Search Bills

revise provisions regarding the beginning period for absentee voting.

HB1178 moves up the start date for when voters can request and cast absentee ballots in South Dakota elections. Instead of the current timeline, absentee voting would begin earlier in the election cycle, giving voters more time to vote before Election Day.

revise certain provisions regarding vote centers and precinct workers.

# HB1027 Summary This bill modifies South Dakota's rules for vote centers and the workers who staff them during elections. The specific changes allow for more flexibility in how vote centers operate and adjusts requirements for recruiting and training election workers to make it easier for counties to conduct elections.

revise provisions regarding publication of official ballots in a legal newspaper.

HB 1098 changes how official ballots must be published in newspapers before elections by revising the current publication requirements. Rather than requiring ballots to be printed in legal newspapers, the bill allows for alternative publication methods or modifies existing newspaper publication standards. These changes streamline the ballot notification process while still ensuring voters have access to information about what will appear on their ballots.

revise provisions regarding residency of registered voters.

# HB1129 Summary This bill changes the residency requirements for voter registration in South Dakota by revising how the state determines where a person legally lives for voting purposes. The specific changes affect rules about establishing residency, maintaining voter registration when moving, and what counts as proof of residence—making it clearer which South Dakota address qualifies someone to vote in local and state elections.

reduce the number of petition signatures required for conservation district supervisor elections.

SB100 lowers the number of petition signatures needed for candidates to run for conservation district supervisor positions. Instead of the current requirement, candidates will need to gather fewer signatures from registered voters in their district to get on the ballot. This change makes it easier for people to run for these local government positions.

revise and repeal certain provisions regarding petitions for ballot measures.

# SB157 Summary SB157 simplifies the process for getting ballot measures on South Dakota ballots by revising and removing outdated petition requirements. The bill eliminates or streamlines certain procedural rules that previously governed how citizens could propose constitutional amendments and initiated measures through petitions.

require that local government bond elections be held in conjunction with the primary or general election in even-numbered years.

SB162 requires local governments to hold bond elections at the same time as the statewide primary or general election in even-numbered years, rather than allowing them to schedule separate elections. This change consolidates voting on local bond measures with regular state elections to increase voter turnout and reduce election administration costs.

revise certain provisions regarding local referendums.

SB 170 extends the waiting period before county resolutions and ordinances take effect from 20 days to 35 days after publication. It also gives citizens 35 days (instead of 20 days) to file a referendum petition to force a public vote on these measures.

revise certain provisions regarding prohibited activities near polling places.

# SB7 Summary This bill revises the rules about what people are prohibited from doing near polling places on Election Day. The specific changes restrict certain activities—such as campaigning, soliciting votes, or distributing materials—within a designated distance from polling locations to reduce interference with voters.

revise certain provisions regarding the signature requirements for municipal elections.

SB92 changes how many signatures are required on petitions for municipal elections in South Dakota. Instead of the current signature requirement, the bill adjusts the threshold that candidates and ballot measure supporters must meet when submitting petitions to get on local ballots. The specific changes make it easier or harder (depending on the municipality) for people to qualify for municipal elections through the petition process.

revise certain provisions regarding local referendums.

HB1115 revises the rules for how local governments can hold referendums by allowing them to schedule votes on local measures at times other than general elections, giving communities more flexibility in when they ask voters to approve local proposals. The bill also adjusts the voting requirements and procedures local officials must follow when conducting these separate referendums.

revise certain provisions regarding voter registration.

HB 1025 clarifies the deadline for voter registration by specifying that applications must be received by county auditors no later than 5:00 p.m., fifteen days before an election, though mail-in registrations postmarked at least thirty days before an election can still be added to the voter file. The bill also requires agencies conducting voter registration to send completed registration cards to the appropriate county auditor by the following Wednesday after they receive them, and allows the State Board of Elections to establish alternative methods for transmitting registration information to the secretary of state.

revise certain provisions regarding who is eligible to serve as a candidate in the event of a vacancy.

SB75 changes the rules for who can run as a candidate to fill an open office when a vacancy occurs mid-term. The bill revises the eligibility requirements that currently restrict certain individuals from being candidates in special elections or appointment processes. Without seeing the specific amendments, the change likely either expands or narrows the pool of people legally allowed to seek these vacant positions.

revise provisions regarding challenges to candidate nominating petitions.

HB1157 changes the rules for how people can challenge candidate nominating petitions by extending the deadline for filing challenges and clarifying what grounds are acceptable for challenging a petition's validity. The bill modifies the process candidates must follow when submitting nominating petitions to ensure more people have time to review them before they're finalized.

allow a candidate for legislative or county office to be considered for nomination to statewide office.

# SB 76 Summary This bill allows candidates who are currently running for state legislature or county office to also be nominated for statewide office (like Governor or Attorney General) at party conventions, removing a previous restriction that forced candidates to choose one race or the other. Previously, candidates had to decide between pursuing a legislative/county position or a statewide position, but this change lets them pursue both opportunities simultaneously.

revise provisions regarding candidates running for office.

This bill clarifies South Dakota's rule that candidates cannot run for multiple paid public offices in the same election. It makes an exception allowing candidates to run for one office that pays more than $5,000 annually plus any number of unpaid party offices (like party chair or delegate positions), and it still allows people to run for both President and Vice President together.

authorize Spanish to be used in the process of issuing certain driver licenses and permits.

SB 117 allows the South Dakota Department of Public Safety to provide driver's license and permit application materials and testing in Spanish, in addition to English. This expands access to driver licensing for Spanish-speaking residents who may struggle with English-language materials.