Letter to the Editor - Kull: Here’s the background on municipal, school board elections

After reading the Sept. 9 edition of the Brandon Journal article addressing the City of Brandon Council terms, I felt a need to correct some inaccuracies and clarify what the South Dakota Legislature passed in 2025 and 2026 that impact municipal elections.

In 2025, HB 1130 was passed that mandated that municipal and school board elections be held each year on either the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June or the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The intention of the bill was to bring these elections in line with the traditional election dates and, hopefully, increase voter participation in city and school board elections that historically have had very low turnout. While increased voter participation may be true for elections in even number years, in the odd numbered years, with no statewide or national elections on the ballot, voter participation would more than likely be much lower during those cycles.

In 2026, I, in my role as a member of the House of Representatives, introduced HB 1030, which allowed that municipalities may, by ordinance, choose to hold the regular municipal elections in even number years. To be clear, this is not a requirement but an option that cities across South Dakota can exercise local control over on through their legislative process. 

After the passage of HB 1030, Brandon city staff may have gotten ahead of themselves when the terms of those elected in odd numbered years were noted to have been extended on the city’s webpage. The actual resolution on moving to even numbered year elections will be heard for its first reading during the Sept. 21 City Council meeting where it will be discussed and voted on. As always, community members are welcome to attend the meeting and share their thoughts and opinions on the proposed resolution.