The bill amends several sections of South Dakota law regarding the submission of nominating petitions for candidates seeking elective municipal office and other positions. It establishes that a nominating petition must be filed with the finance officer by 5 p.m. on the last Friday in February before the election, and it specifies that the petition must be on a prescribed form containing the candidate's name, residential address, mailing address (if applicable), and the office for which they are nominated. Additionally, it allows individuals from second-class or third-class municipalities to provide a post office box number instead of a street address. The finance officer is required to verify that the petition contains the necessary signatures and that the candidate is a registered voter.

Further amendments clarify the filing process for candidates for various offices, including the requirement that nominating petitions for legislative and judicial offices must be filed with the Secretary of State. The bill also outlines the procedure for candidates to withdraw their names from the primary election, requiring a written request to be filed with the appropriate officer within a specified timeframe. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the nomination process and ensure compliance with updated requirements for candidates.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/03/2025: 12-6-4, 12-6-8.1
Senate Engrossed, 01/29/2025: 9-13-7, 12-6-4, 12-6-8.1