amend and repeal provisions pertaining to the ballot requirements for certain elections and to declare an emergency.
SB 32 modifies ballot requirements for South Dakota primary elections. It removes party designations for judicial candidates on primary ballots (replacing "nonpolitical judiciary ballot" with standardized candidate lists) and changes how constitutional amendments and initiated measures are printed on ballots. The bill repeals an existing section specifying the form of the nonpolitical judiciary ballot. These changes directly affect county auditors and election officials who print and distribute ballots. The bill also declares an emergency to expedite its implementation.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026
Signed Mar 5, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Senate State Affairs Engrossed
→
Enrolled
·
5 edits
·
Mar 1, 2026
MODERATE
This bill amends South Dakota election laws to update ballot requirements for certain elections and repeals two existing sections. The changes primarily affect how candidates for precinct committee positions and judicial offices appear on primary election ballots, removing party designations in some cases and updating the State Board of Elections' authority over ballot formatting.
Scope change
The bill modifies the scope of ballot requirements for primary elections, specifically affecting precinct committee positions and judicial office candidates.
REQUIREMENT
Amends Section 12-5-8 to update how the county auditor includes precinct committee candidates on the official ballot, following State Board of Elections prescriptions.
Amends Section 12-9-12 to require judicial candidates' names appear on primary ballots in the order designated by the secretary of state, without party designation.
Repeals Section 12-9-13, removing previous ballot requirements that are no longer needed.
Repeals Section 12-13-11, eliminating another provision related to election procedures.
TIMELINE
Includes an emergency declaration stating the Act takes immediate effect upon passage and approval.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 4, 2026 · House Feb 26, 2026
How they voted
34–0
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 35
Feb 4, 2026
D
Democratic3
100% Yea
R
Republican32
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
16
Key actions
9
Committee
5
Amendments
1
Mar 5, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor on 2026-03-05 S.J. 474
executive
Mar 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 493
upper
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by the President S.J. 434
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
House of Representatives Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 61, NAYS 5 H.J. 460
upper
Feb 26, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (61-5-4)
house
Feb 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
State Affairs Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 11, NAYS 0
upper
Feb 6, 2026
Committee
Referred to House State Affairs H.J. 247
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 34, NAYS 0 S.J. 183
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (34-0-1)
senate
Feb 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
State Affairs Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 9, NAYS 0 S.J. 11
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Introduced
State Affairs Motion to amend , Passed, S.J. 11 Amendment 32A
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
First read in Senate and referred to Senate State Affairs S.J. 15
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
No sponsor information available.
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about SB 32
Scope: SD
Hi! I can help you understand SB 32. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline