SB176EnactedElections
amend the period of time before which ballots and other election materials may be destroyed following an election.
SB176 changes how long South Dakota must keep ballots and election materials after elections by establishing a uniform 22-month retention period for all elections—municipal, school district, and nonfederal elections. Previously, the law had different retention periods for different types of elections, so this bill standardizes the timeline across all election types. After 22 months, election officials can destroy the ballots, pollbooks, and related materials, though federal election materials must still be kept for the full 22 months even if combined with state or local ballots.