The latest episode of the podcast Dakota Town Hall focused on low voter turnout, ballot measure politics and several contested South Dakota legislative races ahead of the June primary election. The episode featured candidates Katie Washnok and Ryan Maher along with South Dakota Retailers Association executive director Nathan Sanderson.

Hosts repeatedly expressed concern about historically low turnout in primary elections, with Washnok noting Brown County saw only about 11% turnout in a previous election cycle. “A lot of people say, ‘I can’t believe you lost. I would have voted for you if I would have voted,’” Washnok said during the discussion.

Washnok, who is running for Senate in District 3, said voters are frustrated by divisions within the South Dakota Republican Party and are looking for candidates focused on practical local issues rather than internal party fights. She also addressed concerns about proposed data centers in northeastern South Dakota, arguing that local governments have already put safeguards in place through detailed ordinances regulating water usage and infrastructure requirements.

Maher, a former legislator seeking a return to the Senate in District 28, defended the potential economic benefits of data centers for rural electric cooperatives and communities in western South Dakota. Maher said projects of that scale could stabilize electric rates for years if companies are required to pay upfront infrastructure costs.

The conversation also turned toward statewide ballot measures expected in November. Sanderson outlined four constitutional amendments approved by the Legislature, including proposals tied to Medicaid expansion, voting requirements and raising the threshold required to amend the state constitution from a simple majority to 60%.

“I think making it harder to change the Constitution is fundamentally a good thing,” Sanderson said.

The group also discussed concerns surrounding election administration and criticism directed at county auditors after delays in early voting ballot availability. Several participants defended local auditors, arguing they had warned lawmakers about timing issues during the legislative process.