Journal editorial, 11-16: Drop investigation of auditor

By The Journal Editorial Board | Thursday, November 16, 2006

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The Pennington County Commission is having second thoughts about forming a bipartisan commission to look into county auditor Julie Pearson's decision to close a polling place just days before last week's election. Pearson has defended her decision as her responsibility and told the commissioners on Tuesday to "investigate away."

The county commission ought to back away from having a committee investigate Pearson's decision.

Running elections is the county auditor's job and ensuring the neutrality of polling places is part of that job.

Pearson moved the polling place at the Open Bible Church because it wouldn't remove signs supporting a Yes vote on Referred Law 6. Staff from the auditor's office contacted church officials and told them that if they didn't remove the signs from church property, they had to allow advocates of other positions, measures and candidates put up their signs on church property as long as no sign is within 100 feet of the entrance.

When church officials refused to remove their own signs or allow opposing signs, Pearson decided to close the polling place and use other locations for voting.

We can't fault Pearson for her decision because it is important to maintain the neutrality of polling places.

Open Bible Church officials were well within their right as private property owners to have signs posted that reflect their views and to refuse to put up others.

Pearson was right to close the polling place and have voters go to different locations, even at such short notice. The auditor's office took care to post someone at Open Bible Church to tell voters where to go, so no one was denied their right to vote.

Open Bible Church has been a polling place for more than 10 years, but this is the first time that the issue of campaign signs has come up. Informing property owners of county policies and state laws on elections should help to avoid what happened with Open Bible Church from occurring in the future.

The Pennington County Commission should drop its plans to have a committee investigate how the auditor's office handled the Open Bible Church situation.