The bill amends existing laws regarding the nomination process for lieutenant governor in South Dakota. It establishes that candidates for governor must nominate their lieutenant governor candidates by certifying the nomination to the secretary of state by 5 p.m. on the second Tuesday in August of the election year. Both the governor candidate and the nominee must sign this certification. Additionally, if a lieutenant governor candidate withdraws, the governor candidate is required to nominate a replacement by the same deadline, ensuring that the governor's name cannot appear on the general election ballot until a lieutenant governor candidate is certified.

Furthermore, the bill includes similar provisions for independent candidates for governor, requiring them to nominate a lieutenant governor candidate by the same deadline and allowing for the withdrawal and replacement of nominees under the same conditions. The State Board of Elections is tasked with creating rules for the certification and withdrawal processes. The amendments aim to streamline the nomination process and ensure that all candidates are properly certified before appearing on the ballot.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/30/2025: 12-5-21, 12-7-1.2
Enrolled, 03/05/2025: 12-5-21, 12-7-1.2