Posted: June 30, 2023
Rapid City
Agenda Item Summary

Agenda Item Ref. #: CC062223-01 - Approve Emergency Resolution 2023-059

Agenda Item Title:

EMERGENCY RESOLUTION RE-CANVASSING THE VOTE FOR MAYOR IN THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION HELD ON JUNE 6, 2023, BASED ON THE RECOUNT HELD BY THE MUNICIPAL RECOUNT BOARD ON JUNE 22, 2023 CERTIFYING THE RESULTS OF THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

Origination Group:
City Council
Origination Meeting Date:
07/03/2023
City Council Hearing Date:
07/03/2023
Staff Contact:
Joel Landeen
Agenda Item Summary:
The municipal election for the office of the Mayor was held on June 6, 2023. The City Council canvassed the election results at a special meeting held on June 13th and declared Jason Salamun to be elected the next Mayor of Rapid City. The votes for the top two candidates from the official canvass sheet are 4,888 to 4,619. SDCL 9-13-27.3 allows any unsuccessful candidate to request a recount when the margin of victory is 2% or less. Laura Armstrong, the second place finisher requested a recount which was held on June 22, 2023. A Municipal Recount Board was formed consisting of one representative from each candidate and one representative appointed by the City who was agreeable to both candidates to conduct the recount. After reviewing the election records, verifying the accuracy of the automatic tabulating machines, and recounting the votes, the Municipal Recount Board confirmed the vote totals from the official canvass sheet and certified the number of votes for Jason Salamun to be 4,888 and Laura Armstrong to be 4,619. It is unclear from state law if the City Council needs to re-canvass the votes for Mayor, or if the certification of the recount board is sufficient. Based on the ambiguity and some conflicting language, it was decided to have the City Council re-canvass and re-certify the mayoral election results to ensure that there were not any issues and that there could not be any procedural disputes or questions in the future regarding the election results.

Funding Source & Fiscal Impact (if applicable):

Funding Cost Center

Recommendations:

Origination Recommendation Action:
Approve

Attachments & Links to Download:

  pdf Resolution 2023-053 (81 KB) - Original Resolution to Canvas the Vote for the Annual Municipal Election held on June 6, 2023 - Mayor

  pdf Certificate of Recount (144 KB) - Done on June 22, 2023

  pdf Resolution 2023-059 (121 KB) - Resolution Re-Canvassing the Vote for Mayor in the Municipal Election held on June 6, 2023

 

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