We the People Want Our Elections Back

By: Nichole Braithwait

The “Great” American Voting Machine – Cross Your Fingers AND Your Toes AND Close Your Eyes!

Since our last update, there has been a huge uptick in election related information coming out around the nation, especially in Georgia and most recently with the Kari Lake case with the Supreme Court.  We often hear the argument here in South Dakota that “election issues don’t affect us here,” that “issues with machines are only occurring in the big cities in other states,” and that “we don’t have anything to worry about.”  

It still boggles the mind how people think that these machines that we are using have a place as our “unchosen” election system.  These machines are purchased from private corporations who cannot be FOIA’d, corporations who have lied to us about Cast Vote Records and auditing, corporations who have created machines that have capacity to be connected to the internet and can be hacked.  Our auditors are not FULLY aware of how they work, how they are maintained, and most have ZERO ability to obtain the FULL audit trail. Further, the huge majority of ALL citizens wouldn’t know what a cellular/internet modem chip looks like and they sure cannot explain how a hacker could impact that machine OR how a hacker might be able to intercept election results via the “black box” Albert Sensors that our data flows through on its way to the Secretary of State’s office during election night reporting.

Just with these simple facts alone, you would think that any reasonable person who believes in the sanctity of our vote would take pause and start asking some hard questions of the Secretary of State’s office, doing their own research on how the machines function and engaging in open and honest conversation with citizens who are blowing the whistle.

So, a quick recap on the efforts to petition our government to bring it to a vote of the people to decide if they wish to continue to use machines OR change to hand counting.  First, this request for change is 100% legal. We’ll just touch the surface here…SDCL 12-17B-3 gives our county commissioners the authority to make this change ALL BY THEMSELVES.

12-17B-3. Authority of governing body to adopt, experiment with or abandon system.

Any governing body having supervision of elections within any political subdivision may adopt, experiment with, or abandon any automatic tabulating or electronic ballot marking system approved for use by the State Board of Elections. Any governing body may use the system in all or some of the precincts within its jurisdiction or in combination with any other type of voting system approved for use by the State Board of Elections.

AND guess what else?  Just like protections in Title 52, we have a law on the books that protects the disabled! SDCL 12-18-25 Assistance of disabled or illiterate voter by person of his choice.

12-18-25. Assistance of disabled or illiterate voter by person of his choice. Any voter who by reason of physical disability or illiteracy is unable to read or mark a ballot may receive the assistance of any person whom such voter may select.

Now, we realize that there has been a lot of fear mongering over the rights of disabled voters and further fear that if we stop using machines that we are violating the Federal HAVA law, but just like EVERY FEDERAL PROGRAM where funds are accepted, there are strings attached.  If you accept HAVA grant funding, then you must follow the rules of the Federal grant program. If you choose NOT to participate, those rules do not apply.  HAVA has protections for a hand counted ELECTION SYSTEM.

SDCL also has all the needed laws for HAND COUNTING!  Imagine that!  Read through Chapter 12-16 Ballots and Election Supplies, for all the GOODNESS that is covered there.

So with that… here is where we stand!

43 out of 66 counties are currently working on some variation and are in some sort of organizational status with petitions.  We are NOT going away. The movement continues to grow.

Fall River County Commissioners VOTED in accordance with SDCL 12-17B-3 to hand count the June primary election and then see where they want to go after that.

On March 12, 2024 Lawrence County Commissioners REJECTED a petition with approximately 1300 signatures, clearly against SDCL 7-18A-13 Board action on initiative petition--Submission to voters. This law states that if a petition to initiate is filed with the auditor, the auditor shall present it to the board of county commissioners at its next regular or special meeting. The board shall enact the proposed ordinance or resolution and shall submit it to a vote of the voters in the manner prescribed for a referendum within sixty days after the final enactment. However, if the petition is filed within three months prior to the primary or general election, the ordinance or resolution may be submitted at the primary or general election.

Organizers in Lawrence County have sought legal counsel. The people have been denied their First Amendment right to petition the government for redress of grievances.  If any more counties decide to violate the Constitution, this could grow into a class action lawsuit.

Here is the video link to that Lawrence County Commissioners meeting where they rejected the will of the people: https://rumble.com/v4iu9cu-lawrence-county-commission-rejects-hand-count-petitions.html

On April 2, 2024 McPherson County Commissioners REJECTED a petition with more than 200 signatures (over double what they needed), clearly against SDCL 7-18A-13. Organizers in McPherson County are working to decide on their course of action.  AGAIN, the people have been denied their First Amendment right to petition the government for redress of grievances.  Here is the video link to that McPherson County Commissioners meeting where they rejected the will of the people:

The commissioners previously voted to recount all votes by hand after every election.

There are also some interesting emails coming from Austin Hoffman, McPherson County States Attorney.  This is just one portion of the back and forth, but it should be noted that here again a States Attorney is parroting the Sarah Frankenstein line that these are illegal petitions.  They WANT to inflict lawfare on the citizens.

More great news!  We have been told by a citizen there that on April 3, 2024 Gregory County Commissioners PASSED a RESOLUTION for the primary elections in June to accept machines to count ballots, BUT to also conduct a 100% post-election audit by HAND COUNT. This passed with a 5-0 vote and they are working on accepting the petition to ELIMINATE MACHINES place the initiative on the ballot to allow the voters to decide if they wish to use machines or hand count in the future.  They are currently working to determine if the ballot question will be on the June primary ballot or if it will be a special election after the primaries.

A citizen who was there lamented that, “The State Attorney has never capitulated on anything until TODAY.”  Prayers are being answered!  Rick Weible, who was in attendance, stated that, “This may not have been a grand slam but definitely a home run.”

Progress is being made, keep going!  We have another county that has all petition signatures collected and they are preparing to turn them into their auditor and another county that is very close to being finished collecting signatures.

If you would like to start a petition for your county OR get linked up with organizers already circulating, please email us at petitionssd@proton.me.

Finally…say a special prayer for Jessica Pollema today. 

The Cast Vote Record court case is finally seeing the light of day.  This case was delayed from 25 March and new judge assigned. She will be testifying in her case tomorrow, 5 April 2024 at 9am.  

The Armor of God Ephesians 6:10-17

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.