SD Secretary of State warns of petition scam

South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson is warning the state’s residents to be aware of scam calls coming from someone claiming they’re with the Secretary of State’s office.

The scammers are pushing voters to challenge the abortion rights ballot measure petitions.

The Secretary of State’s office has alerted law enforcement that these groups are impersonating secretary of state staff.

The callers have claimed they are the South Dakota Integrity Committee or the Petition Integrity Commission and are calling on behalf of the Secretary of State. It appears the calls are trying to pressure voters into asking that their names be removed from the Abortion Rights petitions that have been turned in for a potential November ballot measure.

Secretary Johnson says these scammers are eroding public trust in the election process.

Anyone who receives such a call is encouraged to contact the Secretary of State’s Office.

May 14, 2023