The bill amends several sections of South Dakota's election laws to clarify the definitions and requirements for residency related to voter registration. It redefines "resident" to mean an individual who maintains a fixed, permanent dwelling in the state for at least thirty consecutive days and intends to return after any temporary absence. The bill specifies 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, it updates the language to refer to individuals rather than persons, ensuring consistency throughout the text.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new provisions regarding individuals who register to vote using only a commercial mail receiving agency or post office box as their residence address. Such individuals will not meet the residency requirements for voting in South Dakota and may only register as national voters, which limits their voting to federal offices. The county auditor is tasked with preparing a specific ballot for national voters, which includes only candidates for federal positions. The bill also establishes that the ballots of national voters will be counted alongside resident voter ballots in the precinct where they are registered.

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