SJR 503 South Dakota Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Proposing and submitting to the voters at the next general election an amendment to the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, clarifying that an individual must be a citizen of the United States to be eligible to vote.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to South Dakota that would require voters to be U.S. citizens. It directly affects eligibility for voting in state elections by adding a citizenship requirement to the state constitution. The amendment would be placed on the ballot for voters to approve or reject at the next general election. If passed, it would make citizenship a formal legal requirement for voting in South Dakota.
Bill status passed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Governor
Introduced Feb 4, 2025 Last action Mar 12, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled SJR503A · 3 edits
MINOR
This amendment clarifies that only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in South Dakota elections, adding explicit language disqualifying non-citizens from voting. It also includes provisions protecting voting residency from being lost due to temporary absence from the state.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on voter eligibility criteria, specifically citizenship requirements for voting.
ELIGIBILITY

Added explicit language stating that individuals who are not U.S. citizens are disqualified from voting in any election or question submitted to voters.

Modified the voting eligibility clause to emphasize that only U.S. citizens who are 18 or older and meet residency requirements are entitled to vote.

Added protection ensuring electors do not lose voting residency solely due to temporary absence from the state.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 3, 2025 · House Mar 6, 2025

How they voted

332
Passed
Total votes 35
Feb 3, 2025
D Democratic3
1 Yea 2 Nay
66% Nay
R Republican32
32 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
8
Committee
5
Amendments
1
Mar 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 524
lower
Mar 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by the President S.J. 502
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
House of Representatives Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 58, NAYS 11 H.J. 484
lower
Mar 6, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (57-11-1)
house
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
State Affairs Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 12, NAYS 1
lower
Feb 4, 2025
Introduced
First read in House and referred to H.J. 185
lower
Feb 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 33, NAYS 2 S.J. 156
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (33-2)
senate
Jan 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
State Affairs Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 8, NAYS 1
upper
Jan 29, 2025
Introduced
State Affairs Motion to amend , Passed, Amendment SJR503A
upper
Jan 22, 2025
Committee
Referred to S.J. 72
upper
31 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors