The bill amends several sections of South Dakota's election laws to clarify the definition of residency for voting purposes. It redefines "resident" to mean an individual who maintains a fixed, permanent dwelling where they live and usually sleep for at least thirty consecutive days. The bill specifies that an individual remains a resident of the state during temporary absences if they intend to return. It also establishes that an individual can only be a resident of one place and outlines the conditions under which a person retains or loses residency status.

Additionally, the bill introduces new provisions regarding voter registration for individuals using commercial mail receiving agencies or post office boxes as their residence address. Such individuals do not meet the residency requirements and may only register as "national voters," allowing them to vote for federal offices like the president and members of Congress. The county auditor is tasked with preparing a specific ballot for national voters, which includes only federal candidates. The bill ensures that the ballots of national voters are counted alongside resident voter ballots in their precinct.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 02/05/2025: 12-1-4, 12-4-1, 12-4-1.2, 12-18-10
Senate State Affairs Engrossed, 02/12/2025: 12-1-4, 12-4-1, 12-4-1.2, 12-18-10