House passes bill barring public sale or disclosure of voter phone numbers and email addresses

The South Dakota House passed House Bill 1073 on Jan. 30 to designate telephone numbers and email addresses contained on voter registration forms as not for public inspection or sale.

"This information can be used or sold, exposing South Dakotans to unwanted contacts, fraud risks, and a broader erosion of trust in the election process," Representative Weiszgram, sponsor of HB 1073, told colleagues in floor remarks explaining why the change was needed.

Weiszgram said the idea grew from a constituent who works in information security and who reported receiving unsolicited texts and e-mails after updating his voter registration. "What he identified as smishing campaigns, designed to collect additional personal data, turned a minor annoyance into significant concern for his privacy and security," the sponsor said.

On the floor, Representative Baxter asked several procedural questions about whether telephone and email fields are optional on the registration form; Weiszgram said both are optional. The sponsor also said the Secretary of State's office suggested the change to statute rather than only changing the paper form.

Supporters argued the bill aligns election practice with privacy norms in other regulated industries and would protect vulnerable populations, including the elderly. Opponents, where present, argued that limiting access could hamper candidates and precinct workers who currently rely on the information.

The House voted to pass HB 1073; the clerk recorded ayes 40, nays 28. The bill's title was deemed correct on the floor following the vote.