8-3-17. Canvass and return of voting by ballot.
At the close of the election the judges shall proceed publicly to canvass the votes, which canvass, when commenced, shall continue without adjournment or interruption until the same is completed. The canvass shall be conducted by taking one ballot at a time from the ballot box and counting until the number of ballots is equal to the number of names on the poll list, and if there are any left in the box they shall be immediately destroyed; the person having the greatest number of votes for any office shall be declared duly elected. If two or more persons have an equal and the highest number of votes for any office, the judges of election shall at once publicly, by lot, determine which of such persons shall be declared elected. If on opening the ballots two or more ballots are found to be so folded that it is apparent the same person voted them, such ballots shall immediately be destroyed. The canvass having been completed, a statement of the result shall be entered at length by the clerk in the minutes and publicly read by him to the meeting. Such reading shall be deemed notice of the result of the election to every person whose name is entered on the poll list as a voter.
Source: SL 1883, ch 112, subch 1, §§28 to 30; CL 1887, §§729 to 731; RPolC 1903, §§1021 to 1023; RC 1919, §6063; SDC 1939, §58.0315.
Structure South Dakota Codified Laws
Chapter 03 - Township Meetings And Elections
Section 8-3-1 - Time and place of annual meeting--Publication of notice.
Section 8-3-1.1 - Authority to require nominating petition.
Section 8-3-1.2 - Filing nominating petition--Contents--Circulation prior to meeting.
Section 8-3-1.3 - Publication of election notice.
Section 8-3-1.4 - Notice in township of twenty or fewer resident voters.
Section 8-3-2 - Powers of voters at annual meeting.
Section 8-3-3 - Special meetings of township electors--Statement calling meeting.
Section 8-3-4 - Recording and publication of notice of special meeting--Exception.
Section 8-3-5 - Contents of notice of special meeting--Business restricted to stated purposes.
Section 8-3-6 - Organization and officers of township meeting.
Section 8-3-7 - Registration and residence required to vote at township meeting.
Section 8-3-8 - Unlawful voting at meeting as misdemeanor.
Section 8-3-9 - Determination of challenge to voter.
Section 8-3-10 - Order of business at meeting--Procedural rules.
Section 8-3-11 - Filing of minutes of meeting.
Section 8-3-12 - Supervisor elected at annual meeting--Representation of county seat town.
Section 8-3-13 - Additional officers elected at annual meeting--Term of constable.
Section 8-3-14 - Proclamation of opening of polls, adjournment and closing of polls.
Section 8-3-15 - Method of electing officers.
Section 8-3-16 - Conduct of voting by ballot.
Section 8-3-17 - Canvass and return of voting by ballot.
Section 8-3-17.1 - Absentee voting.
Section 8-3-18 - Notice to persons elected to township office.
Section 8-3-20 - Appointment of officers by county commissioners after failure of township to elect.