"If you find somebody who's not a citizen and is trying to vote, then do something about it," deputy secretary of state Thomas Deadrick said during a legislative committee hearing, according to the Searchlight. Deadrick said S.B. 30 allows voters to do just that."
"Such challenges must be filed no later than 90 days before an election and must be made in the form of a signed, sworn statement that includes "documented evidence," according to South Dakota Searchlight."
"But critics say the legislation is unnecessary, as federal law prohibits non-U.S. citizens from voting in federal elections and South Dakota lawmakers already amended state law to ban non-citizens from voting in the state last year."
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signed S.B. 30 into law on March 5, expanding existing voter challenge procedures to include questions of U.S. citizenship. The law permits the secretary of state, county auditors, and registered voters in the same county to challenge others' registration based on citizenship concerns. Challenges must be filed as signed, sworn statements with documented evidence no later than 90 days before elections. The bill originated from the South Dakota Secretary of State's Office. Critics argue the legislation is unnecessary since federal law already prohibits non-citizens from voting in federal elections and South Dakota banned non-citizen voting in state elections last year. Democratic state Senator Liz Larson called the bill "nefarious," expressing concerns about empowering citizens to challenge neighbors' voting rights and potential consequences during heightened immigration enforcement.
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