SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO-AM) - South Dakota's top political leaders--all Republicans--believe the election process is fair, in contradiction to their Presidential nominee's statements that the electoral system is "rigged."
KELO Radio News collected the following statements about Donald Trump's recent comments on the security of electoral process:
- U.S. Sen. John Thune
Voters have every right to be vigilant in looking out for fraud, but I have confidence in the state and county officials here in South Dakota to do everything they can to ensure our elections are fair. The American electoral process is the cornerstone of our democracy. Suggesting otherwise undermines an electoral system that is a model for nations around the world.
- U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds
“Sen. Rounds has faith in the voters and South Dakota’s election process. Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy that must be fiercely protected. The sun will rise after this and every other election, and we need to stay focused on the important issues, no matter what the results of the election.”
- Gov. Dennis Daugaard
“South Dakota can be very proud of the reliability and integrity of our state’s election system. Certainly different media outlets present different perspectives on the candidates and issues, but South Dakotans can be confident that the votes they cast are counted fairly and accurately.”
- U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem
“Free and fair elections are at the heart of the American democracy. Without question, we must remain vigilant to guard against voter fraud in order to maintain voters’ confidence in our electoral system, but election officials in South Dakota have worked hard to protect the integrity of our state’s elections and I believe South Dakota voters can trust their votes will be properly counted on November 8.”
- S.D. Attorney General Marty Jackley
“I am confident that our state and county election officials and volunteers will conduct a fair election.”
- S.D. Secretary of State Shantel Krebs
"First of all, South Dakota uses paper ballots. When the voter is done with his paper ballot they drop it into a secured locked ballot box that is delivered to the county auditors office that evening after the polls are closed. The County auditor opens the sealed ballot box in the view of the public.The paper ballots are taken out and put into the tabulating machine which is not connected to the Internet. Our tabulating Machines are not connected to the Internet at all.
Once the tabulation of the paper ballots has been completed, the County auditor takes the print out of the results and then goes over to a secure computer where the County auditor must log in with the login password, and authentication key numbers that change constantly. Only that Auditor has access through our double air gapped system when the County auditor will then enter in the precinct results into our live election results page.
The cross check, or statewide canvass is completed once the County commission signs off for each county and that canvass report is submitted to the state for the statewide canvass.
We do not have any Internet-based voting systems."
KELO Radio also asked the leaders if they had any evidence of pre-election rigging or shennanigans and none responded to that question or noted any evidence of electioneering.