Know what’s on the ballot before you vote

With Election Day approaching, Hill City and Keystone-area voters will have a number of decisions to make when they head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3. 

The ballot includes races for county commission, the South Dakota Legislature, governor, U.S. House and U.S. Senate, as well as several statewide constitutional offices, four proposed constitutional amendments and local elections. 

Sample ballots were published in the Oct. 28 edition of the Hill City Prevailer.

For U.S. Senator, a six-year term, Mike Rounds (R) will vie against Brian L. Bengs (I).

For a two-year term in the U.S. House of Representatives, Republican Marty Jackley will face Democrat Nicole “Nikki” Gronli for South Dakota’s lone seat, vacated by Dusty Johnson. 

Current governor and lieutenant governor Larry Rhoden and Tony Venhuizen will face Democratic candidates Dan Ahlers and Steven McCleerey for a four-year term.

South Dakota House District 30, which includes Hill City, portions of Custer and Fall River counties, has three candidates competing for two seats, each a two year term—incumbents Tim Goodwin (R) and Trish Ladner (R) as well as Democratic candidate Bret Swanson.

Republican Amber Hulse is unopposed in the general election for State Senate District 30, a two-year term.

Pennington County Commission District 1 is contested in the general election. The county commission is Pennington County’s governing body and is responsible for matters such as county budget, property taxes, roads, public services and other county operations.

In District 1, Republican Mike Mueller will face Independent Leslie Hladysz for the four-year seat being vacated by longtime commissioner Ron Rossknecht. 

Tina Mulally (R) defeated incumbent Sabrina Green (R) in the June primary for Pennington County Auditor and is running unopposed for the position, a four-year term. 

Other candidates who were unopposed included Brian Mueller for sheriff and Audra Casteel for Register of Deeds, both of which are four-year terms. 

Voters will see four constitutional amendment proposals.

Amendment I proposes ending Medicare expansion coverage if federal funding falls below the 90 percent threshold. If expansion coverage is removed, Medicaid will only be applied to low-income children, pregnant women, disabled individuals and the elderly.

Amendment J is an Amendment to the South Dakota Constitution clarifying that an individual must be a citizen of the United States to be eligible to vote. 

Amendment K is a proposed constitutional amendment that establishes a trust fund where unclaimed abandoned property will be deposited. Examples of intangible property are traveler’s checks, money orders, bank deposits, refunds, stocks, funds owed under a life insurance policy, and property held in a safe deposit box. Portions of the interest and income from this fund will be distributed into the general fund for the benefit of the state. This proposed amendment requires the Legislature to determine the amount to be distributed that promotes the growth of the trust fund and the distributed amount. 

Amendment L is an amendment to the South Dakota Constitution requiring that a proposed constitutional amendment or revision receive an affirmative vote of 60 percent of the votes cast. Currently, it requires a majority vote. 

Voters within Hill City limits will have a local decision to make as well on whether to approve a new one percent municipal sales tax dedicated to capital improvement projects, specifically focusing on water and waste water projects. The tax must receive at least 60 percent support to take effect.

On a separate ballot, Keystone residents will choose from five candidates, Tammy Hunsaker,  Nathan Phelps, Sherry Smith, Scott Rainford and Sandra McLain and elect two into office of the Keystone Town Board. 

Hill City voters will vote at the Hill City Center, 227 Walnut Ave, while Keystone voters will use the Keystone Community Center, 1101 Madill St.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.