Former GOP SD candidate for the US Senate Dr. Annette Bosworth has been indicted by a grand jury for election petition errors or actual criminal behavior. The AG's allegations seem to be an election late, but do show that he can get an indictment against a political ham sandwich.
The indictment shows that Cory Heidelberger and cohorts analysis of Bosworth's petition demonstrated truly significant problems. Her statements and those of her fellow aiders and abettors haven't helped her. Finding themselves in this big hole, they might seriously consider stopping digging.
KELO has the story: KELOLAND--Bosworth Indicted
South Dakota laws and regulations on petitions seem to be designed more as deterents for petitions than rational processes. The Bosworth indictment results from her shortcuts and dodges, but the signature process should be changed to something like 20 signatures and a $200 filing fee. Let the voters decide who they want on ballots instead of a process preventing many from jumping through a bunch of needless hoops.
On the other hand, much of the process or processes required for initiatives and referenda should probably remain stringent or we will be overwhelmed with such on ballots dumped in here by out-of-state special interests and corporations.
The whole election system needs to be studied. The calendar used makes reviewing petitions difficult in time available. The Secretary of State needs also to determine if signatures are actually valid. Reducing the number of signatures needed would make checking EVERY signature a less onerous task so that even nearly incompetent state office space occupiers might be able to do it in reasonable time and correctly.
*** Stay tuned and remember, SD legislators do NOT need to attend ALEC meetings to get ideas for South Dakota legislation--- Doug Wiken
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