The South Dakota Legislature adjourned its regular session on March 30 after enacting 21 election-related bills, all of which were signed by Gov. Larry Rhoden (R).

Among those bills were two measures related to citizenship and voting. SB 175 requires individuals to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote in state and local elections. Prospective voters who do not provide proof of citizenship may vote in federal elections only. Documents establishing citizenship include a state driver’s license or ID card, a birth certificate, a naturalization certificate, or a passport.

Rhoden signed SB 175 on March 26, meaning the proof of citizenship requirement will be in place for the state’s June 2 primary. The state Senate voted 28-6 to approve the bill on Feb. 19, with 28 Republicans voting in favor and three Republicans and three Democrats opposed. The state House approved the bill 64-3 on March 4, with 62 Republicans and two Democrats voting in favor and three Democrats opposed.

South Dakota is one of three states to enact a new documentary proof of citizenship requirement so far this year, along with Florida and Utah. Nationally, 12 states have laws requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote in at least some cases.

Lawmakers also approved SB 30, which adds U.S. citizenship status to the list of reasons that a voter’s eligibility to vote can be challenged.

Other election-related bills enacted in 2026 include:

• HB 1030, which allows municipalities to adopt an ordinance to hold their municipal election only in even-numbered years. Previously, municipal elections were required to take place annually.
• SB 17, which prohibits candidates from accepting loans from a state, state agency, political subdivision, foreign government, foreign national, federal agency, or the federal government. The bill also prohibits candidates from accepting contributions from foreign nationals.
• SB 114, which establishes that cast vote records and scans of ballot images collected by automatic tabulating equipment are public records.
• SB 138, which makes changes to recount procedures for school board elections.
• SB 151, which requires the secretary of state to post the names of precinct committee candidates and the results of precinct committee elections online.
• SB 171, which allows an absentee ballot counting board to be convened prior to Election Day.
• SB 214, which requires the secretary of state to post the complete statewide voter registration file online every Monday.

South Dakota enacted 27 election-related bills in 2025, 11 in 2024, and 17 in 2023.