This bill amends various sections of South Dakota law 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 rescheduled and outlines the responsibilities for sharing expenses in combined elections.

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 It also repeals certain outdated sections of the law, streamlining the election process. The changes are set to take effect on January 1, 2026, ensuring that both municipal and school district elections are conducted in a more coordinated and efficient manner.

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