12-18-9. Observation of voting and counting--Public and poll watchers--Penalty.Any candidate, party, or ballot question committee may have poll watchers present at a polling place for the purpose of observing the voting and counting process. During voting hours, a candidate who is on the ballot being voted on may not serve as a poll watcher and may only be present at a polling place to cast the candidate's vote.Members of the public may observe the voting and counting process at any polling location in a manner that does not interfere with the duties of the poll workers or poll watchers. Each polling place must be arranged in a manner that permits each poll watcher and observer to be positioned in a location where the poll watcher and observer may plainly see and hear what is done within the polling place.A violation of this section by either a poll watcher, observer, or a poll worker is a Class 2 misdemeanor. Source: SL 1897, ch 60, §32; RPolC 1903, §1921; RC 1919, §7271; SDC 1939, §16.1207; SL 1972, ch 85, §3; SL 1974, ch 118, §113; SL 1975, ch 124, §1; SL 2004, ch 108, §4; SL 2024, ch 47, §2.
South Dakota Legal Code