PIERRE, S.D.(KCCR)- The 2024 election is just under a year away and the prep for that election is underway in Auditor and County Finance Offices across the state. Hughes County Finance Officer Thomas Oliva told the Hughes County Commission that threats against the election process, at least nationwide are already happening.
Oliva says no election office in South Dakota has been mailed powdery materials. He adds candidate petitions will start to arrive in his office in January.
Oliva says he’s being proactive to protect his staff.
According to an Associated Press article dated November 9th letters containing fentanyl have been sent to election offices Georgia, Nevada, California, Oregon and Washington state. At least four letters mailed contained fentanyl. A letter sent to the Pierce County Auditor’s Office in Tacoma, Washington contained the phrase “End Elections Now”. One such letter led to a haz-mat response to the King County Elections Office in Seattle on November 8th whiled workers were processing ballots.