This bill amends existing South Dakota law to require that only individuals who are registered voters in the state can serve as petition sponsors for initiated amendments, initiated measures, and petitions to refer laws. Specifically, the bill modifies sections 2-1-1.1, 2-1-1.2, and 2-1-3.1 to include the stipulation that "Only an individual who is registered as a voter of this state, pursuant to chapter 12-4, may be a petition sponsor" for each type of petition. This change aims to ensure that those sponsoring petitions are actively participating in the electoral process as registered voters.

In addition to the new voter registration requirement, the bill maintains existing procedures for filing petitions, including the need for a notarized affidavit from petition sponsors and the submission of petitions to the Secretary of State. The bill also outlines the necessary components of the petitions, such as the full text of the proposed measures, the date of the general election, and the title and explanation prepared by the attorney general. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance the integrity of the petition process by ensuring that sponsors are engaged voters in South Dakota.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/27/2025: 2-1-1.1, 2-1-1.2, 2-1-3.1
Enrolled, 03/06/2025: 2-1-1.1, 2-1-1.2, 2-1-3.1