BROOKINGS – Polls in Brookings County will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday for those voting in the primary election.

Registered voters can head to any of the county’s 11 vote centers to cast a ballot. They include: 

• Brookings Activity Center, 320 Fifth Ave., Brookings

• Bethel Baptist Church, 714 17th Ave. S., Brookings

• Swiftel Center, 824 32nd Ave., Brookings

• Holy Life Tabernacle, 241 Mustang Pass, Brookings

• Aurora Little Hall, 101 Nicolett Street, Aurora

• Elkton Community Center, 109 Elk St., Elkton

• McKnight Hall, 228 W. Main St., White

• Bruce Community Room, 507 Jay St., Bruce

• Trinity Lutheran Church, 321 S. Main, Arlington

• Sinai American Legion, Main Avenue, Sinai

• Volga Community Center, 109 Samara Ave., Volga

Registered voters must provide a photo identification card when voting. Those can include:

• a South Dakota driver’s license or nondriver identification card,

• a passport or an identification card issued by an agency of the United States government,

• a tribal identification card; or

• a current student identification card issued by a high school or an accredited institution of higher education, including a university, college, or technical school, located within the State of South Dakota. 

If a voter does not have a photo ID, they must be given the option to sign a personal identification affidavit and vote a regular ballot.

The Democrat primary election ballot is open to registered Democrats and registered Independents or those with no party affiliation. Republicans have a closed primary, and only registered Republicans will be able to vote a Republican ballot. 

All registered voters in South Dakota, including those registered as Libertarian, Constitution, Independents, no party affiliation and other, will be eligible for a ballot during the 2018 primary election due to Constitutional Amendment Y creating a non-political ballot statewide.

The attorney general explanation for the proposed amendment is:

“In 2016 the voters approved Marsy’s Law, which expanded rights for crime victims and placed them in the state constitution. This amendment makes changes to Marsy’s Law. 

“The amendment narrows the definition of ‘victim’ to mean a person against whom a crime or delinquent act is committed. If the victim is killed, incapacitated, or a minor, then ‘victim’ may include that person’s spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, or guardian. 

“The amendment makes it clear that a victim must make an affirmative request to receive the benefits of several of the rights provided by Marsy’s Law. In addition, the amendment clarifies that law enforcement is allowed to share information with the public to help solve crimes. 

“The amendment also provides that a person may not file a lawsuit for money damages against the State, local governments, or their officers and employees, if the person’s rights under Marsy’s Law are violated.”

A “yes” vote is to adopt the amendment, and a “no” vote is to leave the Constitution as it is.

There are no District 4 or District 7 legislative primaries this year and no statewide Democratic primaries, so voters registered as anything other than Republican in Brookings County will not have any political candidates to select Tuesday.

Republican voters, including those in the Brookings area, will choose a statewide candidate to move on in both the gubernatorial and Congressional elections in November.

Vying for the Republican nomination for United States representative are Neal Tapio, Shantel Krebs and Dusty Johnson.

Up for the Republican nomination for governor are Marty Jackley and Kristi Noem.

Republicans in Precinct 5 in the City of Brookings are also being asked to select a precinct committeeman, Patrick Powers or Leon Pesall.

Registered voters can view sample ballots on the Secretary of State’s website at https://sos.sd.gov/Elections/VIPLogin.aspx.