12-19-1. Absentee ballot--Persons entitled to vote.

A registered voter who is not otherwise disqualified by law from voting in the election may vote by absentee ballot.

Source: SDC 1939, § 16.0606; SL 1944 (SS), ch 2, § 1; SL 1953, ch 75, § 1; SL 1957, ch 85, § 1; SDC Supp 1960, § 16.0610; SL 1963, ch 110, § 1; SL 1967, ch 72; SDCL, §§ 12-19-15 to 12-19-17; SL 1972, ch 90, § 1; SL 1974, ch 118, § 133; SL 1980, ch 115, § 1; SL 1983, ch 112; SL 1993, ch 116, § 1; SL 2003, ch 82, § 6.

12-19-1.1. Affirmation of address by voter in inactive registration file.

A voter in the inactive registration file meeting the criteria in § 12-19-1 may vote absentee by completing the affirmation required in § 12-18-7.4.

Source: SL 1994, ch 107, § 31; SL 2002, ch 40, § 17.

12-19-1.2. Time for absentee voting.

Absentee voting shall begin neither earlier nor later than forty-six days prior to the election including any voter identified as being covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ff-1).

Source: SL 2013, ch 66, § 2.

12-19-1.3. Prefilled absentee ballot application prohibited--Exceptions.

No person may distribute an absentee ballot application to a voter that is prefilled with the voter's name and registration address. This provision does not apply to a person who is authorized to request an absentee ballot for a voter or a person assisting a voter who requires assistance for reason of an inability to read or write, blindness, or other physical disability.

The person in charge of the election or their appointed designee may prefill an absentee ballot application for a voter who requests an application.

Source: SL 2023, ch 51, § 20.