Politics
Smooth voting seen on South Dakota reservations


There were no major problems reported on South Dakota reservations on Tuesday, a contrast to the 2002 election.

Poll watchers were present at precincts on various reservations but people said they were "nice." Turnout was heavy and tribal members were excited to vote.

Problems were feared as Democrat Sen. Tom Daschle had accused Republican John Thune of attempting to intimidate Indian voters. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order barring Republicans from writing down license plates or following Indian voters from the Yankton Sioux Reservation.

On the Pine Ridge Reservation, voters were also choosing a new president. Activist / actor Russell Means was facing Cecilia Fire Thunder, a former nurse. Results were not reported.

One the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, voters also took part in a tribal, school board and tribal college election.

Get the Story:
Election runs smoothly at Pine Ridge (The Rapid City Journal 11/3)
Voting on reservations smooth (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 11/3)

Court Documents:
Temporary Restraining Order | Daschle Complaint | Daschle Brief | Minutes of Hearing

Relevant Links:
Sen. Tom Daschle - http://daschle.senate.gov
Tom Daschle, campaign site - http://www.tomdaschle.com
John Thune for US Senate - http://www.johnthune.com

Related Stories:
Judge bars GOP from watching Yankton Sioux voters (11/2)
GOP worker accused of vote buying at Rosebud (11/2)
South Dakota Lakotas upset over Thune mailer (11/1)
Rapid City Journal: John Thune for U.S. Senate (10/29)
Daschle, Thune in virtual tie in final stretch (10/27)
South Dakota tribes send backing to Tom Daschle (10/22)
Chairman: Thune 'not very productive' on Indians (10/21)
Thune's record on Indian issues called non-existent (10/19)
Pat Robertson claims Indians 'not totally literate' (10/18)
South Dakota GOP workers sent to Bush campaign (10/15)
South Dakota GOP warns of possible irregularities (10/14)
Janklow accuses GOP vote program of 'cheating' (10/13)
South Dakota GOP under voter fraud investigation (10/12)
Indian vote in South Dakota still a hot item (10/11)
Russell Means helps open GOP office at Pine Ridge (10/11)
Thune campaign under probe for absentee ballots (10/08)
Pollster says Indian vote is critical in South Dakota (10/01)
Herseth the choice of Indians contacted for poll (9/30)
Daschle gains narrow lead over Thune in South Dakota (09/27)
Appeal planned in South Dakota voting rights case (09/17)
Judge: South Dakota violated Indian voting rights (9/16)
Native Vote 2004 to monitor voting in several states (09/13)
South Dakota GOP claims 2002 Senate election stolen (09/10)
Means says South Dakota GOP needs to do more (08/09)
South Dakota Indians wielding newfound influence (07/12)
Hearings set in response to Indian voter complaints (07/08)
Voter ID law seen as attempt to suppress Indian vote (7/7)
Tribal college president calls for repeal of ID law (7/2)
Indian voter complaints referred to authorities (6/29)
Group files suit over problems Indian voters faced (6/28)
Editorial: Indian vote hearings won't do any good (06/17)
Daschle seeks hearings over Indian voter problems (6/15)
S.D. ID law passed to 'turn Native voters down' (6/11)
Tom Daschle: Indian Country shows its clout (6/10)
Lawsuits planned for problems Indian voters faced (6/10)
South Dakota Indian vote doubled last week (6/7)
Republican admits Indian voters decided election (6/4)
Russell Means ready to give up on Republican Party (6/3)
Voting problems reported by South Dakota Indians (6/3)
Democrat Stephanie Herseth heads to House (6/2)