When Republican state Senator John Carley bought the Elk Creek Campground in Meade County in 2021, seven people were listed as registered voters at the address.
“The irony, as we looked into it, some of those people didn’t exist there for years,” Carley said. “Some staff who had been there for 17 years didn’t recognize the names.”
Some backers of a bill Carley is sponsoring say, “not true citizens” of South Dakota are voting in local elections. Carley said he wants to make sure local voters’ wishes aren’t diluted by folks registered in South Dakota who might live elsewhere.
“Because their name is still listed on a particular address here, but they haven’t been here for one year, six months, five years, ten years, fifteen years. Yet, it’s influencing and directing the actions of the votes that are taking here in South Dakota," Carley added.
The House State Affairs committee is advancing the proposal 7 - 6. It requires individuals live in South Dakota for 30 consecutive days to be able to register to vote.
The legislation targets voters who are technically state residents, but may live elsewhere or in an RV.
“It takes away the right to vote for people who—whether now or in the future—are South Dakotans," said Justin Smith—a lobbyist for the Association of South Dakota Mail Forwarders.
“At the end of the day, these are people who pay taxes in South Dakota. They register their vehicles here. They get called for jury duty," Smith said. "And we are telling them despite all of that you’re not going to be able to vote in our federal, state or local elections.”
Smith said the bill the House committee passed would negatively affect permanent travelers and homeless people. He says there are numerous loopholes in the legislation.
Tens of thousands are legal South Dakota residents through mail forwarding services. All it takes to become a state resident is a physical address and an overnight stay in the state. While the service is helpful for permanent travelers—critics say many also use it to take advantage of the state’s lack of income tax.
The Secretary of State's office is bringing similar legislation to address the residency and voter registration issue.
