Lincoln County Sheriff
Lincoln County, South Dakota
My vote power
Below average
Election date
November 3, 2026 · General election
How do we calculate my vote power?
What goes into the rating: Representation: how much weight one vote carries here compared with a statewide vote — the smaller the district, the more each vote counts. Decisiveness: how likely this race is to be close, based on past results or current analyst ratings, plus the number of candidates.
Representation: Above average · 61 out of 100
This district is a good deal smaller than its state, so each vote here carries more weight than a vote in a statewide race. About 70,638 people live here.
Show the representation math
score = 50 + 50 × ln(state population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(50,000) = 50 + 50 × ln(907,428 ÷ 70,638) ÷ ln(50,000) = 61.8, measured against a statewide vote in SD (grades: 66+ high, 55+ above average, 33+ average, otherwise low; a statewide race is the 50 baseline)
Decisiveness: None · only 1 candidate
One candidate is running unopposed, so votes can't change the outcome.
Above average representation + an uncontested race → My vote power: Below average.
About this office
- Running police patrols and deputies in the county
- Running the county jail
- Carrying out evictions, warrants, and other court orders
Affects: Immigration, Public Safety and Crime Control, Gun Control,
Candidates
Republican · Incumbent · declared
Steve Swenson is the Lincoln County Sheriff. He has served in the office since 2019.
Source: vip.sdsos.gov