SOUTH Dakota residents will be allowed to challenge each other’s citizenship thanks to a new law that was signed on Thursday.
Republican Governor Larry Rhoden urged locals to take advantage of the massive change and protect “election integrity.”
Residents in South Dakota can now challenge voters’ citizenship thanks to a new law
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden said he wanted the legislation to ‘further strengthen the security, transparency, and trust in our election system’Credit: AP
The new law was one of six bills made into law by the governor.
SB 30 amends the reasons for challenging an individual’s eligibility to vote.
State law already a voter’s registration to be challenged up to 90 days before an election if they’re suspected of not being a South Dakota resident.
The new law adds citizenship as a justification for challenging one’s registration.
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“If you find somebody who’s not a citizen and is trying to vote, then do something about it,” Thomas Deadrick, the deputy secretary of state, said during a legislative committee hearing, according to South Dakota Searchlight.
Rhoden said he hopes the new legislation will be an example to others across the US and urged lawmakers to take note.
“We do a lot of things right in South Dakota, and our election integrity is something to be admired and emulated by other states,” Rhoden said.
“I am proud to sign these bills into law and further strengthen the security, transparency, and trust in our election system.”
Challenges explained
Challenges can be filed by a voter in the same county, the South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office or an auditor in the county where the voter is registered.
Those challenging one’s voter registration must file it in the form of a signed, sworn statement and are required to include “documented evidence.”
If an auditor determines that the challenge is valid, the registrants are given a chance to provide documentation verifying their registration.
A South Dakotan may appeal to a court or their local county commission if their registration ultimately gets canceled by an auditor.
Democratic State Senator Liz Larson voted against the bill, raising concerns about ramifications voters could face for challenging other voters’ citizenship, Yahoo! News reported.
Her concerns came after federal agents shot two US citizens in Minnesota during immigration enforcement actions.
Larson said “in today’s environment” the bill would just be “adding fuel to the fire.”
Melissa McCauley, a lobbyist for South Dakota Voices for Justice, an immigrant advocacy group, said the bill adds unnecessary layers of law and bureaucracy.
“There is no documented pattern of noncitizen voting, widespread residency fraud or double voting in South Dakota that current law cannot already address,” McCauley said, per Yahoo.
