The bill amends the requirements for official paper ballots in South Dakota elections. It specifies that an official ballot must be printed on white paper with certain quality standards, including a weight of at least eighty pounds, an opacity of at least ninety-five percent, a brightness of at least ninety-six percent, and a thickness of at least six one-thousandths of an inch. Additionally, sample ballots must be printed on yellow paper with a weight of at least twenty pounds and must have the word "sample" prominently displayed. The bill also clarifies the formatting of candidate names on the ballot, ensuring they are printed in large type and organized by party in separate columns.

Furthermore, the bill establishes new rules for primary elections, requiring that each political party's ballot have a distinct border color: red for Republican voters, blue for Democratic voters, and black for non-partisan ballots. The State Board of Elections is tasked with creating rules for the border colors of sample and official ballots for any new political parties participating in the primary election. This legislation aims to enhance the clarity and organization of ballots, thereby improving the voting process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/25/2025: 12-16-2, 12-16-2.1