machines. These machines do not connect to the internet. Care is taken to keep ballots secure. A relatively new law requires audits to take place after elections. Hodges, with a small team, will randomly selected a location and 2 races. They will re-open the ballots and do a hand count. This will be compared to the results that were sent to the Secretary of State after the election. Hodges said that Spink County probably will stick with paper ballots for a long time yet. There’s no rush to switch to electronic ballots.