The bill amends existing laws regarding the requirements for nominating petitions and ballot question petitions in South Dakota. It stipulates that individuals signing these petitions must provide their name, signature, current registered address, county of registration, and the date of signing. Additionally, it specifies that signatures will not be counted if the signer is not a registered voter in the indicated county or if the provided information is inaccurate or incomplete. The Secretary of State is tasked with examining and cataloging the petitions and making them available to the public, while also ensuring that a random sample of signatures is generated and validated within a specified timeframe.

Furthermore, the bill outlines specific conditions under which an individual may not sign a candidate's nominating petition, including signing before January 1 of the election year, signing for a candidate they are not eligible to vote for, or signing for more candidates than required for the same office. It mandates that the circulator of the petition must verify the signatures under oath, and any false attestations will result in a Class 6 felony. The bill also clarifies that a candidate must sign a formal declaration of candidacy, which must accompany the petition when filed.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 02/05/2025: 2-1-1, 2-1-15, 12-6-8
House State Affairs Engrossed, 02/13/2025: 2-1-1, 2-1-15, 12-6-8
Enrolled, 03/11/2025: 2-1-1, 2-1-15, 12-6-8