Dead woman wins local US election

A dead woman, whose name was on the ballot paper in a local US election, has won the poll in a small town in South Dakota.

Marie Steichen, who died of cancer in September, beat a Republican rival by 100 votes to 64 and became a county commissioner posthumously.

The election list closed on 1 August, but Ms Steichen's name was kept on the list for Tuesday's election.

Voters knew she was dead but wanted to make a point, a local official said.

"They just had a chance to make a change, and we respect their opinion," Jerauld County Auditor Cindy Peterson told the Associated Press news agency.

Ms Steichen, a Democrat from Woonsocket, defeated incumbent Republican Merlin Feistner, also from Woonsocket in Jerauld County.

The county board is likely to have to meet to appoint a replacement for Ms Steichen, Ms Peterson said.