PIERRE, S.D. (Greater Dakota News Service) – A new analysis shows South Dakota’s rate of youth voter registration in 2024 has plummeted from 2020.
Data from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement shows South Dakota voter registration among 18- and 19-year-olds in September 2024 was down 73% from Election Day in 2020.
A decrease is normal as people age out of the group but South Dakota’s drop is by far the biggest in the country.
Samantha Chapman, advocacy manager for the ACLU of South Dakota, said while many high school graduates leave the state to attend college elsewhere, she knows some who stay “don’t like the political climate” in the state. Some young people feel like their votes do not matter, Chapman observed, especially on constitutional amendments and initiated measures.
“We’ve seen multiple times in South Dakota where the state Legislature will override or repeal the will of the voters, or a state court will,” Chapman pointed out. “And so people feel a little discouraged at times.”
It is now too late to register to vote in South Dakota. For those already registered, polls are open today until 7 p.m.
Some South Dakotans who voted early on Friday were delayed due to a technical problem with Microsoft’s voter check-in system. The glitch was temporary and the system was running again later in the day but Chapman noted some voters faced long lines as a result or were turned away. She reminded voters technology “isn’t perfect” but also suggested they build flexibility into their voting plans.
“Maybe just add a little bit more time onto your voting plan to make sure that you can stay to wait in line,” Chapman recommended. “And for folks who have to travel, it’s worth putting a little bit extra effort into planning that trip to your polling location to make sure that you can make your voice heard.”
Secretary of State Monae Johnson said in a news release that all ballots are securely stored and counted on Election Day and the technical issues “in no way impacted the tally or processing of votes.”
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