Decisions Are Made By Those Who Show Up
A column by Gov. Dennis Daugaard:
The presidential election is getting most of the attention this election season, but in South Dakota, voters are deciding much more.
Of course, South Dakota has general elections this fall for U.S. Senate, U.S. House and the Public Utilities Commission. We are also voting on ten ballot measures: constitutional amendments R, S, T, U and V; referred laws 19 and 20; and initiated measures 21, 22 and 23.
One of these measures, Constitutional Amendment R, was passed by the Legislature and is now before the people for ratification. Referred laws 19 and 20 were also passed by the Legislature, and then placed on the ballot by petition. The remaining amendments and initiated measures made the ballot through the petition process.
I encourage all South Dakota voters to study and thoroughly consider these ballot measures before voting this year. Information about all ten ballot measures is available on the Secretary of State’s website at https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/upcoming-elections/general-information/2016-ballot-questions.aspx.
Many of us have seen the paid television ads and received postcards in the mail. Those can be informative, but paid advertising only tells one side of the story. And while some ballot measures campaigns have backers who are willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to promote their view, other campaigns cannot afford much advertising.
With ten measures on the ballot, voting will take some time. I’d encourage South Dakota voters to consider voting early to avoid the lines. Early voting is available at your county auditor’s office on any business day between now and the day before Election Day.
It’s also a good idea to obtain a sample ballot before voting. Voters can study the issues at home, fill out the sample ballot and then copy their preferences onto the real ballot at the polling place. Sample ballots are printed in the newspaper and are available at the county auditor’s office, and you can also obtain one online from the Secretary of State at https://sos.sd.gov/Elections/VIPLogin.aspx .
Finally, I urge all South Dakota voters to show up and vote this fall. The tone of the presidential campaign can be disheartening, and the political advertisements can be irritating. But as Governor George S. Mickelson often said, “Decisions are made by those who show up.”
As Americans, we have a responsibility to study the candidates and the issues and to cast an informed ballot. We should never take that privilege for granted – not even in a tumultuous election year like this one. We owe it to our children and grandchildren, and to those who have defended our freedom, to show up on Election Day.
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Those are wise that show up and vote no on everything
Still waiting for you to demand Hillary withdraw and Kaine take the top of the ticket…
I assume you may be talking to me and not Pat as I’m the one who called on Trump to step down.
1) I’m not a Democrat. This is their job and their utter lack of any critical comment of Hillary speaks to their integrity.
2) Kaine would win the election if she stepped down. I prefer Trump despite his negative characteristics.
3) Hillary should have ceased her candidacy months ago. Expecting her to respond to a call to step down is not likely but possible as it appears the campaign is in a free-fall.