Fireworks proponent favors delaying vote

Thanks to a bill passed by the South Dakota State Legislature on Veto Day, Brandon’s municipal election originally scheduled for April 14 has been postponed until June 16.

HB 1298, which Gov. Kristi Noem signed, is an act to provide for the postponement of certain elections and to declare an emergency.

At Monday’s Brandon City Council meeting, the council voted 6-0 to postpone Brandon’s municipal election from next Tuesday to June 16.

Voters were asked to weigh in on one ballot measure, allowing fireworks in the city limits, while Ward 3 residents were to choose between TJ Cameron and Jack Parliament as their new council representative.

Melinda Else is a proponent of bringing fireworks to a public vote and secured the signatures to do so earlier this winter.

“I think everybody – myself included – that’s just really not on their minds right now,” she said. “There’s just so much uncertainty, and so much devastation, and so much terrible things happening right now, I just think people aren’t thinking about that.”

Else is glad the election has been postponed.

“I just think it’s good they aren’t putting people at risk coming out to the polling places,” she said. “I know having the folks running the election – it was just silly having them all there at risk.”

City finance officer Christina Smith said the absentee votes that have been cast so far will still be valid in the June election.

“They’ll be in our ballot box until election day,” she said. “We’ll have to continue offering absentee voting up until the new election date.” 

HB 1298 will help protect not only “at risk” voters, but also election workers who fall into that category. Many municipal election workers are retired or elderly. 

According to census.gov, voter turnout was 67 percent among those age 65 and older in 2018. In contrast, 36 percent of people 18-29 years old voted.

The new deadline for voter registration for Brandon’s election is June 1 or 15 days prior to the election date. 

“Let’s just hope we’re at a better place, state and country, when that time comes around,” Else added.

For election information, check out the city’s website or Facebook page.