SIOUX FALLS, SD (Dakota News Now) – We are now eight days away from the election and early absentee voting is growing in popularity across the state.

Dakota News Now spoke with Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson and voters about the process and its convenience for voters.

Early absentee voting begins in the state of South Dakota, and nearly 175,000 ballots have been cast statewide, but the Minnehaha County auditor says that was expected.

She says the numbers have not reached the rates seen in the 2020 election.

“I would say it’s not unexpected, I was expecting a big turnout, we have a total of about 21,000 ballots that were returned by mail or in person and that’s not unusual in a presidential election,” he said. Anderson said.

South Dakota opened absentee voting a month ago, leading the process nationwide along with Minnesota and Virginia.

Now the lines are starting to fill up.

“Right now it’s a fraction of what it was when I came in, when I came in it was all down the hall and around but it went really quickly, it’s about 30 minutes in total, this line will be down in 15 minutes. , 10 minutes, and people are polite and professional and it’s a very efficient process,” said Minnehaha Voter Norm Krutiak.

The popularity of absentee voting meant a lot to some in the ranks.

“I was very surprised and it’s encouraging to see all kinds of people, young and old,” Minnehaha voter Judy Winter said cheerfully.

All in-person ballots will be counted, unless you requested a mail-in ballot, it’s up in the air whether or not that ballot will be returned in time for those supervisors.

If you haven’t voted yet, Anderson says Monday and Friday are pretty busy days, but you’ll have a chance to get involved in early absentee voting anytime between 8 and 5 p.m.

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