South Dakota removes 273 voters from rolls due to state error

In South Dakota, 273 individuals were removed from the state's voter rolls due to a clerical error regarding their citizenship status. This action was taken by the state Department of Public Safety as part of a review aimed at ensuring the integrity of the electoral process. The mistake occurred when state employees incorrectly marked the citizenship status on government forms, leading to the inadvertent registration of these individuals as voters. The state's Division of Elections Director, Rachel Soulek, confirmed that the removals were a direct result of this human error. The decision to remove these voters has sparked criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of South Dakota, which argues that the removals violate the National Voter Registration Act's stipulation that systematic voter-list maintenance must be completed at least 90 days before federal elections. The ACLU has called for the reinstatement of the affected voters and is awaiting a response from the Secretary of State's office regarding their concerns. Republican Secretary of State Monae Johnson emphasized the importance of maintaining election integrity and stated that her office is committed to ensuring that only eligible citizens participate in elections. South Dakota has approximately 682,000 registered voters, with over 617,000 considered active. The state has been proactive in its election processes, having begun early voting for the November general election. As voters prepare to make decisions on significant ballot measures, including abortion rights and marijuana legalization, the controversy surrounding the voter roll removals adds a layer of complexity to the electoral landscape in South Dakota.