Sara Frankenstein

Sara Frankenstein

Sara Frankenstein is much more than a private practice attorney in the law firm Gunderson, Palmer, Nelson & Ashmore; she is a voice for justice. She practices voting rights and election law. She advises and defends cities, counties, and school boards when they are sued, and frequently advises election administrators in the Midwest in all aspects of elections and voting rights. Sara earned her B.A. and J.D. from the University of South Dakota and has successfully briefed a case to the United States Supreme Court.  She was lead counsel in numerous federal Voting Rights Act cases and other election disputes, including redistricting and felon voting issues.

In the middle of the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, Sara served on the education committee for Her Vote. Her Voice. women’s history initiative.  Sara volunteered her time to educate South Dakotans on how to properly order and complete an absentee ballot.  She helped to ensure that individuals could take part in the political process by exercising their right to vote. And in August of 2020, Sara sang the national anthem in Main Street Square for the campaign in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote.

Sara served on the board of directors for the Rapid City Main Street Square, the Miss South Dakota Scholarship board, is the executive director of the Miss Rapid City Scholarship Pageant and was formerly on the South Dakota GOP Executive Board. Sara enjoys singing and being involved in her church and community. 

A fun fact about Sara: In 1998 she won the title of Miss South Dakota.  She advanced to the Miss America Pageant where she won a talent award.  She spent a year traveling the state singing and speaking about law-related education.  The scholarships she earned paid for entire law school tuition.

Consider lifting up an incredible woman in your life today as a part of Women's History Month. Visit www.hervotehervoice.org/statewide-honor-wall to get started.