What the DNC’s Letter to South Dakota Is Really About
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) sent a formal legal warning to South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson on January 9, claiming the state could violate federal law by cleaning up its voter registration rolls.
Secretary Johnson responded the same day, making it clear that South Dakota is following the law and has no intention of illegally removing voters.
So what’s really going on?
The Federal Government Is Reviewing Voter Rolls
The U.S. Department of Justice is working with states to ensure voter registration lists are accurate and up to date. That includes removing people who are no longer eligible to vote, such as:
- People who have moved out of state
- People who are deceased
- Other legally ineligible registrants
Federal law — including the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) — requires states to make a “reasonable effort” to keep their voter rolls clean.
South Dakota agreed to cooperate with the Department of Justice in that effort.
The DNC Is Trying to Stop That Process
The DNC claims that a proposed agreement between DOJ and South Dakota — which could require action within 45 days after problems are identified — might violate federal rules that regulate how and when voters can be removed.
Their concern is not that dead or moved voters will be removed — it’s that removals could happen too efficiently.
The DNC warns that if voter lists are cleaned, some voters might need to re-register, which would require the Democratic Party to spend time and money helping them do so.
That is a political concern, not a legal one.
What South Dakota’s Secretary of State Actually Said
Secretary Johnson’s response was clear and calm:
“We are confident in the accuracy of our voter registration list, and we look forward to working with the U.S. Department of Justice in its effort to ensure compliance with federal election laws.”
“South Dakota has no plans to violate the NVRA and has only removed voters from the voter registration rolls with due process.”
DNC NVRA Letter
In other words:
South Dakota is following the law, protecting voters, and keeping its voter rolls accurate — exactly as federal law requires.
Why This Matters
Voter registration lists that contain outdated, duplicate, or ineligible records undermine confidence in elections.
Cleaning up voter rolls:
- Protects legal voters
- Prevents errors
- Strengthens election integrity
The DNC’s letter is an attempt to intimidate a state election official into slowing down or stopping lawful voter roll maintenance — because politically, messy rolls benefit them.
Secretary Johnson made it clear that South Dakota will not be bullied into abandoning the law.
Bottom Line
South Dakota is doing exactly what federal law requires:
Maintaining accurate voter rolls using due process and verified data.
The DNC is trying to turn routine election integrity into a legal scare tactic.
South Dakota isn’t buying it.
