South Dakota § 12-18-9 Observation of voting and counting--Public and poll watchers--Penalty.

South Dakota Statutes

§ 12-18-9 — Observation of voting and counting--Public and poll watchers--Penalty.

South Dakota § 12-18-9

Title 12ELECTIONS

Ch. 12-17AARRANGEMENTS AND CONDUCT OF VOTING

This text of South Dakota § 12-18-9 (Observation of voting and counting--Public and poll watchers--Penalty.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering South Dakota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

S.D. Codified Laws § 12-18-9 (2026).

Text

Any candidate, party, or ballot question committee may have poll watchers present at a polling place for the purpose of observing the voting and counting process. During voting hours, a candidate who is on the ballot being voted on may not serve as a poll watcher and may only be present at a polling place to cast the candidate's vote. Members of the public may observe the voting and counting process at any polling location in a manner that does not interfere with the duties of the poll workers or poll watchers. Each polling place must be arranged in a manner that permits each poll watcher and observer to be positioned in a location where the poll watcher and observer may plainly see and hear what is done within the polling place. A violation of this section by either a poll watcher, observ

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Any candidate, party, or ballot question committee may have poll watchers present at a polling place for the purpose of observing the voting and counting process. During voting hours, a candidate who is on the ballot being voted on may not serve as a poll watcher and may only be present at a polling place to cast the candidate's vote. Members of the public may observe the voting and counting process at any polling location in a manner that does not interfere with the duties of the poll workers or poll watchers. Each polling place must be arranged in a manner that permits each poll watcher and observer to be positioned in a location where the poll watcher and observer may plainly see and hear what is done within the polling place. A violation of this section by either a poll watcher, observer, or a poll worker is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Legislative History

SL 1897, ch 60, § 32; RPolC 1903, § 1921; RC 1919, § 7271; SDC 1939, § 16.1207; SL 1972, ch 85, § 3; SL 1974, ch 118, § 113; SL 1975, ch 124, § 1; SL 2004, ch 108, § 4; SL 2024, ch 47, § 2.