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    • What Sioux Falls veterans and early voters are saying
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    What Sioux Falls veterans and early voters are saying

    Umito Posted on

    Amid a contentious vote, Sioux Falls residents headed to the polls Tuesday morning to vote in the 2024 general election.

    From new voters to voting veterans, here’s what Sioux Falls residents had to say about long lines, turnout and overall voter experience, presidential candidates and voting issues on Election Day ballot.

    A line of enthusiastic voters on the west side

    At Memorial Middle School, the parking lot was full. And it wasn’t because of the teachers.

    The line out the door was long, but the energy was upbeat and volunteers inside said they had already welcomed nearly 2,000 voters by 10 a.m.

    “I’m feeling a lot of anticipation today,” said voter Grant Ericksen before leaving for Precincts 16 and 17. “I’m thinking good thoughts, keeping a positive attitude. We just have to keep moving forward.

    His wife felt confident voting no on South Dakota Amendment G and yes on state Amendment IM 29. She and her husband both voted for former President Donald Trump.

    “With early Republican turnout, (this election is) too important to be rigged,” Jody Ericksen said.

    Voter Zoey Kruse walked past her and said the same thing.

    “It’s going to be a big day,” Kruse said. “I think we’re going to have a landslide Red victory. Lord, make it so big they can’t fake it.

    Retired couple Elaine and John Dotter didn’t feel as confident about the Republican ticket.

    “Honestly, I wish we had two better candidates,” John Dotter said.

    He and his wife moved to South Dakota from the East Coast less than two years ago to be closer to their daughter and two twin grandchildren.

    “I fear that (Trump) is taking revenge for his latest defeat, and I’m not sure about his health either,” he said. “There should be an age limit.”

    “And then Kamala supported (President Joe) Biden all the way, but when she decided to run (for president), she started saying, ‘Well, that’s not me anymore.’ Well, that was the case for four years,” added his wife Elaine Dotter.

    More: Everything you need to know to vote in the 2024 elections

    Charlee Kolb, 18, was voting for the first time. She is a freshman at Augustana University and stood outside in the cold drizzle with her proud father, Charles Kolb.

    “It is THE election to vote for the first time,” Charlee Kolb said. “Our country can take two very different paths, depending on who wins, and I am confident that I am choosing the right path. I did all my research.

    Charles Kolb said he was excited to finally show her how he had voted in every election he had been able to participate in, even voting by mail when he was in Africa for the Peace Corps years ago.

    “It’s an important moment that I wanted to share with her,” he said. “There are things that are concerning, but everyone has the right to say what they think.”

    Samantha Mrazek, 22, voted Tuesday in her second general election at Générations Actives. Mrazek said she had a smooth voting experience in Sioux Falls for the first time. She said politics affects everyone, making it difficult not to care about voting.

    “I think this election is very important because it’s really about preserving your democracy and fighting for what makes America what it’s supposed to be,” Mrazek said. “Of freedom and acceptance and welcoming people, and I think that’s so important to preserve.”

    There are always two sides

    At the downtown Siouxland libraries at lunchtime, there was a Democratic voter in a short line who felt relieved to finally be able to use her voice after an election season in which she felt mute. She asked not to be named due to labor disputes and security concerns.

    “I hate having to hide how I feel,” she said Tuesday, while expressing gratitude to local media outlets supporting voters’ choice. “When I was young in the 70s and 80s, we could have different opinions and still love each other, but now if I don’t think a certain way I will be punished.”

    But then a fellow voter and poll volunteer gave thanks for finally feeling heard. He became a US citizen last year and this was his first presidential election.

    “It’s nice to be part of the decisions and the future of this great country,” said Jayro Carrillo, who emigrated from Guatemala and received his citizenship last May in a ceremony at the Washington Pavilion, among 150 other people from 25 different countries.

    He chose to volunteer to immerse himself in the “true American experience.”

    Election Day Relief

    Polling place volunteer Dejae Mikkelsen said he felt a sense of relief to finally arrive on Election Day. He had two exclamation points behind his name on his badge and greeted every voter at the downtown library with a big smile and a “thanks for coming.”

    “I feel a lot less anxious than yesterday and in the months before,” he said. “You still have that foresight, but now we’re in the present moment. It’s great to be here.

    A change of tone

    Nancy Seiler voted for Donald Trump in 2020, but said she doesn’t have as much confidence in the candidate four years later. The woman, originally from North Carolina, said she was worried about the country.

    “It’s not a Republican party anymore,” Seiler said.

    Seiler, a former Peace Corps volunteer, sent messages to representatives expressing her concern.

    “But my family always supports me,” Seiler said. “And I keep saying, ‘I love you, but how can you be so stupid?'”

    A smooth electoral process

    Precinct managers across the city seemed to be in agreement that voting was going smoothly.

    Judy Swearingen, district 01-04 director, said Active Generations had a constant line throughout the morning. Two constituencies reported voting Active Generations.

    Swearingen expected an influx of voters around noon, during the lunch hour.

    “Whatever it is, you get a little lull, and that’s good. And then we can readjust and get ready for what’s next,” Swearington said. “And then we had a wave, and a wave, and a wave and now it’s almost, well, it’s only 11 a.m.

    Alan Gabor, the director of District 01-05, said he didn’t think voters would have to wait more than 10 minutes. Gabor also believed there were more early voters.

    Early voting and absentee participation

    Some people avoided Tuesday’s gloomy weather and went to the polls early. As of Nov. 1, the South Dakota Secretary of State’s office had received 141,554 absentee ballots, according to its report. website. Postal voting took place until Monday.

    The number of absentee ballots is down about 75,000 from the 2020 general election, when 215,140 early voting ballots were received around the same time, according to the South Dakota Secretary of State’s office .

    The secretary of state’s office said 2020 and 2024 saw higher absentee turnout than the 2016 general election, which saw only 102,390 absentee ballots received.

    The overall turnout rate in South Dakota in 2016 was about 70% and about 74% in 2020.

    This story is developing. Come back for more.

    Umito
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