House Members Approve Overseas Voter Legislation
Air Date:02/15/2011
By Kealey Bultena
South Dakota lawmakers are one step closer to letting some overseas citizens vote, and the House of Representatives supports changing the law.
South Dakotans who live overseas remain citizens of the state, and any children they have while away are automatically South Dakota citizens, too. But current law limits those children; when they turn 18, they are not allowed to vote.
Democratic Representative Marc Feinstein says they’re not treated as full citizens.
"We have a lot of folks out there in Rapid City and the air base and others of our citizens that do end up moving overseas," Feinstein says. "Let’s not disenfranchise them. Let’s allow them to do what they want and do their civic duty."
Members of the House agree. They approve House Bill 1130 allowing those young adults to vote. It moves on to the Senate.
Member stations download audio file here.