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Bill

SB 68

require an individual be a citizen of the United States before being eligible to vote and to provide a penalty therefor.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Bobbi Andera and 24 co-sponsors

South Dakota law now requires U.S. citizenship for voting eligibility and establishes penalties for violations, codifying existing federal voting requirements at the state level.

Signed by the Governor on 2025-03-31 S.J. 539
#crimes #elections #penalty #voting
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Bill Summary · SB 68

Legislative bill overview

SB 68 requires that individuals must be U.S. citizens to be eligible to vote in South Dakota and establishes penalties for violations of this requirement. The bill codifies citizenship as a formal eligibility criterion for voter registration and participation.

Why is this important

Voting eligibility rules are foundational to electoral systems and citizenship has historically been a core requirement for voting rights in the United States. This bill makes explicit what is already federal law under the Voting Rights Act, but formalizes state-level enforcement mechanisms and penalties for non-citizen voting attempts.

Potential points of contention

  • Redundancy vs. clarification: Federal law already requires citizenship for federal elections; critics may argue this is duplicative while supporters contend it strengthens state enforcement and clarifies intent
  • Penalty structure: The bill's specific penalties for violations are not detailed in the summary provided; penalties could be viewed as either appropriately deterrent or excessive depending on their severity
  • Implementation costs: Verification mechanisms to confirm citizenship status during registration may impose administrative and fiscal burdens on election officials

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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