The proposed bill seeks to prohibit the use of automatic tabulating equipment and electronic ballot marking systems in South Dakota elections, mandating that all voting must occur in private booths and that ballots be counted by hand. It amends existing laws to require that official ballots be printed on quality paper and that individual races or ballot questions cannot be split between pages. The State Board of Elections is barred from authorizing electronic voting systems, and political subdivisions are prohibited from adopting these technologies. The bill emphasizes transparency and public oversight during the counting process, with a requirement for county auditors to quickly count election returns and make results available to the public, although these results will not be deemed official until the counting is complete.

Additionally, the bill repeals several sections of current election law related to automatic tabulating systems, including provisions for testing and operating such equipment, as well as post-election audit procedures. Key provisions being eliminated include the requirement for testing with specific ballots, the sealing and verification of equipment, and the necessity for equal party representation during the counting process. While the bill aims to streamline election processes and reduce regulatory burdens on officials, it raises concerns regarding the potential impact on election integrity and transparency, as many repealed provisions were designed to ensure accurate vote counting and accountability.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 02/05/2025: 12-16-2, 12-18-1, 12-19-43, 12-20-1, 12-20-13, 12-20-13.1, 12-20-13.2, 12-21-24, 61-1-36, 12-17B-1, 12-17B-2, 12-17B-3, 12-17B-4, 12-17B-5, 12-17B-5.1, 12-17B-5.2, 12-17B-6, 12-17B-6.1, 12-17B-7, 12-17B-9, 12-17B-10, 12-17B-11, 12-17B-12, 12-17B-13, 12-17B-13.1, 12-17B-14, 12-17B-15, 12-17B-16, 12-17B-17, 12-17B-18, 12-17B-19, 12-17B-20, 12-17B-21, 12-17B-22, 12-17B-23, 12-17B-24, 12-17B-25