When asked to define what verifying the results meant, Mr. Barnett said he had a conversation with one of the Lincoln County auditors, who told him they do not fully report their precincts until the end of the night after two people from their office have sat down and verified all the results. Pollema said the county was about an hour and a half late to report results. Lincoln County was also the source of questioning over delayed reporting results. Barnett over this point, he cited a South Dakota statute that said proceedings at ballot counting locations “shall be open to the public.” “It was a hostile environment in Lincoln County and it doesn’t produce any public confidence in what’s happening with our vote counting,” said Ms. Pollema said the watchers experienced intimidation and were told they were not allowed to ask questions. “This is the first time I’m hearing of anybody being escorted out, I guess,” said Mr. Barnett said he intends to remind voters to check their voter registration before the next election.Īnother issue raised was poll watchers’ experiences in Lincoln County as well as members of the public who were told they could not observe and escorted out. She went on to say the issue was proof that voter rolls were hacked and not secured. “People know how they are registered to vote.” “Most of these voters had no idea you could be registered as an independent or NPA,” Ms. She said she has affidavits from many people who said their voter registration was changed without their knowledge or consent to either no party affiliation (NPA) or Democrat. Pollema, later adding, “People were turned away in tears.” “We had people all day long being turned away from voting on a Republican ballot,” said Ms. Barnett said his office was not aware of any Republicans who were denied and said those voters were not aware that their party affiliation was not Republican.ĭuring public comment, Jessica Pollema, who was a candidate on the ballot for Lincoln County Auditor, said Republicans being denied ballots was the biggest issue with the primary election. When asked why some voters who have been lifetime Republicans were denied Republican ballots, Mr. Barnett cited issues due to redistricting and human error. Barnett.ĭuring the June 7 primary, some voters were handed incorrect ballots, the committee said. The use of drop boxes in the state came about during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Mr. “I’d say they’re accountable to follow the law,” Mr. “Are the county auditors accountable to follow the law and are they accountable to follow the ordinances and the actions that are taken by the county commission?” asked Ms. Barnett said he had an email from the former attorney general saying they were permissible. To me, that’s hand delivery.”Īs for the 21 counties that used standard drop boxes, Mr. “You would be handing it to the county auditor worker. “In terms of the mobile one it does say it can be hand delivered,” replied Mr. A worker from the county auditor’s office was stationed at one mobile drop box set up at the University of Sioux Falls “to save voters time.” Twenty-one counties used “standard drop boxes,” Mr. Barnett told the committee Wednesday he was aware of drop boxes or mobile drop boxes being used during the primary election on June 7. “So that would cause me some concern about whether that was a violation of law.” “My understanding is that drop boxes are a violation of South Dakota codified law 12-19-7,” said Rep.
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