Auditor reconsiders resignation to focus on election integrity

Auditor Tawny Heinemann, who submitted her resignation earlier this fall, has chosen to remain in her role with the county citing a dedication to election integrity and a commitment to the community.
Originally planning to leave for a role that might offer more work-life balance especially with her oldest daughter graduating high school and an infant at home Heinemann told the Moody County Enterprise that she felt compelled to stay on as Auditor, especially as this election season unfolded.
Over the years, Ive watched our elections face increased scrutiny and misinformation, Heinemann explained.
There have been a lot of changes that have happened, weve had very crucial staff retire and weve had to start over in certain areasand elections have changed a lot since 2020. But South Dakota has strong election rules, and I want to continue helping residents feel confident in the process. I didnt realize how passionate I was about ensuring people feel secure about their vote until I considered stepping away.
Heinemann, who has served in several roles with the county since 2019 and was elected Auditor in 2022, initially intended to help through this election cycle. But as absentee voting began, she recognized how much she valued the countys trust and the significance of her role in maintaining electoral transparency.
With her term extending through March 2027, Heinemann says shes now planning for the future, hoping to seek reelection to continue what shes built for her office and the county.