The county auditor shall provide printed ballots for each election in which the voters of the entire county participate. Except as provided in § 12-6-9, printed ballots for a primary election must contain the name of each candidate who has filed for nomination and is approved. The printed ballots for the election of officers must contain the name of each candidate whose nomination has been certified or filed with the county auditor in the manner provided by law, unless the candidate is deemed elected by having no opposition. The names of the candidates must appear on the ballot exactly as listed in the declaration of candidacy of the candidates' nominating petitions. Sample ballots must be printed on paper of a different color from the official ballot but in the same form. The sample ballots and official ballots must be printed and in the possession of the county auditor not later than forty-eight days prior to a primary or general election. If there is a challenge pursuant to § 12-1-13 or 12-1-16, official ballots may not be printed until the challenge has been resolved or until sixty days prior to the primary or general election, whichever occurs first. The county auditor shall prepare the necessary ballots, if any question is required to be submitted to the voters of the county. Ballots for general elections must be of the style and form prescribed in §§ 12-16-2 to 12-16-10.1, inclusive.

Source: SL 1897, ch 60 , § 13; SL 1901, ch 119 , § 1; RPolC 1903, §§ 1886, 1892; SL 1909, ch 144 ; SL 1913, ch 198 ; SL 1915, ch 186 , § 1; RC 1919, §§ 7236, 7241; SL 1925, ch 160 ; SL 1935, ch 107 , § 2; SDC 1939, §§ 16.1101, 16.1105(4); SL 1944 (SS), ch 2 , § 4; SL 1953, ch 75 , § 3; SL 1955, ch 55 , § 2; SL 1957, ch 84 , § 2; SL 1959, ch 95 ; SDC Supp 1960, § 16.0613; SL 1963, ch 112 ; SL 1965, ch 88 ; SDCL § 12-19-26; SL 1971, ch 87 , § 4; SL 1972, ch 82 , § 4; SL 1974, ch 118 , § 69; SL 1979, ch 97 , § 5; SL 1981, ch 124 ; SL 1985, ch 112 , § 1; SL 1987, ch 125 ; SL 2010, ch 74 , § 13; SL 2011, ch 79 , § 1; SL 2013, ch 66 , § 1; SL 2021, ch 66 , § 1; SL 2025, ch 64 , § 1.