A new South Dakota law is changing who can vote in state and local elections, leaving some registered voters unexpectedly limited to federal races only.
Under a law that took effect earlier this year, voters who register using only a mail forwarding address or post office box without listing a physical residence are designated as federal-only voters. The same restriction applies to those who do not provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering.
As a result, more than 1,500 voters across South Dakota are now classified as federal-only, according to a recent analysis of voter data. That includes hundreds in Minnehaha and Pennington counties.
The change is already affecting participation. Some federal-only voters may have no eligible races on their ballot in the June 2 primary, which features largely Republican contests that are closed to non-Republican voters.
The rollout of the law has also sparked confusion and debate. Some election officials say voters are reclassified when they update their registration or request absentee ballots, while others argue the law was intended to apply only to new registrations.
State officials encourage voters to check their registration status online, though the system does not always clearly indicate federal-only status.
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