PIERRE, S.D. (South Dakota Searchlight) – South Dakota’s top election official floated potential legislation Tuesday that would allow prospective candidates to pay their way onto the ballot. Some members of the state Board of Elections responded during their meeting in Pierre by saying they oppose the idea, but the board took no formal action.

Rhoden sat down with KOTA Territory News hours after making his announcement. Asked about his top priorities, Governor Rhoden replied, “Well I’ve said it many times, my priority is to keep South Dakota strong, safe and free. And that’s more than, you know, that’s more than just a soundbite. I really believe that in my heart of hearts,”

Rhoden was elevated from lieutenant governor in January when Noem resigned to become secretary of the federal Department of Homeland Security. Since then, while serving the remainder of Noem’s second term, Rhoden has been attempting to prove his policy-over-politics mantra.

South Dakota’s top election official floated potential legislation Tuesday that would allow prospective candidates to pay their way onto the ballot.

The South Dakota Board of Elections has started sorting through possible proposals for the coming legislative session. Secretary of State Monae Johnson and her deputy, Tom Deadrick, brought 17 sets of potential changes for board members to discuss on Tuesday.

The South Dakota Secretary of State is inviting K-12 students to design the official "I Voted" sticker for the 2026 General Election