12-19-9.3. Ballot drop boxes prohibited--Exclusions--Promulgation of rules--Violation as misdemeanor.

The person in charge of the election may not establish or place, or allow any individual to establish or place, an absentee ballot drop box within the official's jurisdiction. A completed absentee ballot may only be returned to an office of the individual in charge of the election pursuant to § 12-19-7.

For the purposes of this section, the term, absentee ballot drop box, means a receptacle or container into which an individual may deposit a completed absentee ballot. This term excludes a county auditor's means for physically securing a completed absentee ballot as required by § 12-19-10 or 12-19-42, including a secured and monitored receptacle or container at the office of the individual in charge of the election. The State Board of Elections shall promulgate rules, pursuant to chapter 1-26, prescribing the requirements to ensure the security of the receptacle or container located at the office of the individual in charge of the election.

A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Source: SL 2023, ch 51, § 21.