South Dakota legislation · 101st Legislature (2026)
South Dakota SB176: amend the period of time before which ballots and other election materials may be destroyed following an election.
Status: Signed into law, March 12, 2026
What the bill says
An Act ENTITLED An Act to amend the period of time before which ballots and other election materials may be destroyed following an election.
From the enrolled text, March 3, 2026:
An Act ENTITLED An Act to amend the period of time before which ballots and other election materials may be destroyed following an election. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota: Section 1. That a NEW SECTION be added to chapter 9-13: The returns from a municipal election must be certified by the precinct election board in each polling place, and the ballots, properly sealed in ballot boxes, together with the pollbooks, must be placed in the custody of the municipal finance officer. The finance officer may destroy voted ballots, pollbooks, and all other election material relating to a municipal election twenty-two months after the election at which the ballots were voted. Section 2. That § 12-20-31 be AMENDED: 12-20-31. The person in charge of an election may destroy voted ballots, pollbooks, and all other election material relating to a nonfederal election twenty‐two months after the election at which the ballots were voted. The person in charge of an election may destroy voted ballots, pollbooks and all other election material relating to a federal election twenty‐two months after the election at which the ballots were voted. For purposes of this section, a federal election is any election to nominate or elect persons to the United States Congress or other national elected position, including national issues …
Sponsors
- Amber Hulse (R, SD-030) · primary sponsor
- Logan Manhart (R, HD-001) · primary sponsor
- Timothy Goodwin (R, HD-030)
- Carl Perry (R, 03)
- Kathy Rice (R, HD-029)
Latest actions
- : Signed by the Governor
- : Delivered to the Governor
- : Signed by the Speaker
- : Signed by the President
- : Do Pass
- : Do Pass
- : Scheduled for hearing
- : Referred to State Affairs
- : First Reading House
- : Do Pass
Votes
- Do Pass (March 2, 2026): 64 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Do Pass (February 25, 2026): 11 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Do Pass (February 5, 2026): 34 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Pass (February 4, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Elections, Election Verification
Common questions
- What is SB176?
- SB176 is a bill in the South Dakota Legislature (101st Legislature (2026)): amend the period of time before which ballots and other election materials may be destroyed following an election.
- What does SB176 do?
- In its own words: An Act ENTITLED An Act to amend the period of time before which ballots and other election materials may be destroyed following an election.
- What is the status of SB176?
- Signed into law as of March 12, 2026. Latest action: Signed by the Governor (March 12, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB176?
- Amber Hulse (R, SD-030), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB176?
- On the South Dakota Legislature website: https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/27214
Source: official South Dakota record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.