ACLU Files Public Records Request Regarding Management of Sioux Falls Municipal Runoff Election

As the recount of the Sioux Falls mayoral election results gets underway this week, the ACLU of South Dakota is requesting public records related to the management of the June 23 municipal runoff election.

The ACLU has fielded a steady stream of calls and emails from people regarding issues they encountered during the municipal runoff election, including the delayed mail delivery of absentee ballots to voters, the date ballots were made available to in-person absentee voters, voting precincts running out of ballots and more.

“A strong democracy depends on all eligible voters having equal access to the ballot,” said Samantha Chapman, ACLU of South Dakota advocacy manager. “To that end, it is vitally important that our election officials are administering and enforcing election laws and procedures properly. If there were any issues during the June municipal runoff election, we want to highlight what happened so we can work with officials to ensure that voters in future elections are not facing similar disenfranchisement and that the voting process will be improved for everyone.”

For years, the ACLU has been engaged in election protection efforts like this to ensure easy, fair and safe access to the ballot box, working with partners to provide individual assistance through the Election Protection Hotline, addressing systemic issues affecting access to the polls, and, when necessary, seeking relief for voters in the courts. More recently, the ACLU of South Dakota has trained and deployed volunteers to serve as election observers who monitor and document issues in real time on Election Day.

A copy of the ACLU’s letter detailing the information requested is below.

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About the ACLU of South Dakota

The American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota is a chapter and program of the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of civil liberties and civil rights.

The ACLU believes freedoms of press, speech, assembly, and religion, and the rights to due process, equal protection and privacy, are fundamental to a free people. In addition, the ACLU seeks to advance constitutional protections for groups traditionally denied their rights, including people of color, women and LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit communities. The ACLU of South Dakota carries out its work through selective litigation, lobbying at the state and local level and through public education and awareness of what the Bill of Rights means for the people of South Dakota.