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Administrative Rules
Rule 05:02:08:00 Guidelines for acceptance of petitions.

          5:02:08:00.  Guidelines for acceptance of petitions. When a petition is presented for filing, the person or governing board authorized to accept the petition shall determine if it meets the following requirements:

 

          (1)  The petition is in the form required by this chapter;

 

          (2)  The petition contains the minimum number of valid signatures, counted according to § 5:02:08:00.01. One or more invalid signatures on a petition do not disallow other valid signatures;

 

          (3)  Each sheet of the petition contains an identical heading and is verified by the circulator. The circulator may add the addresses of the petitioners and the dates of signing before completing the verification. The circulator may also add the printed name of the signer and the county of voter registration. Residence addresses may be abbreviated. The verification was completed and signed before an officer authorized to administer oaths in this state;

 

          (4)  The declaration of candidacy contains the original signature of the candidate. Additional sheets may have an original or photocopied signature of the candidate;

 

          (5)  If a petition is for a ballot question to be voted on statewide, the signatures were obtained after a copy of the text of the petition was filed with the Office of the Secretary of State;

 

          (6)  If a petition is for a ballot question to be voted on statewide, the sponsor(s) must submit the affidavit of completed petition when the petition sheets are submitted to the Office of the Secretary of State;

 

          (7)  The governing board or person authorized to accept the petition shall, if requested, allow a petition circulator the opportunity to add missing information on the signature lines or circulator's verification on the petition provided the filing deadline has not passed; and

 

          (8)  Following the presentation of the petition for filing, names may not be removed from the petition.

 

          Except for petitions to nominate candidates for school boards, municipal offices, or statewide campaigns, the person who is authorized to accept petitions for filing need not check for voter registration of the signers. Petitions containing signatures in excess of the minimum number may be filed, but any excess signatures will be disregarded, unless there is a challenge to that petition. Excess signatures will not be considered by the filing office unless the signatures are needed to validate the petition.

 

          Source: 2 SDR 46, effective December 30, 1975; 6 SDR 25, effective September 24, 1979; 8 SDR 24, effective September 16, 1981; 10 SDR 27, effective September 26, 1983; 14 SDR 19, effective August 9, 1987; 16 SDR 20, effective August 10, 1989; 16 SDR 203, effective May 28, 1990; 28 SDR 99, effective January 17, 2002; 35 SDR 48, effective September 8, 2008; 42 SDR 178, effective July 1, 2016; 45 SDR 9, effective July 30, 2018; 46 SDR 42, effective September 30, 2019; 47 SDR 37, effective October 6, 2020.

          General Authority: SDCL 12-1-9(6).

          Law Implemented: SDCL 2-1-1.1, 2-1-1.2, 2-1-3.1, 9-13-7, 9-13-11, 12-1-1, 12-1-1.1, 12-1-2, 12-6-7.1, 12-6-8,  12-7-1, 13-7-6, 12-1-3, 12-6-4, 18-3-1.

 

          Cross-Reference: Sections of petition, § 5:02:08:00.02.

 




Rule 05:02:08:00.01 Requirements for counting signatures on petitions.

          5:02:08:00.01.  Requirements for counting signatures on petitions. Requirements for counting signatures on a petition sheet are as follows:

 

          (1)  No signature on a petition sheet may be counted if one of the following conditions is present:

 

               (a)  The form of the petition does not meet the requirements of this chapter;

               (b)  The petition sheet is not a self-contained sheet of paper printed front and back;

               (c)  The circulator's verification is not completed or is improperly completed, according to subdivision 5:02:08:00(3) unless the missing information is completed elsewhere on the petition sheet. A completed circulator's verification must include the printed name of the circulator, the circulator's residence address as provided in subdivision (2)(c) of this section, and the complete date;

               (d)  The declaration of candidacy has not been completed on or after the first date authorized by law to circulate the petition, and signed by the candidate and the signature witnessed by an official empowered to administer oaths in this state; or

               (e)  The circulator's verification was signed by more than one circulator;

               (f)  A petition for a legislative candidate must include the district number and whether the candidate is running for senate or house; and

 

          (2)  An individual signature on a petition sheet may not be counted if one of the following conditions is present:

 

               (a)  It was signed prior to the signing of the candidate's declaration of candidacy or, if for a ballot question, it was signed before a copy of the text was filed with the secretary of state;

               (b)  It was signed after the circulator completed the verification;

               (c)  The residence address does not include a street and house number or a rural route and box number and the town. If the signer is a resident of a second or third class municipality, a post office box number may be used. If the signer does not have a residence address or post office box number, a description of the residence location must be provided. If the signer is a resident of a building with a publicly known name, the building name may be used;

               (d)  The date of signing, including month and day, is not indicated;

               (e)  The signer's name is not printed and legible; or

               (f)  The signer's county of voter registration is not provided.

 

          Source: 10 SDR 27, effective September 26, 1983; 12 SDR 43, effective September 23, 1985; 14 SDR 19, effective August 9, 1987; 16 SDR 20, effective August 10, 1989; 19 SDR 12, effective August 5, 1992; 21 SDR 77, effective October 24, 1994; 26 SDR 168, effective June 25, 2000; 33 SDR 230, effective July 1, 2007; 35 SDR 48, effective September 8, 2008; 44 SDR 94, effective December 4, 2017; 46 SDR 42, effective September 30, 2019.

          General Authority: SDCL 12-1-9(6).

          Law Implemented: SDCL 9-13-11, 12-1-1, 12-1-1.1, 12-1-2, 12-6-7.1, 12-6-8, 13-7-6.

 




Rule 05:02:08:00.02 Petitions.

          5:02:08:00.02.  Petitions. A petition may be composed of multiple sheets. Each sheet must be a self-contained sheet of paper printed front and back and have identical headings printed at the top.

 

          Source: 16 SDR 20, effective August 10, 1989; 44 SDR 94, effective December 4, 2017.

          General Authority: SDCL 12-1-9(7).

          Law Implemented: SDCL 12-1-3(8).

 

          Cross-Reference: Guidelines for acceptance of petitions, § 5:02:08:00(3).

 




Rule 05:02:08:00.03 Form of petition.

          5:02:08:00.03.  Form of petition. Each type of petition must contain the applicable heading as prescribed in this chapter and the following instructions to signers, signature blanks, and verification unless otherwise prescribed for a specific petition:

 

INSTRUCTIONS TO SIGNERS:

1.    Signers of this petition must individually sign their names in the form in which they are registered to vote or as they usually sign their names.

2.    Before the petition is filed, each signer or the circulator must add the residence address of the signer and the date of signing. If the signer is a resident of a second or third class municipality, a post office box may be used for the residence address.

3.    Before the petition is filed, each signer or the circulator must print the name of the signer in the space provided and add the county of voter registration.

4.    Abbreviations of common usage may be used. Ditto marks may not be used.

5.    Failure to provide all information requested may invalidate the signature.

 

NAME

RESIDENCE

DATE/COUNTY

SIGN

1 ---------------------------------------------------

PRINT

STREET AND NUMBER OR RURAL ROUTE AND BOX NUMBER

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CITY OR TOWN

DATE OF SIGNING

---------------------------------------------

COUNTY OF REGISTRATION

SIGN

2 ---------------------------------------------------

PRINT

STREET AND NUMBER OR RURAL ROUTE AND BOX NUMBER

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CITY OR TOWN

DATE OF SIGNING

---------------------------------------------

COUNTY OF REGISTRATION

SIGN

3 ---------------------------------------------------

PRINT

STREET AND NUMBER OR RURAL ROUTE AND BOX NUMBER

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CITY OR TOWN

DATE OF SIGNING

---------------------------------------------

COUNTY OF REGISTRATION

SIGN

4 ---------------------------------------------------

PRINT

STREET AND NUMBER OR RURAL ROUTE AND BOX NUMBER

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CITY OR TOWN

DATE OF SIGNING

---------------------------------------------

COUNTY OF REGISTRATION

SIGN

5 ---------------------------------------------------

PRINT

STREET AND NUMBER OR RURAL ROUTE AND BOX NUMBER

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CITY OR TOWN

DATE OF SIGNING

---------------------------------------------

COUNTY OF REGISTRATION

SIGN

6 ---------------------------------------------------

PRINT

STREET AND NUMBER OR RURAL ROUTE AND BOX NUMBER

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CITY OR TOWN

DATE OF SIGNING

---------------------------------------------

COUNTY OF REGISTRATION

 

VERIFICATION BY PERSON CIRCULATING PETITION

 

INSTRUCTIONS TO CIRCULATOR: This section (bold) must (unbold) be completed following circulation and before filing.

 

 

Print name of the circulator                    Residence Address                                           City      State

 

          I, under oath, state that I circulated the above petition, that each signer personally signed this petition in my presence, and that either the signer or I added the printed name, the residence address of the signer, the date of signing, and the county of voter registration.

_________________________________

                                                                                              Signature of Circulator

 

Sworn to before me this ______ day of _______________, ______.

 

(Seal)

                                                                                             ________________________________

                                                                                              Signature of Officer Administering Oath

 

My commission expires _____________.

_________________________________

                                                                                              Title of Officer Administering Oath

 

          Source: 16 SDR 20, effective August 10, 1989; 16 SDR 203, effective May 28, 1990; 19 SDR 12, effective August 5, 1992; 23 SDR 115, effective January 22, 1997; 26 SDR 168, effective June 25, 2000.

          General Authority: SDCL 12-1-9(7).

          Law Implemented: SDCL 12-1-3(14).

 




Rule 05:02:08:00.04 Validity of petition signature when signer has signed more petitions than offices to be nominated.

          5:02:08:00.04.  Validity of petition signature when signer has signed more petitions than offices to be nominated. The first signature presented to the filing office which meets the requirements of SDCL 12-6-8 and §§ 5:02:08:00 and 5:02:08:00.01 is valid. The same signature which meets the requirements of SDCL 12-6-8 and §§ 5:02:08:00 and 5:02:08:00.01 on the next nominating petition presented to the filing office may also be valid if the person has not signed petitions exceeding the number of candidates required to be nominated for the same office. Any subsequent signature by such person on a nominating petition presented to the filing office that exceeds the number of candidates required to be nominated for the same office is not valid, except as provided in SDCL 9-13-9.

 

          Source: 33 SDR 230, effective July 1, 2007.

          General Authority: SDCL 12-1-9(4).

          Law Implemented: SDCL 12-6-8, 9-13-7, 9-13-9, 13-7-6.

 




    5:02:08:00.05.  Methodology for conducting the random sample for a statewide candidate, initiative petition, referred law petition, or initiated constitutional amendment petition. Upon receiving any statewide candidate petition, initiative petition, referred law petition, or initiated constitutional amendment petition, the secretary of state shall use the following method for conducting the random sample:

    (1)  Each sheet within the petition shall be consecutively numbered;

    (2)  A spreadsheet consisting of rows and columns shall be created listing each petition sheet number in a column and the number of eligible signatures, as defined in subsection 4(d), in a separate column;

    (3)  The Office of Secretary State must use the tables in subdivision (8) which identifies how many signatures shall be randomly sampled to meet the statutory requirement based on the number of petition signatures submitted. Microsoft Excel functions, or a similar program as determined by the secretary of state, shall be used to randomly select the signatures for validation;

    (4)  Each signature in the random sample shall be evaluated as to whether the signature is valid or invalid pursuant to §§ 5:02:08:00 and 5:02:08:00.01, and in accordance with:

        (a)  No signature line may be counted unless the person is a registered voter in the county indicated in the signature line;

        (b)  When validating a statewide partisan candidate petition, the party affiliation is also validated for each randomly selected eligible signature;

        (c)  A signature line consists of two rows containing six fields each, signature line is separately numbered as per § 5:02:08:00.03;

        (d)  An eligible signature is a signature line that is filled in partially or completely. If a signature line is empty or crossed out, said signature line is not included as an eligible signature. A signature line containing an abstract mark or markings shall be counted as an eligible signature; and

        (e)  A random sample signatures are those eligible signatures contained in the random sample generated by the program designated in subdivision (3). The total number of valid signatures submitted is extrapolated from the random sample;

    (5)  The total number of valid signatures is determined by:

        (a)  Subtracting the number of invalid random sample signatures from the total number of random sample signatures;

        (b)  Next, determine the percentage of valid signatures in the random sample signatures by dividing the number of valid signatures by the total number of random sample signatures;

        (c)  The resulting percentage is multiplied by the total number of eligible signatures submitted; and

        (d)  The resulting number is the number of valid signatures the secretary of state uses to determine how the petition is certified;

    (6)  If the number of valid signatures as determined in subdivision (5) is equal to or greater than the required number of signatures needed to file the petition, the secretary of state shall certify the petition as filed;

    (7)  If the number of valid signatures as determined in subdivision (5) is less than the required number of signatures needed to file the petition, the secretary of state shall certify the petition as not filed; and

    (8)  The table below identifies how many signatures shall be randomly sampled to meet the state requirements:

        (a)  If the sample size number is less than the safe harbor sample size number the Secretary of State shall use the safe harbor sample size number; and

        (b)  If the number of submitted signatures is between two numbers listed in the signatures submitted column, the Secretary of State shall round down to the lower number if the number is 500 or less and shall round up if the number is 501 and higher.

Statewide Ballot Question Table

Sample Size

Signatures

Submitted

"Safe Harbor"

Sample Size

Sample size %

of total

694

13,871

699

5.0032%

699

15,000

701

4.6600%

701

16,000

703

4.3813%

703

17,000

704

4.1353%

704

18,000

706

3.9111%

706

19,000

707

3.7158%

707

20,000

708

3.5350%

708

21,000

709

3.3714%

709

22,000

710

3.2227%

710

23,000

711

3.0870%

711

24,000

712

2.9625%

712

25,000

713

2.8480%

713

26,000

714

2.7423%

714

27,000

714

2.6444%

714

28,000

715

2.5500%

715

29,000

715

2.4655%

715

30,000

716

2.3833%

716

31,000

716

2.3097%

716

32,000

717

2.2375%

717

33,000

717

2.1727%

717

34,000

718

2.1088%

718

35,000

718

2.0514%

718

36,000

719

1.9944%

719

37,000

719

1.9432%

719

38,000

719

1.8921%

719

39,000

720

1.8436%

720

40,000

720

1.8000%

720

41,000

720

1.7561%

720

42,000

721

1.7143%

721

43,000

721

1.6767%

721

44,000

721

1.6386%

721

45,000

721

1.6022%

721

46,000

722

1.5674%

722

47,000

722

1.5362%

722

48,000

722

1.5042%

722

49,000

722

1.4735%

722

50,000

723

1.4440%

723

51,000

723

1.4176%

723

52,000

723

1.3904%

723

53,000

723

1.3642%

723

54,000

723

1.3389%

723

55,000

723

1.3145%

723

56,000

724

1.2911%

724

57,000

724

1.2702%

724

58,000

724

1.2483%

724

59,000

724

1.2271%

724

60,000

724

1.2067%

724

61,000

724

1.1869%

724

62,000

724

1.1677%

724

63,000

725

1.1492%

725

64,000

725

1.1328%

725

65,000

725

1.1154%

725

66,000

725

1.0985%

725

67,000

725

1.0821%

725

68,000

725

1.0662%

725

69,000

725

1.0507%

725

70,000

725

1.0357%

725

71,000

726

1.0211%

726

72,000

726

1.0083%

726

73,000

726

0.9945%

726

74,000

726

0.9811%

726

75,000

726

0.9680%

726

76,000

726

0.9553%

726

77,000

726

0.9429%

726

78,000

726

0.9308%

726

79,000

726

0.9190%

726

80,000

726

0.9075%

726

81,000

726

0.8963%

726

82,000

726

0.8854%

726

83,000

727

0.8747%

727

84,000

727

0.8655%

727

85,000

727

0.8553%

    

Statewide Candidate Table

Sample Size

Signatures

Submitted

"Safe Harbor"

Sample Size

Sample size %

of total

187

250

213

74.8000%

213

300

259

71.0000%

259

400

297

64.7500%

297

500

330

59.4000%

330

600

358

55.0000%

358

700

383

51.1429%

383

800

404

47.8750%

404

900

423

44.8889%

423

1,000

440

42.3000%

440

1,100

455

40.0000%

455

1,200

469

37.9167%

469

1,300

481

36.0769%

481

1,400

493

34.3571%

493

1,500

503

32.8667%

503

1,600

512

31.4375%

512

1,700

521

30.1176%

521

1,800

529

28.9444%

529

1,900

537

27.8421%

537

2,000

543

26.8500%

543

2,100

550

25.8571%

550

2,200

556

25.0000%

556

2,300

562

24.1739%

562

2,400

567

23.4167%

567

2,500

572

22.6800%

572

2,600

577

22.0000%

577

2,700

581

21.3704%

581

2,800

585

20.7500%

585

2,900

589

20.1724%

589

3,000

593

19.6333%

593

3,100

596

19.1290%

596

3,200

600

18.6250%

600

3,300

603

18.1818%

603

3,400

606

17.7353%

606

3,500

609

17.3143%

609

3,600

612

16.9167%

612

3,700

615

16.5405%

615

3,800

617

16.1842%

617

3,900

620

15.8205%

620

4,000

622

15.5000%

622

4,100

624

15.1707%

624

4,200

626

14.8571%

626

4,300

628

14.5581%

628

4,400

630

14.2727%

630

4,5000

632

14.0000%

632

4,600

634

13.7391%

634

4,700

636

13.4894%

636

4,800

638

13.2500%

638

4,900

639

13.0204%

639

5,000

641

12.7800%

641

5,100

642

12.5686%

642

5,200

644

12.3462%

644

5,300

645

12.1509%

645

5,400

647

11.9444%

647

5,500

648

11.7636%

648

5,600

649

11.5714%

649

5,700

651

11.3860%

651

5,800

652

11.2241%

652

5,900

653

11.0508%

653

6,000

654

10.8833%

654

6,100

656

10.7213%

656

6,200

657

10.5806%

657

6,300

658

10.4286%

658

6,400

659

10.2813%

659

6,500

660

10.1385%

660

6,600

661

10.0000%

661

6,700

662

9.8657%

662

6,800

663

9.7353%

663

6,900

664

9.6087%

664

7,000

664

9.4857%

664

7,100

665

9.3521%

665

7,200

666

9.2361%

666

7,300

667

9.1233%

667

7,400

668

9.0135%

668

7,500

669

8.9067%

669

7,600

669

8.8026%

669

7,700

670

8.6883%

670

7,800

671

8.5897%

671

7,900

671

8.4937%

671

8,000

672

8.3875%

672

8,100

673

8.2963%

673

8,200

673

8.2073%

673

8,300

674

8.1084%

674

8,400

675

8.0238%

675

8,500

675

7.9412%

675

8,600

676

7.8488%

676

8,700

677

7.7701%

677

8,800

677

7.6932%

677

8,900

678

7.6067%

678

9,000

678

7.5333%

678

9,100

679

7.4505%

679

9,200

679

7.3804%

679

9,300

680

7.3011%

680

9,400

680

7.2340%

680

9,500

681

7.1579%

681

9,600

681

7.0938%

681

9,700

682

7.0206%

682

9,800

682

6.9592%

682

9,900

683

6.8889%

683

10,000

683

6.8300%

683

10,100

684

6.7624%

684

10,200

684

6.7059%

684

10,300

685

6.6408%

685

10,400

685

6.5865%

685

10,500

686

6.5238%

686

10,600

686

6.4717%

686

10,700

686

6.4112%

686

10,800

687

6.3519%

687

10,900

687

6.3028%

687

11,000

688

6.2455%

688

11,100

688

6.1982%

688

11,200

688

6.1429%

688

11,300

689

6.0885%

689

11,400

689

6.0439%

689

11,500

689

5.9913%

689

11,600

690

5.9397%

690

11,700

690

5,8974%

690

11,800

690

5.8475%

690

11,900

691

5.7983%

691

12,000

691

5.7583%

691

12,100

691

5.7107%

691

12,200

692

5.6639%

692

12,300

692

5.6260%

692

12,400

692

5.5806%

692

12,500

693

5.5360%

693

12,600

693

5.5000%

693

12,700

693

5.4567%

693

12,800

694

5.4141%

694

12,900

694

5.3798%

694

13,000

694

5.3385%

694

13,100

694

5.2977%

694

13,200

695

5.2576%

695

13,300

695

5.2256%

695

13,400

695

5.1866%

695

13,500

695

5.1481%

695

13,600

696

5.1103%

696

13,700

696

5.0803%

696

13,800

696

5.0435%

696

13,900

696

5.0072%

696

14,000

697

4.9714%

697

14,100

697

4.9433%

697

14,200

697

4.9085%

697

14,300

697

4.8741%

697

14,400

698

4.8403%

698

14,500

698

4.8138%

698

14,600

698

4.7808%

698

14,700

698

4.7483%

698

14,800

699

4.7162%

699

14,900

699

4.6913%

699

15,000

699

4.6600%

699

15,100

699

4.6291%

699

15,200

699

4.5987%

699

15,300

700

4.5686%

700

15,400

700

4.5455%

700

15,500

700

4.5161%

700

15,600

700

4.4872%

700

15,700

700

4.4586%

700

15,800

701

4.4304%

701

15,900

701

4.4088%

701

16,000

701

4.3813%

701

16,100

701

4.3540%

701

16,200

701

4.3272%

701

16,300

702

4.3006%

702

16,400

702

4.2805%

702

16,500

702

4.2545%

702

16,600

702

4.2289%

702

16,700

702

4.2036%

702

16,800

702

4.1786%

702

16,900

703

4.1538%

703

17,000

703

4.1353%

703

17,100

703

4.1111%

703

17,200

703

4.0872%

703

17,300

703

4.0636%

703

17,400

703

4.0402%

703

17,500

704

4.0171%

704

17,600

704

4.0000%

704

17,700

704

3.9774%

704

17,800

704

3.9551%

704

17,900

704

3.9330%

704

18,000

704

3.9111%

704

18,100

705

3.8895%

705

18,200

705

3.8736%

705

18,300

705

3.8525%

705

18,400

705

3.8315%

705

18,500

705

3.8108%

705

18,600

705

3.7903%

705

18,700

705

3.7701%

705

18,800

706

3.7500%

706

18,900

706

3.7354%

706

19,000

706

3.7158%

706

19,100

706

3.6963%

706

19,200

706

3.6771%

706

19,300

706

3.6580%

706

19,400

706

3.6392%

706

19,500

707

3.6205%

707

19,600

707

3.6071%

707

19,700

707

3.5888%

707

19,800

707

3.5707%

707

19,900

707

3.5528%

707

20,000

707

3.5350%

Reference: Northern State University Assistant Professor of Accounting, Economics, Banking and Financial Services and Business Law, Sara Schmidt provided the methodology and the signature tables.

    Source: 33 SDR 230, effective July 1, 2007; 42 SDR 178, effective July 1, 2016; 44 SDR 17, effective August 8, 2017; 45 SDR 9, effective July 30, 2018.

    General Authority: SDCL 2-1-16.

    Law Implemented: SDCL 2-1-16, 12-1-35, 12-1-36.