South Dakota has enacted legislation that will require individuals to prove their U.S. citizenship when registering to vote.
It's a law that supporters say ensures election integrity, but critics warn that Senate Bill 175 could prevent eligible voters from casting their ballots.
“This bill ensures only citizens vote in state elections, keeping our elections safe and secure," South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden said upon signing it into law.
Also known as the South Dakota SAVE Act, Senate Bill 175 was written by Republican state senator John Carley.
The legislation requires documented proof of citizenship for registering to vote in state elections.
Carley did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.
Democrats, however, are opposed.
Documentation rules are unnecessary and could exclude lawful voters, according to Democratic state representative Erick Muckey.
“The idea of us passing legislation for a problem that frankly doesn’t exist, in a sense, creates greater problems for folks who don’t have a passport,” Muckey told KOTA-TV. “Somebody who might have a birth certificate that doesn’t match their name because of a marriage and there may not be an easy way to get access to those documents."
Muckey did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.
South Dakota is among the states implementing stricter voting requirements while the national SAVE America Act (S. 1383) remains stalled in the U.S. Senate.
The Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that requiring citizenship documentation for federal elections without federal or court approval is unlawful.
Lawmakers in Utah approved proof-of-citizenship bills and are awaiting the signature of Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox.
The House passed the SAVE America Act on Feb. 11.
If eventually approved by the Senate, the SAVE Act would mandate, nationally, showing documented proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, to register to vote.