§ 12-16-2 — Paper and printing specifications--Columns for parties and independent candidates--Automatic tabulating systems.

All official ballots shall be printed on good quality bond paper, in black ink, and in the English language. The names of candidates for each office shall be printed in large type under the designation of the party for which the nomination is made, so that all the names of candidates for each party are in separate columns, the names of candidates for each office are directly opposite each other, and the names of all independent candidates occupy a separate column under the heading, independent candidates. In precincts using automatic tabulating systems, the ballot information, whether placed on the ballot or on the marking device, shall, as far as practicable, be in the order or arrangement provided for paper ballots except that such information may be in vertical or horizontal rows, or on a number of separate pages. No individual race or ballot question may be divided between pages. One ballot card may be used for recording a voter's vote on all races and measures.

Legislative History

SDC 1939, § 16.1105 (1); SL 1974, ch 118, § 70; SL 1977, ch 109, § 2; SL 1994, ch 110, § 1; SL 1997, ch 81, § 1; SL 2007, ch 76, § 3.