The bill amends South Dakota law to revise the scheduling and procedures for municipal and school district elections. It establishes that annual elections for municipal officers will now occur on either the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June or the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, replacing the previous requirement of the second Tuesday in April. Additionally, municipalities are permitted to hold general elections in odd-numbered years alongside regular school district elections, contingent upon approval from both governing bodies. The bill also introduces provisions for sharing expenses and responsibilities for these combined elections, aiming to enhance efficiency and flexibility in the electoral process.

Further changes include clarifications on the nomination process for candidates, such as the requirement for a formal declaration of candidacy and the need for nominating petitions to be signed by at least twenty voters from the relevant area. The bill specifies that no election will occur if the number of nominating petitions does not exceed the number of vacancies. It also outlines the responsibilities of the business manager in verifying candidates' residency and the validity of petitions, mandates that newly elected school board members take an oath of office, and clarifies the process for extending terms of office. Several sections of existing law are repealed to streamline the election process, with the bill set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/29/2025: 9-13-1, 9-13-1.1, 9-13-5, 9-13-6, 9-13-6.1, 9-13-7, 9-13-9, 9-13-14.1, 9-13-25, 9-13-31, 9-13-37, 13-7-5, 13-7-6, 13-7-9, 13-7-10, 13-7-10.1, 13-7-10.3, 13-8-14, 9-13-1.2, 9-13-40, 13-7-10.2, 13-7-10.4