Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-01-24
SYNOPSIS OF SOUTH
DAKOTA PRIMARY
Candidates Must File Petitions
at Least Six Weeks Before
the Primary.

primary law our party candidates for
state, judicial and county offices are
to be nominated by the direct pri-
mary Of the party. United States SEN
ators are also selected by the direct
vote, which serves an instruction to
the legislature. The law does not ap-
ply to municipal, town, township and
school district officers unless the
voters by a majority vote so direct.
When Held.
The primary election lis held in each
precinct at a regular polling place on
the second Tuesday in June between
the hours OF s and 5 O'clock. and work.
ingmen are entitled to time off to
vote.
Petitions for State Ticket.
Candidates for United States sena-
tor, congress, state offices and Judges
of the circuit court must, in order TO
have their names printed on the
official primary ballot, file a petition
with the secretary of state at least
six weeks before the primary. Said
petitions must be signed by not less
than ] nor more than 5 per cent OF
the party vote of their respective jul
diclal districts.
Petitions for County Ticket.
Candidates for county, legislative
office or for a member of the party
state central committee must like
wise file a nominating petition with
the county auditor at least 80 days be-
fore the primary, signed by not less
h 3 or more han 5 per cent OF the
voters of the party in the county Del
egates to state conventions are chosen
in the same manner. The law also per-
mits candidates for state conventions
TO unite under a common motto and
join in one petition, to nave their
names appear on the official ballot I'M
der hat motto.
No person can sign the petition Of
two candidates for the same nominal
ton to the same Office.
Precinct Committees.
Each ballot has a space i'm which the
voter can write his choice of precinct
committeeman.
Fees for Filing Petitions.
4 fee for fling nominating petit
tons is charged which, is turned into
the general fund n used to defray
the expense of printing ballots and
conducting the primary. The fee varies
on the state ticket. For senator. con-
gress. governor and members of the
supreme court the fee is $50. From this
the fees rum down through the various
offices TO the lieutenant governor, who
is the lowest at $40.
For county offices the following nomi-
mating fees must be paid the county
auditor.
Treasurer, auditor, sheriff and regis
ter of deeds, SO each.
County judge, states attorney. clerk
of courts and superintendent, $40 each.
commissioner, coroner and surveyor.
IS each.
Legislature, either house. s..
Constables, justices of the peace and
delegates TO state convention or mem
bers or state central committee. 81.
The Election.
Nh. ,,.ls.a. -
and delivered to the precinct Judges.
who are appointed by the auditor, each
Judge to be of different political parties.
The county pays the judges the same
as for general elections. The Judges
choose two clerks. Each party has bal
lots of different color. Members of each
party call for their ballot, mark the
candidates they wish nominated. and
deposit ii I'm the ballot box. The vote
is anvassed the same as In general
elections, and the same rules regarding
el|ectioneering, selling liquors, etc, are
In force. The returns are sent to the
county auditor, and he, together with
the county judge and clerk of courts,
c~anvasses the vote of the county.
Nominations.
To secure the official nomination. q
candidate must have the highest num-
Der of votes east and more than 20
per cent of the total vote. In case no
candidate receives more thar 30 per
cent of the total vote there IL no NOM
nation, and the nominee is chosen from
among the primary candidates by the
COUNTY or state convention, us the
case may be, delegates 10 which are
chosen at the primary.
County Conventions.
Delegates to the county convention
which is held the first Tuesday in July.
"a TA 1AInnfA nN NhA
portlonment TO be determined by each
party chairman. The county conven-
ton may fill vacancies on the county
such as may be caused by the
failure of any candidate TO receive 30
per cent of the vote, death or withdraw
ats and to pass party resolutions. The
state convention, which Is held the sec
ond Tuesday in July, has the same
powers with respect to the state ticket
and state platform and nominates can
didates for presidential electors.
FROM an examination of the provi-
sions OF the law il will be seen that
any individual desiring to become a
candidate for any office can do so by
Ming the necessary petition and pay
ing the fee. The man who gets the
most votes at the primary becomes
the official party candidate, providing
he gets more than 80 per cent OF the to-
tai vote. III he gets less than 30 per
cent the candidates must abide by the
decision of the county the
delegates TO which are elected al the
primary.
National Delegates.
On presidential years Delegates are
chosen 10 national conventions I'm the
following manner
IL two-thirds OF the members of The
county central committee OF the sew
eral parties shall decide that there Is
NOT sufficient contest owe delegates TO
Justify the expense OF holding n coun-
~ primary. the committees may an
point delegates TO the state conven.
tons. which shall be held the fourth
Tuesday In March. q~uadrennialIy. and
elect delegates to the national corven-
ton. In case the committees so dc-,de
however, they may call primaries to
elect delegates TO the county conven-
ton and the county convention can
elect delegates TO the state convention. |
These primaries are held on the second
Tuesday In March. and arc conducted
In exactly the same N as the
Jnr,e primary. except that the polls are
open only between the hours OF 3 D.. IN.
n $50 p. M. The county Committees
are given the option to hold th,g pri- |
mary or not. as they see fit. ard IN
case or there being no Eight on FOR
national delegates the expense d. Eoll- |
ing the March primary can be avoided.
"