The mystery of the bogus candidates | 3 theories | 2020's sus count | What a county party does
thedakotascout.com
Fake candidates keep appearing on South Dakota ballots — and three competing theories try to explain who's behind them and why.
Game TheoryPrincipal-Agent ProblemRational Choice TheoryElectoral Systems Theory
Theory Briefing
- Bogus candidates filing for office in South Dakota races raise questions about whether the motive is ballot manipulation, party strategy, or simple mischief.
- Three distinct theories are floated to explain the phenomenon, suggesting no consensus exists on who benefits or how it works.
- The 2020 cycle already logged a suspicious count of such filings, hinting this is a pattern rather than a one-off anomaly.
- County party organizations sit at the center of the story — their gatekeeping role determines how easily phantom candidates can slip through.