Noem signs election bills into law

PIERRE, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - Gov. Kristi Noem signed 12 election bills into law Tuesday — some of them alongside Secretary of State Monae Johnson.

“South Dakota’s election laws are built with integrity. We have one of the best election systems in the nation,” said Gov. Noem. “With these laws, we will further strengthen our fantastic system and provide accountability for the future.”

The election bills include:

SB 55 – Prohibits ranked-choice voting
SB 113 – Establishes and modifies provisions related to initiated petitions
SB 139 – Revises residency requirements for the purposes of voter registration
SB 140 – Revises certain provisions relating to voter registration
SB 160 – Establishes post-election audits
SB 161 – Makes an appropriation to the Office of the Secretary of State for voter roll maintenance, ballot machines, and election security
SB 207 – Provides a penalty for the expenditure of public funds to influence the outcome of an election
HB 1123 – Authorizes school boards to modify the length of terms for members to allow for holding joint elections
HB 1124 – Modifies provisions pertaining to the testing of automatic tabulating equipment
HB 1140 – Requires the secretary of state to determine if a legislatively proposed constitutional amendment complies with the single subject requirement and is not a constitutional revision
HB 1148 – Clarifies registration and residence requirements for voting at a township meeting
HB 1165 – Modifies certain provisions pertaining to absentee voting