Presidential Candidates on 2016 General Election Ballot

Pat Powers

jackleyheader2 Marty Jackley

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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24 thoughts on “Presidential Candidates on 2016 General Election Ballot”

  2. At least Jackley understands election law. Grandstanding Thune is either clueless or disengenuous.

  3. I wonder who will be Republican electors in 2020 ? Hindsight should be up for the date !

    1. Mickelson will pick Rhoden. Jackley should pick Krebs. Krebs should be the top choice for any candidate as LG. She has done a remarkable job.

      Mickelson should pick her also. Though I’d hope she’d turn him down.

      1. Rhoden would not lower himself to run with Liberal Michelson???

        Marty should pick a person from East River, Brown, Lincoln or Minnehaha.

  5. Krebs could show Marty how to clean up corruption. Marty is a sinking ship, I hope she’s smart enough to know that.

  7. Mickelson passed anti corruption legislation with the help of the Governors office and Marty had nothing to do with it. And now we have Marsy’s Law for victims rights something else Marty should have taken care of. All this guy cares about is taking care of his cronies!

  8. Google the word Corruption the fourth autofill in Google is Corruption in South Dakota. It’s time for change and Marty is part of the problem.

    1. That is the most ridiculous argument I’ve ever heard. The google thing is tied to your own searches.

      Same word, nothing to do with South Dakota.

  9. Two questions: If Trump did step down, could the courts order new balloting or would his name still appear on the ballot everywhere? And can people go back and change an absentee ballot at the courthouse if they later change their mind?

    Noticing that a new poll today shows Trump tied in UTAH, he may start thinking about exiting the stage.

  10. Jimmy,

    I’m not a Constitttional lawyer so take with a grain of salt.

    1) We technically don’t vote for President but Electoral College Electors. If Trump dies, withdraws, or is replaced, I would think the “obligation” to vote for Trump either transfers to Pence or his replacement.

    2) I think it used to be you could rescind an absentee ballot and vote again. However, now it is called “early voting” and once you vote (whether early or on election day), it is done.

    Regarding the Utah poll, I haven’t seen it but it wouldn’t surprise me the strong family values Mormons would react strongly to the video. But, I would be surprised if they shift to Hillary. I’d bet the “undecideds” are way up in Utah but need to see it.

    One other thing, when a new poll, I’m less interested in the actual horse race number (accuracy dependent on assumptions of voter turn-out and voter composition). Instead I look at the trend. Recent Reuters/Ipsos polls Trump % relative to Clinton:

    9-19: Trump +2
    9-26: Trump -4
    10-3: Trump -6
    10-10:Trump -7

    Thoughts:

    1) Since the first debate, the trend is clearly Clinton.
    2) It doesn’t appear the video has significantly hurt Trump.
    3) Trump needs a turn-around, it has to be significant, and it has to begin now.

    1. I understand this coming from the Secretary of State but there is no reason for the AG to be involved.

      1. The AG happens to be one of the Republican electors. If Yrp wins the state, Marty is expected to vote for him in the electoral college. The question is: does he have to? Can the electors vote for somebody else?

        1. According to Wikipedia there is no federal law requiring the members of the electoral college to vote for anybody in particular. They are free to vote their conscience? Anybody know?
          They could actually elect somebody sane and honest?

    1. Well of course they would be excused if they didn’t vote for a dead candidate, or one that dropped out.
      The question is, could they just go rogue?

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