# South Dakota SB 171: amend provisions pertaining to the processing of absentee ballots and to declare an emergency. South Dakota SB 171, amend provisions pertaining to the processing of absentee ballots and to declare an emergency., is a 101st South Dakota Legislature (2026) Senate bill sponsored by Heinemann, Leslie J. (Republican), Peterson, Sue (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-03-30 (Signed by the Governor) (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SD-SB171-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: South Dakota SB 171 - State: South Dakota - Session: 101st South Dakota Legislature (2026) - Title: amend provisions pertaining to the processing of absentee ballots and to declare an emergency. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-29 - Last action: 2026-03-30, Signed by the Governor - Sponsors: Heinemann, Leslie J. (Republican), Peterson, Sue (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Absentee Voting, Elections, Emergency Clause - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 5 (140 yes, 15 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Clear timing for absentee ballot counting: benefit, low. When officials create an absentee precinct, all absentee ballots must go there to be received, processed, and counted. Its pollbook must list every absentee voter in the jurisdiction and the type of ballot cast. Each county may have only one absentee counting board at a time. When election official… - Safer handling of voters’ absentee ballots: benefit, low. South Dakota election officials must date-stamp received absentee envelopes and store them safely without breaking their seals. They must deliver ballots to the voter’s home precinct superintendent or absentee counting board before polls close. When an absentee precinct is created, each precinct su… - Ballot watching rights with privacy penalties: mixed, low. Absentee ballot sorting, checks, processing, and counting must be open to poll watchers. Watchers must stay a reasonable distance from ballots and voter identification information. No one may create a record linking an individual voter to a ballot. Before counting, no one may open, unfold, or exami… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Heinemann, Leslie J. (Republican), House - Sponsor: Peterson, Sue (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-10 | Senate | Concurred in amendments | pass | 32 | 2 | | | 2026-03-05 | House | Do Pass Amended | pass | 56 | 11 | | | 2026-03-02 | House | Do Pass Amended | pass | 11 | 0 | | | 2026-02-05 | Senate | Do Pass | pass | 32 | 2 | | | 2026-02-04 | Senate | Do Pass | pass | 9 | 0 | | ## Actions (15) - 2026-03-30: Signed by the Governor (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Delivered to the Governor (Senate) - 2026-03-11: Signed by the Speaker (House) - 2026-03-11: Signed by the President (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Concurred in amendments (Senate) - 2026-03-05: Do Pass Amended (House) - 2026-03-02: Do Pass Amended (House) - 2026-03-02: Motion to amend (House) - 2026-03-02: Scheduled for hearing (House) - 2026-02-09: Referred to (House) - 2026-02-06: First Reading House (House) - 2026-02-05: Do Pass (Senate) - 2026-02-04: Do Pass (Senate) - 2026-02-04: Scheduled for hearing (Senate) - 2026-01-29: First read in Senate and referred to (Senate) ## Bill text - Introduced, 2026-01-29: [PDF](https://mylrc.sdlegislature.gov/api/Documents/306611.pdf) ## Related bills - HB 1245: authorize municipalities to establish a local funding mechanism for capital improvement projects. (signed) - HB 1193: modify the provisions for a refund of taxes to disabled veterans and surviving spouses under certain property tax relief programs. (signed) - HB 1149: adopt the athletic trainer licensure compact. (signed) - HB 1148: adopt the respiratory care interstate compact. (signed) - HB 1051: revise property tax levies for school districts and to revise the state aid to general and special education formulas. (signed) - HB 1082: establish parameters for the reimbursement of school districts that provide free or reduced-price meals to students. (signed) ## Sources - [Introduced (PDF)](https://mylrc.sdlegislature.gov/api/Documents/306611.pdf) ## Related - [HB 1245: authorize municipalities to establish a local funding mechanism for capital imp…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SD-HB1245-2026) - [HB 1193: modify the provisions for a refund of taxes to disabled veterans and surviving…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SD-HB1193-2026) - [HB 1149: adopt the athletic trainer licensure compact.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SD-HB1149-2026) - [HB 1148: adopt the respiratory care interstate compact.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SD-HB1148-2026) - [HB 1051: revise property tax levies for school districts and to revise the state aid to…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SD-HB1051-2026) - [HB 1082: establish parameters for the reimbursement of school districts that provide fre…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SD-HB1082-2026) - [South Dakota bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/south-dakota/bills) - [South Dakota state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/south-dakota) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SD-SB171-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).