FOR AN ACT ENTITLED, An Act to authorize for voters with no party affiliation to sign nominating petitions for candidates with a party affiliation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
    Section 1. That § 12-6-8 be amended to read:
    12-6-8. No person may sign the nominating petition of a candidate before January first in the year in which the election is to be held, nor for whom the person is not entitled to vote, nor for a political candidate of a party of which the person is not a member, nor for more than the number of candidates required to be nominated for the same office. A person who is a registered voter with a party affiliation may not sign a nominating petition for a candidate with a different party affiliation. A person who is a registered voter with a party affiliation may sign a petition nominating an independent candidate or a nonpolitical candidate if the person has not previously signed a petition for that office to be filled. A person who is a registered voter with no party affiliation may sign a petition nominating a candidate with a party affiliation if that person has not previously signed a petition for that office to be filled. The signer or circulator shall add the

signer's place of residence and the date of signing. The signer's post office box number may be given in lieu of a street address if the signer lives within a municipality of the second or third class. A formal declaration of the candidate shall be signed by the candidate before the circulation of petitions. The signed declaration of the candidate shall accompany and be a part of the petition. An original signed declaration shall accompany the group of petitions upon filing. The petition shall be verified under oath by the persons circulating the petition. The verification by the person circulating the petition may not be notarized by the candidate whom the petition is nominating. A nominating petition for any election shall be a self-contained sheet of paper in order to have the candidate's name placed on the ballot. The provisions of this section may not prohibit a person registered with party affiliation from signing either a petition nominating an independent or a nonpolitical candidate for office if the person has not previously signed a petition for that office to be filled.