South DakotaOfficials must accept optical scan ballots marked with other tools
For elections using optical scan ballots, officials provide black ink pens to in-person voters and tell absentee voters how to mark their ballots.
What it does
When an election uses optical scan ballots, officials provide black ink pens to in-person voters and tell absentee voters to use black ink. They may not reject ballots marked with other writing tools.
Argument forVoters who use another writing tool could avoid having their optical scan ballot rejected for that reason.
Argument againstVoters may be unsure which marking tool to use when told to use black ink but officials must accept ballots marked with other writing tools.
More detail
Election officials provide black ink pens and instructions, and may not reject ballots marked with other writing tools. These requirements apply when an election uses optical scan ballots. Officials provide a pen to each in-person voter and instructions to each voter who applies to vote by absentee ballot.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 12Signed by the Governor Larry Rhoden on 2026-03-12 S.J. 529Became Law
- Mar 5Delivered to the Governor on 2026-03-05 S.J. 477To Governor
- Mar 4Signed by the Speaker H.J. 516Passed House
- Mar 3Signed by the President S.J. 448Passed Senate
- Mar 2House of Representatives Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 62, NAYS 3 H.J. 475
- Vote recorded Do Pass Amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 25State Affairs Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 11, NAYS 1Minor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 25Scheduled for hearing
- Feb 11First read in House and referred to House State Affairs H.J. 294Minor
- Feb 10Senate Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 34, NAYS 0 S.J. 233
- Feb 6Certified uncontested, placed on consent , Passed, S.J. 18
- Vote recorded Do Pass Amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 6State Affairs Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 7, NAYS 0 S.J. 18
- Feb 6State Affairs Motion to amend , Passed, S.J. 18 Amendment 177CMajor
- Feb 6Scheduled for hearing S.J. 1
- Feb 4Scheduled for hearing
- Jan 29First read in Senate and referred to Senate State Affairs S.J. 141Introduced
Civil Rights & Voting