{"data":{"id":"us-sd/sdcl-12-18-9","jurisdiction":"us-sd","citation":"SDCL § 12-18-9","heading":"Observation of voting and counting--Public and poll watchers--Penalty.","body":"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.\nMembers 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.\nA violation of this section by either a poll watcher, observer, or a poll worker is a Class 2 misdemeanor.","path":["TITLE 12. ELECTIONS","CHAPTER 12-18. ARRANGEMENTS AND CONDUCT OF VOTING"],"source_url":"https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/12-18-9","current_through":"2026-08-31","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T15:18:56Z","sha256":"8de54f34073f2bfd82fe3aa5077778538cd5b7cc7465806283a94c0ee875f7cb","source_id":"us-sd","stale":true,"prev":"us-sd/sdcl-12-18-8.1","next":"us-sd/sdcl-12-18-9.1"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}