South DakotaSouth Dakota voter applicants must show citizenship documents
People applying to register to vote in South Dakota must provide an accepted document showing U.S. citizenship, with certain applicants assigned a federal-only ballot.
What it does
People applying to register to vote in South Dakota must provide a document showing U.S. citizenship, such as an accepted ID card or citizenship record.
Some people who apply without citizenship documents, or give only a mail service address without describing where they live, must be designated federal voters and receive a ballot limited to federal offices.
Argument forReviewing accepted citizenship documents may help confirm that people registering meet the citizenship requirement.
Argument againstApplicants who cannot obtain an accepted document may have trouble registering, and naturalization records require an added number check.
More detail
People applying to register as voters must provide a document showing they are U.S. citizens. This applies to anyone applying to register as a South Dakota voter. Accepted documents include certain state or tribal identification cards and copies of listed citizenship records. A South Dakota driver license or nondriver ID must have been issued after July 1, 2025, and show that citizenship documents were provided. The law took effect upon passage and approval.
County auditors must designate some people as federal voters and provide them a ballot limited to federal offices. A federal voter is eligible to vote for presidential electors, U.S. senator, or U.S. representative. This applies to an applicant who provides no citizenship documents only if the person is not already registered in South Dakota. It also applies when a person gives only a post office box or mail service address without describing where they live. The ballot lists candidates for president and vice president, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House, plus presidential electors. The law took effect upon passage and approval.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 30Signed by the Governor Larry Rhoden on 2026-03-30 S.J. 550Became Law
- Mar 10Delivered to the Governor on 2026-03-10 S.J. 510To Governor
- Mar 9Signed by the Speaker H.J. 543Passed House
- Mar 5Signed by the President S.J. 485Passed Senate
- Mar 4House of Representatives Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 64, NAYS 3 H.J. 513
- Vote recorded Do Pass Amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 2State Affairs Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 11, NAYS 1Minor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 2Scheduled for hearing
- Feb 20First read in House and referred to House State Affairs H.J. 387Minor
- Feb 19Senate Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 28, NAYS 6 S.J. 315
- Vote recorded Do Pass Amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Placed on calendar pursuant to JR 6F-6. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 19Senate Motion to amend , Passed, S.J. 315 Amendment 175DMajor
- Feb 19Placed on calendar pursuant to JR 6F-6 , Passed, YEAS 28, NAYS 6 S.J. 310
- Feb 17State Affairs Report out of committee without recommendation as amended , Passed,
- Feb 17Recalled from committee (Rule 7-7) , Passed, S.J. 269
- Feb 11State Affairs Deferred to the 41st legislative day , Passed, YEAS 5, NAYS 3 S.J. 23
- Vote recorded Deferred to the 41st legislative day. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 11State Affairs Motion to amend , Passed, S.J. 23 Amendment 175CMajor
- Feb 11Scheduled for hearing
- Jan 29First read in Senate and referred to Senate State Affairs S.J. 141Introduced
Civil Rights & Voting