MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — South Dakota voters would need to provide documentation proving U.S. citizenship when registering to vote under a bill approved by the state Senate in Pierre.
Senators passed Senate Bill 175 on Thursday by a 28-6 vote. Because the measure includes an emergency clause, it required a two-thirds majority and received the needed support, according to the Legislature’s bill listing and floor action reports.
The bill would require anyone registering to vote to submit documents that prove U.S. citizenship, supporters said during debate. Sen. John Carley, R-Piedmont, argued the proposal would formalize checks the state already performs and help prevent noncitizens from registering.
Opponents warned the added documentation requirement could create new hurdles for eligible voters and could shift election disputes toward paperwork questions rather than ballots. Sen. Randy Deibert, R-Spearfish, voted against the bill.
SB 175 now moves to the South Dakota House for consideration.