The bill amends provisions related to the publication of the statewide voter registration file in South Dakota. It requires the Secretary of State to maintain a computerized system for the voter registration file and mandates that county auditors transmit daily updates regarding changes to the master registration file and absentee voter log. The Secretary of State is now required to post the complete statewide voter registration file on their website before 11:59 p.m. central time each Monday, including updates from the county master registration file. Additionally, a rolling five-year historical archive of the voter registration file must be published weekly, also before 11:59 p.m. central time each Monday, and this information will be available free of charge, with certain personal information protected from public inspection.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that information obtained from the statewide voter registration file cannot be sold or used for commercial purposes, with exceptions for campaign or political polling activities. It also specifies that any violation of these provisions is classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor, with potential civil penalties of up to two thousand dollars for each violation, which will be deposited into the general fund. The amendments aim to enhance the transparency and accessibility of voter registration information while ensuring the protection of personal data.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 02/03/2026: 12-4-37, 12-4-37.1, 12-4-41