12-20-35. Returns not refused for irregularity--Certificate issued to candidate with most votes.No election returns shall be refused by any officer for the reason that the same may be returned or delivered to him in any other than the manner directed in this chapter, nor shall he refuse to include any returns in his estimate of votes for any informality in holding an election or making returns thereof; but all returns shall be received and the votes canvassed by such officer, and a certificate given to the person or persons who may by such returns have the greatest number of votes. Source: PolC 1877, ch 27, §41; CL 1887, §1480; RPolC 1903, §1934; RC 1919, §7283; SDC 1939, §16.1711; SL 1974, ch 118, §165.
South Dakota Legal Code