Today Governor Dennis Daugaard signed Senate Bill 58, a measure “to revise certain provisions concerning elections conducted at voting centers.”  The legislation, introduced on behalf of Secretary of State Jason Gant by prime sponsors, State Senator Todd Schlekeway (R-SiouxFalls), and Representative Mark Kirkeby (R-RapidCity), is an expansion of the e-pollbook and vote center election administered in the 2011 Sioux Falls School Board election.

Secretary of State Jason Gant noted today, “With the Governor’s signature, this measure became law today. My office will begin immediate preparations for counties interested in using the technology. We will see Sioux Falls using the technology during the April 2012 School and Municipal election.”

Gant continued, “In the Sioux Falls School District election, we experienced a reduction in expenses of over $38,000 from the use of these voting reforms.  I greatly look forward to seeing how we can expand the savings of those tax dollars as the technology is implemented across South Dakota.”

The proposed legislation will allow Secretary of State Gant the option to expand vote centers from the single school board election conducted last year in Sioux Falls, to all of South Dakota. 

Senate Bill 58 enjoyed broad based support from not only the Secretary of State, but also had Sue Roust, Sioux Falls City Clerk, Bob Litz, Minnehaha County Auditor, Julie Pearson, Pennington County Auditor, Bev Chase, election supervisor for the Sioux Falls School District, and lobbyists representing the Sioux Falls School District, the South Dakota Municipal League, and the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce all testifying in favor. During its’ hearings, Senate Bill 58 had no opponent testimony, and accumulated 115 votes in favor of the measure by its final point of legislative passage.“

State Senator Todd Schlekeway noted “If elections are about the future and our hopes for it, it makes sense to adopt practices using current technologies.”

Secretary Gant was very pleased with the Governor’s approval of the measure this afternoon, and noted that “This bill represents the most significant advance in expanding voter participation in South Dakota in a generation.  It has been successfully used in major metropolitan areas such as the cities of Dallas, Texas, and Fargo North Dakota, as well as in the states of Colorado and Georgia.”

“As county participation is increased we should see greater voter turnout at the same time we will see reduced election expenses,” Gant said.  “Better results with reduced expenses. That’s something any South Dakotan can appreciate.”