Rapid City Schools Review Reports of Wrong Ballots
Some voters in precincts crossing school district lines may have received incorrect ballots in the November 3 election, which approved a $107 million school bond.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Elections
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Rapid City Area Schools is reviewing reports that some voters received ballots with the wrong bond question during the November 3 election. The district is working with the Pennington County Auditor's Office, and the $107 million school bond passed.
Why it matters
Ballot errors can raise questions about whether every voter's choice was accurately recorded in a local election. Officials have not said how many ballots were affected or whether the errors could change the outcome.
The reports involve precincts crossing school district boundaries, and some voters reportedly received ballots either missing or wrongly including the bond question. The total number of affected ballots has not been disclosed.
The players
Rapid City Area Schools
The public school district serving Rapid City, South Dakota, which is reviewing the reports and working with county election officials.
Pennington County Auditor's Office
The county office responsible for administering elections in Pennington County, which is assisting in reviewing the ballot reports.
The details
Voters reportedly received ballots without the bond question when it should have appeared, and others received ballots with the question when it should not have appeared. A committee member heard from voters who believed they had the wrong ballot, and the district will share more information as it becomes available.
Timeline
Nov. 3, 2026: School bond election held, with ballot errors reported.
Nov. 10, 2026: Rapid City Area Schools issued a statement on reviewing the reports.
Seasonal Patterns
Post-election ballot reviews by county auditors in South Dakota follow established verification procedures whenever voters report errors. This review is the first such case reported for the November 3, 2026 election cycle in Pennington County.
Rapid City voters who cast ballots in the November 3 election may have been given the wrong bond question, which could affect whether their choice was recorded. Residents in affected precincts may wish to check with the county auditor's office for details as they become available.
The takeaway
Ballot accuracy depends on correct precinct boundaries, so voters in district-crossing precincts should confirm their ballot details with local election officials. Watch for updates from the district and auditor on the number of affected ballots.
Further reading
For more on how local ballots are administered, see Elections coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kotatv.
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