The bill amends South Dakota's voter registration law, specifically section 12-4-5, to modify the registration deadline and clarify the language regarding eligible individuals. It changes the term "person" to "individual" and adjusts the deadline for voter registration from "fifteen days" to "thirty days" before an election. Additionally, it specifies that completed voter registration applications must be received by the county auditor or relevant agency by 5:00 p.m. local time on that deadline. The bill also mandates that any voter registration completed at local, state, or federal agencies during a specified week must be sent to the appropriate county auditor by the following Wednesday.

Furthermore, the bill empowers the State Board of Elections to promulgate rules for the alternative transmission of voter registration information via computer from agencies to the secretary of state. It also clarifies that the names of individuals who register to vote by the new deadline must be added to the file used for runoff elections. Overall, these changes aim to streamline the voter registration process and ensure timely updates to the registration files.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/25/2025: 12-4-5