South Dakota Officials Accused of Illegal Election Interference

A South Dakota cannabis activist group is accusing several state officials of engaging in illegal campaigning against pro-cannabis measures in the state. According to news site Dakota News Now, the cannabis activist group, New Approach South Dakota, has filed information requests to determine if officials violated the state’s election laws by voicing opposition to the pot-related proposals.  South Dakota state law says that “any government official or employee of the state is permitted to speak their opinion of a candidate or ballot measure in their personal capacity.” However, that same law also “states that no government agency or official can influence the election of any candidate or ballot measure in their official capacity.” The officials in question include the leaders of South Dakota’s two largest cities, Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken and Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender. The sheriff of the state’s largest county is also included, along with several other individuals. The activists at New Approach South Dakota are alleging these people may have broken the law on not influencing while in their official capacity. Among the potential infractions is a “press conference held a week ago in downtown Sioux Falls that featured TenHaken, Milstead and others, as well as a press conference the same day in Rapid City,” (according to Dakota News Now). New Approach South Dakota said in a Facebook post, “Your tax dollars should not be used to promote any politician’s personal political agenda.”