Revise residency requirements for the purposes of voter registration.
Summary
HB 1066 revises South Dakota’s statutory definition of “resident” for voter-registration purposes and updates related voter-registration provisions. The bill defines a resident as an individual who maintains an actual fixed permanent dwelling or other abode where they live and usually sleep for at least 30 consecutive days, and it clarifies how residency is maintained during temporary absences or when a person moves to another state. It also states that a person may be a resident of only one place at a time.
The bill ties voter registration eligibility to this residency definition. A person who is a South Dakota resident and otherwise meets voter qualifications may register in the precinct where they maintain residence, and may vote only in that precinct. The voter-registration form’s certification language is also updated to require an applicant to attest, under penalty of perjury, that they are a U.S. citizen, will be 18 by the next election, are a South Dakota resident, have not been judged mentally incompetent, are not serving a felony sentence, and authorize cancellation of any previous registration.
Impact
HB 1066 amends provisions in Title 12 governing elections, specifically §§ 12-1-4, 12-4-1, and 12-4-1.2. Its practical effect is to tighten and clarify residency standards used to determine where a voter may register and vote, while preserving existing eligibility rules for citizenship, age, mental competency, and felony status. The bill affects election administrators, county and municipal officials, and voters whose residency status may be questioned, especially people with temporary absences, multiple residences, or recent moves across state lines.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have received generally favorable support as it moved through the legislature, passing several committee and floor votes with clear majorities and ultimately being concurred in amended form. The vote margins suggest the measure was broadly acceptable to many lawmakers, though not unanimous. No committee transcript was provided, so the available record shows support through voting history rather than detailed debate.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the residency standard itself: by defining residency as a fixed dwelling where a person lives and usually sleeps for at least 30 consecutive days, the bill may affect people with multiple homes, students, seasonal residents, military personnel, or others with nontraditional living arrangements. Another possible area of concern is whether the revised language could make voter registration more restrictive or create ambiguity in close cases about intent to remain or move. The recorded opposition in committee and on the floor indicates some lawmakers objected to the amendment, but no transcript is available to identify specific arguments.