South Dakota has taken action by removing 273 individuals identified as ‘noncitizens’ from its voter rolls, even as general election voting is already underway in the state. The move, led by the state’s top elections official, has sparked controversy, with some supporting it as necessary for election integrity, while others argue that it could disenfranchise valid voters.
The state Department of Public Safety made the announcement of the voter roll removal on Monday, stating that it was part of a review aimed at safeguarding the integrity of elections in South Dakota. Republican Secretary of State Monae Johnson defended the action, emphasising the importance of ensuring that only eligible citizens participate in the electoral process.
With more than 617,000 active registered voters out of a total of about 682,000 in South Dakota, the impact of the removal of 273 individuals is significant. The state had already begun early voting for the upcoming November general election, with absentee voting starting on September 20.
Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota, have called for the reinstatement of the affected voters, highlighting concerns that naturalized U.S. citizens who have the right to vote may have been wrongly removed. The ACLU cited violations of the National Voter Registration Act’s guidelines on voter-list maintenance and raised issues about the timing of such mass removals so close to an election.
The controversy in South Dakota is not an isolated case, as similar incidents of registered voters being purged from rolls have occurred in other states like Ohio and Virginia. As the state grapples with these challenges, voters are gearing up to decide on various significant ballot questions this autumn, including matters related to abortion rights, marijuana legalization, and the state food tax.
It remains to be seen how South Dakota will address the aftermath of the voter roll purge, including whether the affected individuals will be informed of their removal or potentially face legal consequences for improper registration. As the state navigates through this electoral process, the spotlight remains on safeguarding the integrity and inclusivity of the voting system for all eligible citizens.