SD Supreme Court order sought on 2024 elections

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) -- The president for an election-integrity group and a so-far unsuccessful candidate for the Legislature want the South Dakota Supreme Court to order several state and county officials to do their jobs better regarding the 2024 elections.

Jessica Pollema from South Dakota Canvassing Group and John Kunnari, who narrowly lost a Republican House primary, are asking the Supreme Court to issue a writ of mandamus.

State court administrator Greg Sattizahn confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that the application was filed. "It is currently being reviewed by Supreme Court staff," he said.

Pollema and Kunnari seek the action against South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson, Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson, Minnehaha County State's Attorney Daniel Haggar and one of his deputies, Eric Bogue, and the five members of the Minnehaha County Commission in their roles as the county's canvassing board.

In the 38-page application, Pollema and Kunnari raise a wide variety of allegations extending across past elections and ask the Supreme Court to order that the officials "take steps, both short term and long term, to ensure the apparent errors made during the 2024 primary election does not recur and to bring the state into compliance with voter registration laws."