PIERRE, S.D. – House Bill 1062, passed by the State Legislature earlier this year, requires that the voter registration list be made publicly available on the Secretary of State’s website. While implementing this law, Secretary Johnson acknowledges that there was an unintended disclosure of voter registration data: “Source of Registration” information was temporarily made publicly available.
This information has since been removed. Individuals who registered at a public assistance agency and had that information publicized will be notified by mail. County auditors have been contacted, and those who accessed the information will be contacted and asked to delete the files including this information. It is important to emphasize that just because someone registers to vote at a public assistance agency does not mean that they are receiving benefits. In South Dakota, a person can register to vote in a variety of ways, including through:
- Driver licensing exam stations;
- Public assistance agencies (DSS/WIC/SNAP/TANF);
- Disability services offices;
- Military recruitment centers;
- County auditor offices; and
- Mail-in registration.
“As Secretary of State, I take full responsibility for the release of this information. My office is committed to both transparency and protecting voter privacy said Secretary Monae L. Johnson. “Upon discovering the issue, we acted immediately to remove the data and prevent further dissemination.”
The Secretary of State’s Office apologizes for the disclosure of information and is taking necessary measures to ensure that this does not happen in the future. If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact the Secretary of State’s Office directly by calling (605) 773-3537 or sending an email to elections@state.sd.us Voters are encouraged to review HB 1062 and understand the changes it makes to voter data access. We remain committed to transparency, security, and restoring public trust following this error.
