The South Dakota Senate approved a bill Thursday that would require people to prove U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. The measure, Senate Bill 175, passed 28–6 and now heads to the House.
Prime sponsor Sen. John Carley of Piedmont said an amendment added this week came at the request of the Secretary of State’s Office. The bill outlines acceptable documents to verify citizenship, including a driver’s license issued after July 1, 2025, tribal ID, passport, birth certificate, naturalization papers or other federally accepted proof.
The bill was initially defeated in committee, but Carley used a procedural move to bring it to the Senate floor, where it advanced with the two‑thirds vote needed because it includes an emergency clause. Carley said he wants the requirement in place for the June primary.
Sen. Randy Deibert of Spearfish opposed the bill, arguing it would disenfranchise voters who use mail‑center addresses rather than a physical residence. Carley countered that his bill does not change existing rules for mail‑center voters and only adds a citizenship‑verification requirement.
The bill’s lead House sponsor is Rep. Heather Baxter of Rapid City, who plans to challenge Secretary of State Monae Johnson for the GOP nomination this summer.
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