Oh the secrets you hold.
This letter was delivered today to the IPC. Besides my blog, several other media sources in Sioux Falls have signed on to assist with the records request. I will have more updates tomorrow.
Listen to Patrick Lalley’s recent rant on this issue.
September 27, 2018
Bev Chase
Executive Assistant
SF School District
201 E 38th St
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
Dear Ms. Chase:
Under the South Dakota Sunshine Law, §1-27-1 et seq., I am requesting an opportunity to inspect or obtain copies of public records including ballots, tally sheets, computer software, poll books, oaths and all other planning documents related to the September 18, 2018 Sioux Falls School Bond Election.
If there are any fees for searching or copying these records, please inform me if the cost will exceed $200.00. However, I would also like to request a waiver of all fees in that the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest and will contribute significantly to the public’s understanding of September 18, 2018 Sioux Falls School Bond Election. I am asking for this material to be made available to a media pool being assembled for purposes related to news gathering involving this election. This information is not being sought for commercial purposes.
Considering this election has just occurred, the information being requested should be readily available for inspection and testing. If access to the records I am requesting will take longer than a ‘reasonable’ amount of time, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records.
If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of the appeal procedures available to me under the law.
Thank you for considering my request.
Sincerely,
Bruce Danielson
Citizens for Integrity
PO Box 491
Sioux Falls, SD 57101
Cell: (605) 376-8087
Email:Â bruce@brdan.com
UPDATEÂ from Citzens for Integrity
As a clean and open election advocate for 52 years I have made some observations concerning the September 18, 2018 Sioux Falls School Bond election. These observations are my opinions based on being part of the process from the 1960’s into the age of computer based election. The insight I have gained into the deeper workings of modern elections was dealt with when I was Chairman of the Minnehaha County Election Review Committee in 2015.
In these years of observing and partaking in elections in South Dakota, I have seen some interesting election practices but I have never witnessed this elections poor practices. We must fight every day to keep elections fair to all participants, so we as citizens can accept the final outcomes as the voter’s choice.
This election may be the worst organized election I have witnessed in my life.
I have personally witnessed during absentee voting process:
1. No South Dakota Secretary of State Office direct support or oversight of election process
2. An unknown vendor support for computer based poll books (Everyone Counts)
3. No audit trail capability to verify the number of ballots issued and who voted absentee at IPC
4. Single clerk voter check-in of voters
5. No printed poll book at IPC absentee voting or any voting location to verify voter check-in
6. Voter check-in process with no hard copy verification by secondary individual
7. Voter check-in on a computer with the voter not able to verify data entered
8. Poll workers admitted no previous experience working an election
9. Voter check-in required voters to fill in absentee envelops with little guidance from inexperienced clerk
10. No label printers used in previous elections to guarantee legibility for absentee voting audits
11. Questionable ballot marking instructions
12. The election polling locations are disproportionally located in the southern part of the Sioux Falls. School district leaving citizens north of 6th street with no convenient polling place.
13. The Minnehaha County Election Review Committee recommendations for consistency in voting locations was ignored for election day
I am an advocate of hand counting and / or verifying ballot results when our election choices are controlled by machines. This election will be forever tainted no matter what the results are.