June, November city elections expected to bolster turnout, campaign costs

But some fear combining nonpartisan city elections with partisan state and federal races could inject partisanship into city government.

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

The ripple effect of a new law that forces cities and school districts across South Dakota to hold their elections on the same day as state primary or general elections is already showing itself in the state’s largest city.

State lawmakers earlier this month adopted House Bill 1130 in hopes of increasing participation in local elections, which are traditionally held on the second Tuesday in April and often bring turnout percentages in the single digits.

“You see 5 percent of voters show up in April when six months before in November, 70 percent had showed up,” said Rep. Will Mortenson, a Pierre Republican who helped author the measure. “What’s really happening is our laws, including our state laws, make it inconvenient for voters to participate.”

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