SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — No more pencils at the ballot box. That’s one piece of legislation on on the Dec. 4 agenda for the South Dakota Board of Elections meeting.
The proposed ban of pencils is an amended version of South Dakota law section 1 12-18-16. The amended version says: “If a paper ballot is used, the voter must use a pen to mark. The voter may mark the box with either a cross or checkmark.”
Three other pieces of legislation are also scheduled on the agenda.
A change to section 1 12-30-16 adds this line “A member of the governing board may not assist with the canvass of the votes for an office for which the member is a candidate,” to canvass requirements.
A third proposal is a lengthy amendment to section 1 9-13-17 which is called “An Act to modify pertaining to the submission of a nominating petition.” The amendment has specific changes to nomination petitions. One proposed change is “If an individual who signs a petition lives within a second-class or third-class municipality, the individual may give the individual’s post office box in lieu of a street address.”
A fourth proposal adds a new section to chapter 12-6 which is called ” An Act to require the secretary of state to publish the numbers pertaining to the collection of signatures on a nominating petition.”
All four are listed as “at the request of the Secretary of State.” KELOLAND News sent an email to the Secretary of State with questions about legislation on the agenda. There has been no response.
This will be the first Board of Election meeting since the November General Election.
