Lawmakers move to address Minnehaha County's election results morass
Auditor Leah Anderson seeking changes in how and when absentee ballots can be processed, counted
PIERRE – Minnehaha County’s chronic inability to get prompt election results to the public could be addressed with changes to state law on absentee ballots, Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson told lawmakers Monday.
Anderson was among several county election officials who spoke on behalf of Senate Bill 171. The bill would allow a county’s absentee ballot board to begin processing absentee ballots on the day before an election. Current law doesn’t allow ballots to be processed until the day of the election.
Anderson said that processing an absentee ballot versus a traditional ballot cast on Election Day is three times more work for her staff. They must be recorded when they are received in the mail, and then they have to be removed from an envelope and undergo additional processing.
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