This bill amends various sections of South Dakota's election laws to establish permissible dates for municipal and school district elections. It specifies that elections for municipal officers must occur on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June or November, with the governing body required to set the date by January 14 of the election year. Additionally, it allows municipalities in odd-numbered years to hold general elections in conjunction with school district elections, provided both governing bodies agree. The bill also introduces new provisions regarding the extension of terms for officeholders when elections are scheduled, ensuring that current officeholders remain in their positions until a successor is duly elected.

Furthermore, the bill includes amendments to the nomination process for candidates, requiring petitions to be filed by a specified deadline and detailing the necessary signatures for various municipalities. It also outlines the responsibilities of the governing bodies in managing combined elections and sharing expenses. Several sections of existing law are repealed to streamline the election process, and the bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.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
Enrolled, 03/11/2025: 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