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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2002

The American Civil Liberties Union, which is currently handling a Native voter rights suit, is questioning proposed changes in how absentee ballots in South Dakota will be handled on election night.

The ACLU said the changes might violate the federal Voting Rights Act. It requested the state seek approval by the Department of Justice, a position rejected by a state attorney.

Secretary of State Joyce Hazeltine is recommending changes in order to ensure everyone's votes are counted. The ACLU, in an unrelated suit filed on behalf of Sioux tribal members, has accused Hazeltine of making changes without federal approval.

Hazeltine made the suggestion in response to an ongoing investigation of Native voter registrations and absentee ballots. The probe is tied to a worker for the state Democratic party.

According to The Sioux Falls Argus Leader, Democrats registered an additional 11,387 new members since June. Republicans registered 8,908 new voters.

Get the Story:
ACLU questions absentee-ballot advice (The Rapid City Journal 10/30)
ACLU questions election changes (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 10/30)
Voter registrations surge 5.3% (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 10/30)

Related Stories:
S.D. woman fights voter fraud charges (10/29)
S.D. voter fraud tied to one person (10/25)
Charges fly in S.D. Indian voter dispute (10/24)
Opinion: Don't let illiterate Indians vote (10/23)
All eyes on South Dakota for votes (10/22)
Charges of Indian voter fraud denied (10/18)
Editorial: Investigate voter fraud (10/18)
S.D. voter fraud probe continues (10/17)
'More and more' cases of voter fraud (10/16)
Thune: S.D. vote challenge not my idea (10/16)
Problems cited with Indian voter drive (10/15)
Native voters said key in S.D. races (09/02)
Sioux tribal members file voting rights suit (08/06)