This bill amends several sections of South Dakota's election laws to establish that only individuals who are citizens of the United States are eligible to vote in elections. Specifically, it modifies Section 12-3-1 to include a requirement that individuals must be U.S. citizens at the time of the election, alongside existing requirements such as maintaining residency in the state and being at least eighteen years old. The bill also introduces penalties for various voting-related offenses, including making false statements to register or vote, voting while knowing one is not a qualified voter, and impersonating a registered voter.

Additionally, the bill amends Sections 12-26-3, 12-26-4, 12-26-7, and 12-26-8 to classify certain violations as misdemeanors or felonies, depending on the nature of the offense. For instance, knowingly allowing someone to make a false statement to register or vote is classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor, while impersonating a registered voter or voting in multiple precincts is classified as a Class 6 felony. These amendments aim to strengthen the integrity of the voting process in South Dakota by ensuring that only eligible citizens participate in elections and by imposing penalties for fraudulent activities.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/10/2025: 12-3-1
Senate Engrossed, 02/03/2025: 12-3-1, 12-26-3, 12-26-4, 12-26-7, 12-26-8
House State Affairs Engrossed, 03/04/2025: 12-3-1, 12-26-3, 12-26-4, 12-26-7, 12-26-8
Conference Committee Engrossed, 03/12/2025: 12-3-1, 12-26-3, 12-26-4, 12-26-7, 12-26-8
Enrolled, 03/13/2025: 12-3-1, 12-26-3, 12-26-4, 12-26-7, 12-26-8