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Union County delays certification of Nov. 5 election after spoiled-ballot discrepancy; post-audit set
Summary
The Union County Board of Commissioners canvassed the Nov. 5 general election on Nov. 7 but withheld the certification because of a spoiled-ballot discrepancy; the board scheduled a reconvening Nov. 8 to sign the certificate and set a post-audit for Nov. 13 in Elk Point.
The Union County Board of Commissioners canvassed the results of the Nov. 5, 2024 general election during a special session on Nov. 7 in Elk Point but stopped short of signing the certificate of election results after identifying a discrepancy tied to a spoiled ballot. Auditor Traci Torrez told the board she needed to confirm the discrepancy with the Precinct Superintendent, and the board scheduled a reconvening for Nov. 8 at 4:00 p.m. to sign the certificate if the count is confirmed.
The board began the Nov. 7 session by approving the meeting agenda (motion by Commissioner Kimmel, second by Commissioner Dailey) and the minutes of the Oct. 29 meeting (motion by Commissioner Dailey, second by Commissioner Ustad); both motions were recorded as "Carried." During the canvass, the board noted a single spoiled ballot as the source of the discrepancy and declined to complete the certificate pending verification by the precinct official, per the county record.
Commissioner Kimmel conducted the post-audit drawing, selecting Precinct 6 for the audit. The races slated for post-audit review in that precinct are Public Utilities Commissioner and United States Representative. The post-audit is scheduled for Nov. 13, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. in the Union County Courthouse in Elk Point.
Later in the session, the board moved into an executive session at 10:30 a.m. on a personnel matter concerning the auditor, pursuant to SDCL 1-25-2(1). The minutes record the board entering executive session on a motion by Commissioner Dailey, seconded by Commissioner Ustad, and leaving executive session at 11:59 a.m.; the minutes do not provide details of the discussion held in executive session.
The board adjourned at 12:02 p.m. on a motion by Commissioner Kimmel, second by Commissioner Dailey, and set its next regular meeting for Nov. 12, 2024. The Nov. 8 reconvening is intended specifically to sign the certificate stating that the published abstract is a true record of votes cast in the jurisdiction of Union County, South Dakota, pending confirmation of the spoiled-ballot discrepancy.
