Require that an individual registering as a voter when applying for a driver license be a resident of this state for the purposes of voting.
Summary
Senate Bill 73 requires that a person who registers to vote while applying for a South Dakota driver license must be a resident of South Dakota, as that term is defined in state law. The bill does not bar nonresidents from obtaining a South Dakota driver license; it only limits the voter-registration component of the driver-license application process to individuals who meet the state’s residency requirement for voting.
In practical terms, the bill ties voter registration through the driver-license system more closely to existing residency rules in Title 12. It affects the driver licensing process administered under chapter 32-12 and the voter eligibility framework under § 12-1-4, while preserving the ability of nonresidents to apply for a license without registering to vote. The measure was enacted and became part of South Dakota law.
Impact
The bill adds a new section to chapter 32-12 of the South Dakota Codified Laws and creates a specific residency condition for voter registration when an individual applies for a driver license. It reinforces the state’s voter-residency standards by making clear that only residents, as defined in § 12-1-4, may use the driver-license application process to register to vote. It does not change eligibility for a driver license itself, and it leaves open the option for nonresidents to obtain a license without submitting a voter-registration application.
Sentiment
The voting history suggests broad support for the bill, with multiple committee and floor votes passing by comfortable margins and several votes unanimous. The measure advanced through the process with little recorded opposition at the final stages, indicating general agreement on aligning voter registration with residency requirements. The available record shows no committee transcript debate, so the public rationale is reflected mainly in the bill text and the strong vote totals.
Contention
The main policy issue is the relationship between voter registration and residency verification in the driver-license process. Supporters appear to favor ensuring that only legal residents register to vote through this pathway, while the bill’s narrow design also addresses concerns about not restricting access to driver licenses for nonresidents. Any contention likely centered on whether the residency requirement was necessary or whether it could complicate voter registration, but the recorded votes show limited sustained opposition.