South Dakota now requires people registering to vote to provide proof of U.S. citizenship, with the specific evidence needed defined in the law. The bill repeals previous voter registration rules and updates requirements for federal voters, including those who use mail forwarding addresses or cannot provide citizenship documentation. This change makes citizenship verification a mandatory part of the voter registration process.
The lawsuit challenges the implementation and constitutionality of the proof-of-citizenship voter registration requirement that this bill established when signed into law in March 2026.
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The bill's title was expanded to include "and to declare an emergency," and the voter citizenship documentation requirement was restructured to permit registration without proof if the applicant is not already registered elsewhere.
The amendment restructured voter registration requirements by establishing numbered eligibility criteria, creating a "federal voter" designation for those lacking citizenship documentation, and renumbering cross-references accordingly.
The amendment restructured voter registration requirements to explicitly mandate citizenship documentation upfront and added a new category designating applicants lacking citizenship documentation as federal voters restricted to presidential elections.
Signed by the Governor S.J. 550
Delivered to the Governor S.J. 510
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 543
Signed by the President S.J. 485
House of Representatives Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 64, NAYS 3. H.J. 513
State Affairs Do Pass Passed, YEAS 11, NAYS 1.
State Affairs Scheduled for hearing
First read in House and referred to House State Affairs H.J. 387
Senate Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 28, NAYS 6. S.J. 315
Senate Motion to amend S.J. 315
Senate Placed on calendar pursuant to JR 6F-6 Passed, YEAS 28, NAYS 6. S.J. 310
State Affairs Report out of committee without recommendation as amended
Senate Recalled from committee (Rule 7-7) Senate State Affairs S.J. 269
State Affairs Deferred to the 41st legislative day Passed, YEAS 5, NAYS 3. S.J. 23
State Affairs Motion to amend S.J. 23
State Affairs Scheduled for hearing
First read in Senate and referred to Senate State Affairs S.J. 141
Prime sponsor · Sen.
R
Do Pass Amended
State Affairs — Do Pass
Placed on calendar pursuant to JR 6F-6
Do Pass Amended
State Affairs — Deferred to the 41st legislative day