Presidential Candidates on 2016 General Election Ballot

PIERRE, S.D. – Attorney General Marty Jackley and Secretary of State Shantel Krebs jointly clarify the South Dakota general election ballot with regard to Presidential Candidates.

The South Dakota 2016 general election ballots were printed, finalized, and shipped to county auditors in September and absentee voting began on September 23, 2016.  Thousands of absentee votes have already been cast.

In order for a Presidential candidate’s name to have been removed from South Dakota’s 2016 general election ballot, the candidate seeking to withdraw was required to notify the Secretary of State by the First Tuesday in August pursuant to SDCL 12-6-55.  A replacement candidate, as determined by the withdrawing candidate’s political party, must have then been submitted to the Secretary of State by the second Tuesday in August pursuant to SDCL 12-8-6.  To date, no presidential candidates who appear on South Dakota’s 2016 general election ballot have submitted a notice of withdrawal to the South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office.

South Dakota has three presidential electors.  South Dakota law provides that presidential electors must “meet at the seat of government of this state and then and there perform the duties enjoined upon them by the Constitution and laws of the United States.”  SDCL 12-24-4.  Each state political party selects its presidential electors at a state party convention pursuant to SDCL 12-5-21.  The Constitution Party of South Dakota selected presidential electors: Frank Howe, Joel Bergan, and Melvin Van Den Top.  The South Dakota Democratic Party selected presidential electors: JR LaPlante, Susan Kelts, and Ann Tornberg.  The Libertarian Party of South Dakota selected presidential electors: Jon Boon McNutt, Elaine Kub, and Richard Shelatz.  The South Dakota Republican Party selected presidential electors: Dennis Daugaard, Matt Michels, and Marty Jackley. 

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