Column: South Dakota ballots no longer offered in Lakota

Monday, October 24, 2011  

"South Dakota election officials don’t need to make special provisions any longer for speakers of American Indian native languages in any of the 66 counties.

Previously the federal government had required special steps in 18 counties.

The audio recordings of American Indian speakers reading the names and the other information written on the election ballots don’t have to be used in 2012.

Secretary of State Jason Gant said the AutoMARK voting machines will continue to be used, but the audio ballots will be only in English, rather than in English and Lakota.

Starting in 2006 the AutoMARK technology was used to deliver information in Lakota in 11 counties. They were Day, Dewey, Marshall, Roberts, Tripp, Ziebach, Mellette, Todd, Jackson, Shannon and Bennett."

Get the Story:
Bob Mercer: Indian-language election issue deserves scrutiny (The Mitchell Daily Republic 10/24)