12-4-5. Entry of applicants in registration file--Deadline--List for runoff election.
The county auditor shall enter in the master registration file the name of each eligible person whose completed application for registration and mail registration card is received no later than 5:00 p.m. local time at least fifteen days preceding the election by the county auditor or the local, state, or federal agency responsible for conducting voter registration under this chapter. A voter registration completed at any local, state, or federal agency during any week commencing on Tuesday through the following Monday shall be sent to the appropriate county auditor by the agency receiving the registration or mail registration card no later than the following Wednesday. The State Board of Elections may promulgate rules, pursuant to chapter 1-26, for the alternative transmission of voter registration information by computer from the agency to the secretary of state. The name of any voter who has registered to vote by 5:00 p.m. local time fifteen days preceding a runoff election shall be added to the file used for the runoff election.
Source: SL 1961, ch 92, §§ 4, 13; SDCL §§ 12-4-4, 12-4-5.1; SL 1969, ch 83, § 4; SL 1970, ch 86, § 11; SL 1974, ch 118, § 7; SL 1978, ch 94, § 1; SL 1981, ch 120, § 1; SL 1985, ch 106, § 2; SL 1985, ch 107, § 1; SL 1985, ch 110, § 1C; SL 1994, ch 107, § 6; SL 1996, ch 95, § 4; SL 2002, ch 40, § 5; SL 2017, ch 68, § 1; SL 2019, ch 69, § 1.
12-4-5.2. Notice of registration procedures--Publication.
The county auditor or the person responsible for the conduct of a local election shall give notice of the availability of registration officials and state when registration will be terminated and the effect of not registering to vote. The county auditor or the person responsible for the conduct of a local election shall publish the notice online and in official newspapers at least once each week for two consecutive weeks, the last publication to be not less than ten nor more than fifteen days before the deadline for registration. A township, conservation district, sanitation district, fire district, or any special district is not required to post a notice online if the district does not have an official website.
Source: SL 1974, ch 119, § 1; SL 2023, ch 44, § 5.
12-4-5.3. Review of voter registration application by auditor--Notice to applicant--Promulgation of rules.
When a voter registration application is received by the county auditor, the county auditor or an individual designated by the county auditor shall review the application for eligibility and completeness. If the applicant is not eligible to be registered or sufficient information to complete the registration card cannot be obtained from the applicant, the county auditor must send an acknowledgment notice by nonforwardable mail to the applicant indicating the reason the registration was not filed. The acknowledgment notice must state that the applicant needs to submit the corrected information to the county auditor within thirty days or the voter registration form may not be processed. The county auditor shall send an acknowledgment notice by nonforwardable mail to the applicant whose registration is accepted. The State Board of Elections shall promulgate rules, pursuant to chapter 1-26, prescribing the form of the acknowledgement notice. The same confirmation mailing required by § 12-4-19 must be sent immediately to any person whose registration acknowledgment notice is returned undeliverable.
Source: SL 1994, ch 107, § 7; SL 1996, ch 95, § 5; SL 2017, ch 68, § 2; SL 2023, ch 44, § 6.
12-4-5.4. Registration--Information provided.
Any person registering to vote shall provide the person's valid South Dakota driver license number or a South Dakota nondriver identification number on the voter registration form. If a person does not have a valid South Dakota driver license or a South Dakota nondriver identification number, the person shall provide the last four digits of the person's social security number on the voter registration form. If a person does not have a valid South Dakota driver license, a South Dakota nondriver identification number, or a social security number, the person may only register at the county auditor's office and shall sign a statement verifying the fact that the person does not have a valid South Dakota driver license, a South Dakota nondriver identification number, or a social security number. The statement shall be prescribed by the State Board of Elections.
Source: SL 2003, ch 83, § 11; SL 2006, ch 68, § 1; SL 2020, ch 49, § 1.
12-4-5.5. Verification of driver license or social security information--Promulgation of rules.
At the time voter registration information is transmitted from a county to the statewide voter registration file, the secretary of state shall verify the authenticity of the driver license number or the South Dakota nondriver identification number with the driver license database. If the last four digits of the person's social security number have been provided, the secretary of state shall review the social security database to determine that the number, name, and date of birth are accurate and that this information belongs to the person. If any of this information is reported as not being accurate, the county auditor must withdraw the voter registration and attempt to get the correct information with the process provided in § 12-4-5.3. The State Board of Elections shall promulgate rules, pursuant to chapter 1-26, determining technical parameters for the driver license and social security database verification.
Source: SL 2003, ch 83, § 12; SL 2005, ch 89, § 2; SL 2020, ch 49, § 2; SL 2023, ch 44, § 7.