The South Dakota House of Representatives has passed a bill proposing to make the use of drop boxes for absentee ballots illegal in all elections in the state.
The bill, HB 1165, which requires all voters to return mail-in ballots either by mail or in-person to elections offices, advanced to the state Senate after the GOP-majority lower chamber voted 57–11 on Tuesday.
According to the new legislation (pdf), the state’s mail-in voting processes would change to allow partisan poll watchers to observe the ballot counting, prohibit the distribution of pre-filled mail-in ballot applications, and increase penalties for mail-in voting misdemeanors.
Per the legislation, county auditors will be banned from sending out absentee ballots after the Monday before Election Day, and the state Board of Elections must create rules for absentee voting in nursing facilities, assisted living centers, and hospitals….