Vote tabulators to be used in Sioux Falls spring election despite county auditor's skepticism

City clerk says contract with Minnehaha County Auditor's Office stipulates use of machine counting

Ballots used to cast votes in the city of Sioux Falls’ upcoming municipal election will be tallied using automated tabulation machines, regardless of any resistance from its partners in the Minnehaha County Auditor’s Office.

Sioux Falls City Clerk Jermery Washington this week told The Dakota Scout that the city’s contract for election services with Minnehaha County provides that an Election Systems & Software tabulating machine be used to count ballots during the April 9 election, being held jointly between the city and the Sioux Falls School Board. So despite skepticism about their use by election officials within Minnehaha County government — chief among them, county Auditor Leah Anderson — the city has been given assurance that the agreement will be honored by the county, which typically partners with the city to conduct municipal elections.

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“In our discussions that we have had, the machines will be used,” he said, referring to a meeting held in mid-December between members of his office, the City Attorney's Office and Anderson and members of her staff.