South DakotaSouth Dakota election officials may destroy records after 22 months
South Dakota law allows municipal, school district, and other election officials to destroy ballots and related materials 22 months after an election.
What it does
Election officials may destroy ballots, pollbooks, and other election materials 22 months after an election. Materials from ballots used for both federal and state or local elections must be kept for that period.
Argument forOfficials may destroy election materials after 22 months, which could reduce how long they need to store them.
Argument againstAfter 22 months, officials may destroy federal election materials, which could make them harder to review if questions arise later.
More detail
Election officials may destroy ballots, pollbooks, and other election materials 22 months after an election. The provisions cover municipal, school district, and other federal and nonfederal elections. For a ballot used in both federal and state or local elections, the ballots and other election materials must be kept for 22 months. Federal election materials may be taken out of ballot boxes if they are kept safely and their integrity is protected. The 22-month period runs from the election at which the ballots were voted.
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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 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. 516Major
- Mar 3Signed by the President S.J. 448Major
- Mar 2House of Representatives Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 64, NAYS 1 H.J. 475Passed House
- Vote recorded Do Pass. 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 9Referred to House State Affairs H.J. 262Minor
- Feb 6First Reading House H.J. 247
- Feb 5Senate Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 34, NAYS 0 S.J. 199Passed Senate
- Feb 4Certified uncontested, placed on consent , Passed, S.J. 15
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 4State Affairs Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 9, NAYS 0 S.J. 15Minor
- Feb 4Scheduled for hearing
- Jan 29First read in Senate and referred to Senate State Affairs S.J. 141Introduced
Civil Rights & Voting