Technology (Elections)

SB 215 establishes a pilot program in South Dakota to test a secure digital voting system for absentee voters, including military and overseas voters, in up to three participating jurisdictions. Jurisdictions must obtain local approval and notify the Secretary of State, who then reviews and waives incompatible state laws within seven days. Participating jurisdictions will not need to provide paper ballots to absentee voters, and the system must use encryption to verify votes while ensuring voters can cast all their votes securely. The pilot aims to validate the system's functionality without altering voter eligibility, registration, or election day procedures.