In the general elections on November 5 in South Dakota, voters will face several high-profile contests, including the presidential election and a state constitutional amendment aimed at overturning a law that bans abortion. The state has a strong Republican history, with Trump winning 62% of the votes in 2020 compared to 36% for Biden, the exception being President Lyndon Johnson in 1964.
In the contest for the U.S. House of Representatives, current Republican incumbent Dusty Johnson will seek his fourth term against Democrat Sheryl Johnson. South Dakota is among the 14 states that have banned abortion at all stages of pregnancy following the overturning of the ruling in Roe vs. Wade.
The proposed abortion amendment would allow limited regulations in the second trimester and ban abortion in the third trimester, except in cases necessary for the life or health of the pregnant woman. The Associated Press does not make winner predictions unless it is clear that there is no scenario for other candidates to catch up to the leader, and it will not publish results until all polls have closed.
Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and former Republican President Donald Trump will compete for South Dakota's three electoral votes. The number of registered voters in the state stands at 680,775, and significant voter turnout is expected in the elections. In the 2020 presidential election, there was a 67% turnout of registered voters, and for 2022, an estimated 29% of votes were cast before election day. Initial results are expected after the polls close, scheduled for 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Eastern Time.
