Saturday, August 28, 2010

Gant debates at Corn Palace event

Secretary of state candidate Jason Gant speaks Saturday during a debate at the Corn Palace in Mitchell. (Chris Huber/Republic)


Secretary of state candidates clash over endorsement

By: Ross Dolan, The Daily Republic

Published August 28 2010

Democrat Secretary of State candidate Ben Nesselhuf, of Vermillion, fended off verbal jabs from candidate Jason Gant, R-Sioux Falls, at Saturday’s Corn Palace debates in Mitchell.

The pair filled in for the gubernatorial debate, which was deleted from the program when Lt. Gov. Dennis Daugaard dropped out due to the death of a close friend.

The secretary of state candidates are colleagues in the state Senate and are seeking the office of current Secretary Chris Nelson, who will be term-limited out of office at the end of this year.

Gant attacked Nesselhuf’s endorsement from the Secretary of State Project. The organization’s website says it “supports reform-minded Secretary of State candidates and incumbents in key battleground states.”

Gant claimed the group does not favor the use of photo identification, which would confirm a voter’s identity.

Nesselhuf said that whatever the group’s specific positions, its overall aim appears reasonable. “This is quite a conspiracy that I’m the evil genius of,” he said with intended sarcasm.

Nesselhuf said he envisions a more active role for the secretary of state’s office in distributing business information on corporate filings. He pitched it as an “economic development” idea.

Gant said the secretary of state’s office isn’t meant to delve into economic development, and that as the state’s chief election officer, he would continue to protect the integrity of the election process.

Article on Voter Fraud Hotline

From the Sioux Falls Argus Leader



Voter fraud hot line proposed

Candidate points to Florida in 2000 and Minnesota in '08

JOE SNEVE • JSNEVE@ARGUSLEADER.COM • AUGUST 21, 2010

The Republican candidate for secretary of state has plans to create a toll-free voter fraud hot line if elected, but his opponent says resources would be better spent on other voter issues.

State Sen. Jason Gant, R-Sioux Falls, said reports of voter fraud are increasing across the country and he doesn't want to see South Dakota have the issues that emerged in Florida during the 2000 presidential election or in Minnesota in 2008.

"What's taken place in Minnesota two years ago is a perfect example. They were counting ballots out of trunks of cars." Gant said referring to the U.S. Senate race between Al Franken and Norm Coleman. It took seven months and a Minnesota Supreme Court decision in favor of Franken to end the legal battle over allegations of improper ballot counting.

The hot line number would allow anyone who suspects possible voter fraud to notify the secretary of state from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day and during the early voting period, which is 45 days before the election, he said. It would apply to all elections.

Neither Iowa nor Minnesota has a voter fraud hot line, but Gant said many states, such as Georgia, do.

Although he doesn't oppose the idea, Gant's opponent, state Sen. Ben Nesselhuf, D-Vermillion, said resources would be better spent elsewhere because voter fraud does not seem to be a problem in South Dakota. Voter access is an area that needs improvement, he said.

"We've done a great job of eliminating voter fraud, and this is the other side of the coin," Nesselhuf said.

"Especially in our rural areas in South Dakota, we have a real problem of voters having the same access that voters in more populated areas do," he said. "That's something I think is just as important as making certain that we continue to not have voter fraud."

Secretary of State Chris Nelson agreed that voter fraud has been successfully dealt with in South Dakota.

"We've taken a number of steps over the last six years to eliminate some of the things that used to go on," Nelson said. "I think back to specifically the 2002 general election. We had numerous attempts to file fraudulent voter registration forms."

Since then, Nelson's office has implemented an automated system to compare voter registration forms to a list of felons, deceased people and driver's license and Social Security numbers.

"We've put in a lot of protections to make sure that that just simply can't happen anymore, and it doesn't," he said.

Voters also are required to present a photo ID before voting, a measure passed by the state Legislature during a recent session.

Posters and fliers inform people where to call if questions or concerns about voter rights arise, said Minnehaha County Auditor Sue Roust, but she's open to the idea of a voter fraud hot line.

"It's always possible that an oversight could happen at a polling place and if a voter sees something that concerns them, I think it's good for them to know where they can file a complaint," she said.

By Joe Sneve

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Senator Gant Plans Voter Fraud Hotline

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Jason Gant
Cell - 605-321-1596
E-mail - jason@jasongant.com


SENATOR GANT ANNOUNCES PLAN FOR VOTER FRAUD HOTLINE

Sioux Falls, SD – Senator Jason Gant, Republican candidate for Secretary of State, announced today his plan for a Voter Fraud Hotline phone number.

The plan would entail establishing a statewide Voter Fraud Hotline number that would be posted prominently at every voting location across South Dakota. The hotline number would allow anyone who suspects possible voter fraud to notify the Secretary of State.

“It is the responsibility of all South Dakotans to ensure voter fraud does not take over South Dakota. We must preserve the integrity of our elections,” said Senator Gant.

Other jurisdictions have successfully implemented similar Voter Fraud Hotlines. Throughout the United States, utilization of voter fraud hotlines has increased as the need has grown to counter voter fraud.

"South Dakota has a long history of self governance and independence. The thought of outside special interest groups coming into South Dakota to influence our elections is just wrong,” added Senator Gant.

“As South Dakota’s next Secretary of State, I believe it is necessary to be proactive when it comes to possible voter fraud activities,” said Senator Gant.

Senator Jason Gant was first elected to the State Senate in 2004 and reelected in 2006 and 2008. Senator Gant won the Republican nomination for Secretary of State at the State Republican Convention in June 2010. Senator Gant owns his own healthcare consulting company. Jason is married to Chris who is a nurse practitioner, and they have three daughters, Abbi (7), Sophie (5), and Mallory (2). For more information about Senator Gant, visit his website at www.jasongant.com.

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